Allergic contact dermatitis from the radish, Raphanus sativus

Abstract

SUMMARY A waitress, aged 38 years, developed acute contact dermatitis of her hands after chopping salad plants. Patch tests to radish (Raphanus) and to allyl wothiocyanate and benzyl wothiocyanate produced positive reactions. Sinigrin, the thioglucoside of allyl isothiocyanate, was mixed in petrolatum with the enzyme myrosinase; the mixture produced a positive patch test reaction. Based on these preliminary findings, the immunochemical requisites of isothiocyanates (mustard oils) are discussed. A tabulation has been made of exposure risk to plants of the mustard family (Cruciferae) which yield these compounds; the plants include some commonly used culinary vegetables, salad plants, condiments and also horticultural plants.