Contact dermatitis from Frullania, Compositae and other plants

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Allergology
• Botany

Background:

• Plant-derived allergens are a significant cause of allergic contact dermatitis.
• Sesquiterpene lactones are common allergens found in various plant families.
• Identifying specific plant allergens and their prevalence is crucial for diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and causative agents of plant-induced contact dermatitis.
• To evaluate the diagnostic utility of specific plant allergens, particularly sesquiterpene lactones.
• To identify a reliable screening allergen for Compositae sensitivity.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 28 patients diagnosed with plant-induced contact dermatitis over 10 years.
• Patch testing performed with various plant extracts including Frullanaceae, Lauraceae, Magnoliaceae, Compositae, and helenin.
• Evaluation of patient reactions to identify specific allergenic plants and compounds.

Main Results:

• Plant dermatitis accounted for 1.45% of all contact dermatitis cases.
• Positive reactions were observed for Frullania (7 patients), Compositae (4 patients), and helenin (1 patient).
• Feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium), rich in parthenolide, elicited strong positive reactions, suggesting its efficacy as a screening allergen for Compositae sensitivity.

Conclusions:

• Sesquiterpene lactone sensitivity is a notable cause of plant-induced contact dermatitis.
• Feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium) serves as an effective screening allergen for Compositae sensitivity, outperforming alantolactone (helenin).
• Further research into sesquiterpene lactone allergens can improve diagnostic accuracy in plant dermatitis.