An 11-year-old girl and her 14-year-old brother in India developed dermatitis after their parents tied a marking nut (Semecarpus anacardium) around their ankles, believing it would protect them from the evil eye. The siblings experienced pain, itching, redness, and fluid-filled lesions, which resolved after treatment with oral steroids and antihistamines. The marking nut, used in traditional medicine and folklore, contains bhilawanol, which can cause irritant and allergic contact dermatitis. This case highlights the importance of understanding ethnobotany and cultural practices in diagnosing skin conditions in tropical regions.
3 citations,
March 2019 in “Contact Dermatitis” Using Indian marking nut sap for hair loss caused a skin rash on a woman's face.
4 citations,
November 2012 in “Dermatitis” A man got severe skin irritation after using marking nut sap for hair loss.
4 citations,
November 2012 in “Dermatitis” A man got severe skin irritation after using marking nut sap for hair loss.
3 citations,
March 2019 in “Contact Dermatitis” Using Indian marking nut sap for hair loss caused a skin rash on a woman's face.
August 2022 in “International Journal of Current Science Research and Review” Ayurveda can make poisonous plants medicinal through specific purification processes.
July 2021 in “Research Square (Research Square)” Semecarpus anacardium leaf extract fights breast cancer and extends survival in mice.
January 2020 in “bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)” Semecarpus anacardium leaf extracts may offer safe, effective cancer treatment alternatives.
