Quinonoid constituents as contact sensitisers in Australian blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon RBR).

Australian blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon RBR) is a valuable commercial timber that since 1925 has been incriminated as being injurious to health. In addition to toxic effects numerous cases of allergic contact dermatitis and bronchial asthma have been observed in woodworkers. Several constituents have been identified in recent years, but none of them could be considered as aetiological factors.

Lichen picker's dermatitis (Cladonia alpestris (L.) Rab.).

The frequency and immunological background of dermatitis occurring in lichen pickers during the 3- to 4-month picking season were studied in a small community in northern Finland. Thirty of 164 lichen pickers had suffered from dermatitis at least on the fingers and the dorsa of their hands, and many of them also had dermatitis on their forearms, faces, etc. Fifteen of them were subjected to epicutaneous and photo-epicutaneous testing with crushed Cladonia alpestris (L.

[Occupational contact allergy to feverfew Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Schultz-Bip.; Asteraceae].

Allergic Contact Dermatitis due to Feverfew Tanacetum parathenium, Asteraceae. After breeding and selling a new ornamental form of feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Schulz-Bip.

[Diphenylcyclopropenone - a new strong contact sensitizer (author's transl)].

A new synthetic substance - diphenylcyclopropenone - has been proven to be responsible for contact dermatitis in three persons handling it in chemical laboratories. A student of chemistry developed a dermatitis of the hands that lasted for more than two months. Based on the case history this dermatitis was considered to be an allergic one.

Contact allergy to the Brazilian rosewood substitute Machaerium scleroxylon Tul. (Pao ferro).

Five carpenters in a television set factory had allergic contact dermatitis of the hands, forearms and neck after contact with the sawdust of the Brazilian rosewood substitute Machaerium scleroxylon Tul. (Pao ferro). Patch tests with R-3,4-dimethoxydalbergione from Pao ferro and with two other dalbergiones from rosewood species were positive.

Allergic contact dermatitis to quinones in Paphiopedilum haynaldianum (Orchidaceae).

An eczematous eruption developed on the hands and forearms of a 68-year-old man after frequent contact with homebred specimens of the lady slipper Paphiopedilum haynaldianum. Patch tests with leaves, petals, and stems, as well as with two quinones isolated from the plant by thin-layer chromatography, gave strongly positive reactions. The results demonstrated that the recurrent skin lesions were the expression of an allergic contact dermatitis due to the quinoid constitutnets, which are the main contact allergens in this orchid species.

[Arnica allergy].

Arnica montana L. (plant family: Compositae) is one of the oldest and most important drug plants. Besides its healing effects it also reveals sensitizing properties.

The sensitizing capacity of naturally occurring quinones. Experimental studies in guinea pigs. II. Benzoquinones.

Experimental studies on the sensitizing capacity of naturally occurring benzoquinones, isolated from plants and woods have been carried out in guinea pigs of the Pirbright white strain. Seven compounds were available: primin, three dalbergiones, mansonia quinone (mansonone A), 2,6-dimethoxybenzoquinone and rapanone. With five of these substances (primin, mansonone A, three dalbergiones) guinea pigs could be sensitized.

The sensitizing capacity of Compositae plants. III. Test results and cross-reactions in Compositae-sensitive patients.

25 patients known or suspected to be allergic to different Compositae plants were tested epicutaneously with ether extracts of different Compositae species. 14 persons revealed a chrysanthemum hypersensitivity, 2 were allergic to arnica and 2 to camomile. In 1 patient a positive reaction to tansy was obtained.

Sensitizing capacity of naturally occurring quinones. V. 2.6-dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone: occurrence and significance as a contact allergen.

2.6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone has already been discovered in more than 25 different plants and woods. Several authors have shown its strong bacteriostatic activity against micro-organisms.

On the occurrence of the contact allergen primin and other quinoid compounds in species of the family of primulaceae.

82 different species of the Primulacea family have been investigated by a screening test. In 16 Primula species and 4 species of other genera the strong contact allergen primin could be detected by the Craven-test. Extracts of only 12 plants gave no color reaction.

[Immunofluorescence test in the diagnosis of mushroom worker's lung (author's transl)].

Growing and harvesting a new edible mushroom (Pleurotus florida mushroom--oyster mushroom) liberates a high amount of spores the inhalation of which causes symptoms similar to those of "farmer's lung". The Ouchterlony test detects precipitins against antigens of the spore membrane only in cases with high serum antibody levels, i.e.

[Occupational dermatitis due to a yellow quinophthalone dye (solvent yellow 33: C.I. 47 000)].

An occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by a yellow quinophthalone dye which is used for colored smokes in detonators was the reason for further studies of this case of allergy. Solvent Yellow 33 (German: Rauchgelb) belongs to the groups of quinaldine dyes which are produced by condensing quinaldine and phthalic anhydride. The dye itself is a mixture of 67% unsubstituted quinophthalone and 33% 6-methylquinophthalone (Colour Index 47 000).

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis due to leatherleaf fern Arachniodes adiantiformis (Forst) Tindale.

Leatherleaf fern has been imported from the United States, Honduras and Puerto Rico to the Federal Republic of Germany since 1966 and cultivated in Germany since 1970/71. It is slowly displacing the floral arrangements with asparagus used until now as filler and background material. This change is due primarily to its better keeping quality.

The sensitizing capacity of Compositae plants. I. Occupational contact dermatitis from Arnica longifolia Eaton.

Three patients with occupational contact dermatitis due to Arnica longifolia Eaton and Arnica montana L. are reported. During cultivation, harvesting of the flower heads, chemical investigation of the sesquiterpene lactone constituents and preparation of therapeutic tinctures, they had frequent contact with the plant materials.

[Parthenium hysterophorus allergy. A weed problem in India (author's transl)].

Parthenium allergy is caused by direct and indirect contact with Parthenium hysterophorus L. of the Compositae family, accidentally introduced into India from the USA 20 years ago. Its distribution was supported by the optimal environmental conditions of this country.

[Polyvalent contact allergy in a florist].

A female florist, who ran a flowershop from 1954 to 1966 had to quit her job because of her known contact allergy due to chrysanthemums and primrose. Though in the meantime 12 years had passed she suffered occasionally from redness of the pharynx and stomachache after ingestion of tea prepared from yarrow and camomile. Cleaning off her garden from weeds and frequently followed by swelling of her face and pruritus.

Occupational contact dermatitis due to croton (Codiaeum variegatum (L.) A. Juss var. pictum (Lodd.) Muell. Arg.). Sensitization by plants of the Euphorbiaceae.

One of today's most decorative and popular ornamental potted plants is Croton. Handling this plant over a period of 6 months produced contact eczema of the hands in a nursery gardener. Patch tests with Croton leaves were positive.