Botanical Briefs: Tulipalin A
Contact dermatitis is a common issue for many floral employees. Tulips are one of the most common causes of hand dermatitis. Tulipalin A is the main sensitizer in tulips and also is found in the Peruvian lily. “Tulip fingers” is the most typical clinical presentation of hand dermatitis from tulips and is characterized by erythematous scaling seen in periungual skin and between the first and second fingertips of the dominant hand. The best prevention for tulip contact dermatitis is to avoid exposure to the inciting plants or use nitrile gloves.
Practice Points
- Tulips are a common cause of contact dermatitis among floral workers.
- Tulipalin A is the primary sensitizer in tulips causing allergic contact dermatitis.
- The best preventative for tulip contact dermatitis is avoiding the inciting plants.
History—By 1562, tulip bulbs had already been introduced to Holland by merchants. However, the first shipment of tulip bulbs was mistaken by the Dutch for onions and were either roasted over a fire or perished when planted in gardens with vegetables. Carolus Clusius—botanist, director of the imperial medical garden in Vienna and recipient of many plants through diplomatic channels—was particularly fond of flower bulbs and contributed to the popularity of the tulip in Europe by sending bulbs and seeds to other European countries.
In the early 17th century, the tulip craze began in France, fueled by a viral disease of tulips that produced variegated color patterns on the petals; entire properties were sold in exchange for a single tulip bulb. The tulip craze drifted from France to Holland in 1634 for 3 years before the tulip market collapsed.
More recently, in 2003 investors started a multimillion-euro tulip fund in the Netherlands to develop new varieties of tulip. Tulip bulbs were used to create money with high percentages over the selling price. With exorbitant pricing and ever-changing ownership of bulbs—bulbs were bought and sold as many as 10 times—the tulip fund collapsed 1 year later and investors lost their money. Bulb speculators then took their profit abroad. In 2006, bulb owners were charged with fraud; the tulip craze often is cited as one of the early major stock market collapses.
Tulips continue to grow in popularity. Today, nearly 6000 cultivars are registered, with 40 new cultivars registered every 5 years.9
Identifying Features
At the base of the erect tulip plant is a cluster of 2 or 3 thick bluish-green leaves. Three petals and 3 sepals make up the solitary bell-shaped flower. Many tulips can propagate only by means of their scaly bulbs. The flowers arise from the tips of stems in different solid colors, except true blue—from pure white to all shades of yellow, red, and a deep purple that is almost black. Solid-color tulips are called “self-colored.” So-called broken tulips are individual flowers with multiple colors, a condition caused by a viral disease transmitted by aphids.10
Tulip Allergen
Tuliposide A is found in many species of the genera Tulipa, Alstroemeria, and Erythronium.6 So far, 7 analogs have been identified: 1-tuliposide A and B; 6-tuliposide A and B; and tuliposides D, E, and F. 6-Tuliposide A and B are the principal tuliposides found in tulip cultivars.11 With trauma and maturation, tuliposides A and B are hydrolyzed to tulipalin A and tulipalin B, respectively.
Tulipalin A and tulipalin B have antimicrobial properties against bacteria and fungi; tulipalin A is mostly an antifungal agent, and tulipalin B has mostly bacteriostatic characteristics.12 The highest concentration of tulipalin A is found in the outer layer of the bulb, followed by (in descending order) the stem, leaves, and petals.13
