Phototoxic Plant Interactions: Unraveling the Complexities of Phytophotodermatitis in Unani system of Medicine

Abstract

Phytophotodermatitis named from the terms ‘phyto’ means plant, ‘photo’ means light, and ‘dermatitis’ means skin inflammation, is a type of Contact dermatitis (Iltihab-e-Jild Ittesali). Phytophotodermatitis is the eruption that occurs after contact with photosensitizing compounds in plants (like, furanocoumarins) and exposure to sunlight (especially UV-A, 320-400 nm range of the spectrum). Furanocoumarins, present in some plants (e.g., parsley, celery, carrots, and limes), react using their parent compound, psoralen, with the UV radiation, which forms the eruptions on the skin. These Plants may cause allergic contact, irritant contact, and phototoxic dermatitis. Most phototoxic plants are in the families Umbelliferae, Rutaceae, Compositae, and Moraceae. Phytophotodermatitis a rare phenomenon seen in Indian settings, may sometimes get misdiagnosed as fungal skin infection, allergic contact dermatitis or cellulitis. The present study helps in unraveling the interactions, pathophysiology and complications of phytophotodermatitis.