Ann Dermatol.  2010 Feb;22(1):16-20. 10.5021/ad.2010.22.1.16.

Polymerized Urushiol of the Commercially Available Rhus Product in Korea

• Cheong SH
• Choi YW
• Min BS
• Choi HY

• KMID: 2172031
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2010.22.1.16

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Systemic contact dermatitis commonly occurs with the intake of rhus (boiled chicken with rhus) as a health food and a folk medicine to cure gastrointestinal diseases in Korea. Rhus companies insist they have the technology for rhus detoxification. However, the numbers of systemic allergic contact dermatitis patients, caused by rhus, have not decreased. The principle of present techniques for rhus detoxification is the induction of the polymerization of urushiol, but polymerized urushiol may still have antigenicity, although to a diminished degree. The Korean Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) has a regulation to control urushiol use as a food. However, the laboratory method that KFDA uses for detection of rhus can only detect the urushiol monomer.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted experiments to detect polymerized urushiol in rhus products, which were considered not to include urushiol by the KFDA.
METHODS
Rhus product approved by the KFDA was separated with chloroform. The chloroform fractionation was accomplished on a recycle HPLC system. Four peaks were achieved and evaporated to give an amorphous powder. Each powder was analyzed on a NMR system and mass spectrometer. RESULTS: The material considered to be urushiol dimer, with a 638 molecular weight (MW), was detected in one of the four powders as per the HPLC peaks.
CONCLUSION
We concluded that commercially available rhus product is comprised of material considered to be urushiol dimer. Therefore, even if the antigenicity of the rhus products is low, this product may cause adverse effects and is not completely detoxified.

Keyword

Polymerized urushiol; Rhus; Rhus polymers; Systemic contact dermatitis; Urushiol

MeSH Terms

Catechols
Chickens
Chloroform
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
Dermatitis, Allergic Contact
Dermatitis, Contact
Gastrointestinal Diseases
Food, Organic
Humans
Korea
Medicine, Traditional
Molecular Weight
Polymerization
Polymers
Powders
Rhus
United States Food and Drug Administration
Catechols
Chloroform
Polymers
Powders

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The ESIMS spectrum of fraction C.

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  Fig. 2 1H NMR spectrum of fraction C (DMSO-d6).

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  Fig. 3 Structures of compounds identified in powder C.

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