Analysis of contact dermatitis by cytokines 4--Skin sensitization of biphenyl compounds

Abstract

Clove buds oil is one of very important natural essential oil with a typical spicy note and also known as a source of eugenol. These phenol compounds, which have the strong perfume of clove, are widely used not only as an analgesic and antiseptic agent in dentistry. However, the problem is that the phenol compounds caused sensitization on the skin occasionally. We reported that the skin sensitization by eugenol and its derivatives was detected in the guinea pig maximization test (GPMT) and also confirmed that dehydrodi-eugenol, a biphenyl compound of eugenol, did not show the skin sensitization. To discuss more, we examined the skin sensitization by several phenol compounds and its biphenyl ones. Consequently, we confirmed that the skin sensitization by biphenyl compounds more remarkably decreased than that by phenol compounds (monomer).