DOI: 10.1177/17103568261476312 ISSN: 1710-3568
Compositions of Propolis,
Myroxylon pereirae
Resin, and Colophonium for Patch Testing: Analyses With Gas Chromatography—Mass Spectrometry
Evelyn Calta, Anton de Groot, Aleksandra Chojnacka, Norbertus A. Ipenburg, Thomas Rustemeyer
Background:
Propolis,
Myroxylon pereirae
resin (balsam of Peru), and colophonium are complex botanical materials that frequently co-react when patch tested. Detailed knowledge of their compositions may help explain the co-reactivity pattern and identify the haptens responsible for positive patch tests.
Objective:
To study the compositions of propolis,
M. pereirae
resin, and colophonium used for patch testing and assess whether they contain identical ingredients.
Methods:
The ingredients of 3 samples of propolis, 2 of
M. pereirae
resin and 2 of colophonium used for preparing patch test preparations by Chemotechnique and SmartPractice (brand Allergeaze) were analyzed using gas chromatography—mass spectrometry.
Results:
Major ingredients in Brazilian propolis were non-volatile fatty materials; in Chinese propolis tectochrysin, pinostrobin, pinocembrin, and
p
-vinylguaiacol; in
M. pereirae
resin benzyl benzoate, benzyl cinnamate and nerolidol; in colophonium Chemotechnique isoabienol, β-caryophyllene, sandaracopimarinal, sandaracopimarinol and longifolene; in colophonium Allergeaze lupeol acetate, longifolene, sandaracopimarinol, abietinal and isoabienol. Only 11 chemicals were present in 2 materials, none in all 3.
Conclusions:
Very few identical chemicals were found in propolis,
M. pereirae
resin, and colophonium. The results do not support the notion that the frequently observed co-reactivity to these complex natural materials can be explained by identical chemicals detected in this study.