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An investigation of the allergenic constituents of Cladonia stellaris (Opiz) Pous & VeŽda (‘silver moss’, ‘reindeer moss’ or ‘reindeer lichen’)
Author(s) -
Hausen B. M.,
Emde Lars,
Marks Viola
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
contact dermatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0536
pISSN - 0105-1873
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0536.1993.tb03344.x
Subject(s) - moss , lichen , botany , cladonia , biology , chemistry
The sensitizing potency of Cladonia stellaris (‘reindeer lichen silver moss’) extracts was determined in guinea pigs by a modified FCA (Freund's complete adjuvant) lest. The lichen showed a moderate sensitizing potency. Similar investigations with pure common lichen constituents revealed a moderate sensitizing potency for fumarprotocetraric acid and atranorin and a weak one for evernic acid, stictic acid and both forms of usnic acid. Although generallt weak, (–)‐usnic acid was at least 2 × stronger than (+)‐usnic acid. After separation of the Cladonia ether extract into ‘usnic‐acid‐free’ and ‘usnic‐acid‐containing’ fractions, perlatolic acid was identified as the main allergenic constituent of the ‘usnic‐acid‐free fraction’. Stictic, evernic. fumarprotocetraric acid and atranorin were not detectable. Lichens and lichen products generally possess a weak to moderate sensitizing capacity. Compared with common sensitizers of occupational and environmental importance, these products play only a minor role.