Was: R: mystery plant Contact dermatitis from Grevillea


From:  http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1600-0536.1986.tb01311.x?cookieSet=1&journalCode=cod

Contact dermatitis from Grevillea 'Robyn Gordon'

    * Jennifer Menz11Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, W.A. 6009, Australia,
    * Ric Rossi22Clinical Biochemistry Department, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, W.A. 6009, Australia,
    * Wal C. Taylor33University of Sydney, Sydney, N.S.W. 2006, Australia and
    * Leon Wall44Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, W.A. 6009, Australia

    *
      1Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, W.A. 6009, Australia2Clinical Biochemistry Department, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, W.A. 6009, Australia3University of Sydney, Sydney, N.S.W. 2006, Australia4Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, W.A. 6009, Australia

Dr. Jennifer Menz, 37 Tenth Avenue, St. Peters, Adelaide, S.A. 5069, Australia

Grevillea'Robyn Gordon'is an Australian hybrid plant which may cause allergic contact dermatitis. Over the past 8 years, in bag been planted extensively in Australia and is now being exported to the United Slates mid other Western countries. Recently, fin explosion in incidence of contact dermatitis due to this plant has been seen. 24 patients who were suspected of being sensitive to it were patch tested to fresh plant and extracts with confirmation of sensitivity.

A cross sensitivity to Toxicodendron was demonstrated clinically and on patch testing. The allergen in Toxicodendron, 3 pentadecylcatechol, is closely linked in chemical structure to 5-penladecylresorcinol. present in Grevillea banksii and tridecylresorcinol in Grevillea robusta. Patch letting in patients sensitive to Grevillea'Robyn Gordon'with tridecylresorcinol produced positive reactions, thus implicating the sensitizing role of long chain alkyl resorcinols in Grevillea'Robyn Gordon'allergy. There is a likelihood that (his sensitizing potential extends to other plants of the Grevillea genus, e.g. Grevillea robusta.

With the spread of Grevillea' Robyn Gordon'to other markets, this problem will become increasingly common.

As a side note, the group of 5-alkylresorcinols includes a precursor for tetrhydrocannabinol (THC), the active factor of marijuana.

Richard F. Dufresne
2119 US 220 Alternate South
Candor, North Carolina 27229 USA
910-974-4009
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