Humulus scandens (Lour.) Merr. Antigen

Humulus scandens (Lour.) Merr., commonly known as Japanese hop, is a perennial climbing herbaceous plant of the family Moraceae and genus Humulus. The stems, branches, and petioles bear backward-pointing prickles. The leaves are papery, reniform to pentagonal, palmate, with a cordate base; the upper surface is rough, and the lower surface bears soft hairs and yellow glands. Leaf lobes are ovate-triangular with serrated margins. Male flowers are small, yellow-green, arranged in panicles, while female flowers form globular spikes; the bracts are papery and triangular, enclosing the ovary, and the achene emerges from the bract at maturity. Flowering occurs in spring and summer, and fruiting in autumn.

The pollen of H. scandens is a significant allergen and causes allergic reactions in many individuals. Exposure to its pollen can induce allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma. These conditions are highly distressing: allergic rhinitis leads to nasal congestion and discomfort, often causing dizziness and fatigue, while asthma causes airway spasms and difficulty breathing, which in severe cases can result in suffocation and death.

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