ALLERGIC CONTACT DERMATITIS FROM SESQUITERPENOIDS OF PLANTS.

Abstract

Summary.— By patch testing cross‐sensitivity was not observed between the sesquiterpene lactone, alantolactone (from Inula) and ilicic acid, which is an unsaturated sesquiterpenoid lacking a lactone ring (from Ambrosia) and α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactone (from Tulipa) which is the simplest structure containing the grouping that is characteristic of the active compounds; and protolichesterinic acid (from the lichen Cetraria) which is an unsaturated lactonic acid. Some 50 additional potentially allergenic sesquiterpene lactones derived from plants are listed from the families, Compositae, Lauraceae, and Magnoliaceae; some lactones from the family Umbelliferae are also listed.