Contents
PHOTOTOXIC PLANTS
Herbal remedies that increase photosensibility
People must be cautious exposing to the sun when taking certain herbal remedies, such as St. John’s wort. They are able to produce photosensitization (the skin becomes more sensitive to the sunlight effects) Therefore, all these products may be responsible for the appearance of brown spots, redness and even burns. Other plants contain principles that can attain the main results when applied on the skin.
Gardeners should also take into account that some plants manipulation and later exposure to sun can produce similar results. So, they should use gardening gloves and protect their body with suitable garments if they need to expose to sun after manipulating these type of plants.
Among the main herbs or plants that can potentially cause phototoxicity we have the following:
Main phototoxic plant list | |||
| Species | Phototoxic component | Phototoxic parts | Possible phototoxic cause |
| Ammi majus ( Bishop’s Weed) | AngelicinBergapten Pimpellinin Furocoumarin Methoxy-Psoralen | Seeds | Internal use seeds |
| Anethum graveolens (Dill) | Bergapten | Plant | Fresh plant on the skin |
| Angelica archangelica (Angelica) | AngelicinBergapten Pimpellinin Psoralen Sphondin | Seeds, plant | Fresh plant on the skin |
| Angelica dahurica (Bai Zhi) | Psoralen | Root, plant | Fresh plant on the skin |
| Apium graveolens (Celery) | AngelicinBergapten Methoxy-Psoralen Psoralen | Plant | Fresh plant on the skin |
| Banisteriopsis caapi (Ayahuasca) | Harmaline | Semillas | Seeds preparation for ayahuasca |
| Casimiroa edulis (White sapote) | BergaptenDictamnine Skimmianine | Bark | Contact with the plant |
| Cinchona spp (Quinina) | Quinine | Bark | Decoctions of rhyzome, contact with the bark |
| Citrus aurantiifolia (Lime) | Bergapten | Fruit | Fruit contact or eating |
| Citrus aurantium (Bitter orange) | Bergapten | Fruit | Fruit contact or eating |
| Citrus limon (Lemon) | Bergapten | Essential oil | Essential oil on the skin |
| Coriandrum sativum (Coriander) | PsoralenAngelicin Bergapten | Plant | Fresh plant on the skin |
| Curcuma longa (Indian Saffron) | Curcumin | Rhyzome | Capsules of curcumin |
| Curcuma xanthorrhiza (Javan Turmeric) | Curcumin | Rhyzome | Capsules of curcumin |
| Curcuma zedoaria (Shoti) | Curcumin | Rhyzome | Capsules of curcumin |
| Dictamnus albus (Burning Bush) | BergaptenPsoralen Dictamnine Skimmianine | Root | Root decoctions |
| Ficus carica (Fig tree) | PsoralenBergapten Angelicin | Plant | Contact of the juice on the skin |
| Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel) | BergaptenPsoralen Methoxy-Psoralen | Fruit | Essential oil on the skin |
| Glehnia littoralis (Bei Sha Shen) | BergaptenPsoralen | Rhyzome | Decoctions of rhyzome |
| Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice) | Bergapten | Ramas | Eating or chewing licorice |
| Heracleum laciniatum (Laciniate) | AngelicinBergapten Pimpellinin Sphondin | Plant | Fresh plant on the skin |
| Hydrastis canadensis (Goldenseal) | BerberastineBerberine | Rhyzome | Capsules or decoctions of rhyzome |
| Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s wort) | Hypericin | Plant | Essential oil on the skin. Internal preparations of the plant |
| Levisticum officinale (Lovage) | BergaptenPsoralen Methoxy-Psoralen | Plant | Fresh plant on the skin |
| Limonia acidissima (Elephant Apple) | PsoralenBergapten | Plant | Fresh plant on the skin |
| Passiflora incarnata (Mayapple) | Harmaline | Plant | Contact with the plant |
| Peganum harmala (Harmala) | Harmaline | Semillas | Seeds preparation for ayahuasca or other |
| Petroselinum crispum (Parsley) | BergaptenPsoralen Methoxy-Psoralen | Plant, seed | Fresh plant or essential on the skin |
| Pimpinella anisum (Anise) | Bergapten, | Plant, seed | Fresh plant or essential on the skin |
| Ruta graveolens (Rue) | BergaptenPsoralen Dictamnine Skimmianine | Plant | Fresh plant on the skin |
| Skimmia arborescens (Skimmia) | BergaptenSkimmianine | Leaves | Contact with the plant |
| Skimmia japonica (Japanese Skimmia) | DictamnineSkimmianine | Leaves | Contact with the plant |
| Zanthoxylum alatum (Indian Prickly Ash) | BerberineDictamnine Skimmianine | Bark | Contact with the plant |
| Zanthoxylum americanum (Northern Prickly Ash) | BerberineDictamnine Skimmianine | Bark | Contact with the plant |
| Zanthoxylum clava-herculis (Hercules’ club) | Berberine | Bark | Contact with the plant |
| Zingiber officinale (Ginger) | Curcumin | Rhizome | Capsules or decoctions of Rhizome |
More information about sunburns and its natural treatment.
