No abstract available.
Benzoin* ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact*

Of the 166 cases of suspected cosmetic contact dermatitis, 92 showed positive reactions to one or more of the allergens of the commercial test kits or patients, own coametics by patch test. Tincture of benzoin, ammoniated mercury, cinnamic alcohol and benzyl salicylate were the most commonly identified agents. By product category, skin care produts dominated as the cause of the cosmetic conact dermatitis. However, it was suspected that the most common sensitizer may be present in the eye-make up preparations. The positive rate of foreign cosmetics was more than 2 fold higher than the domestic ones.
Allergens ; Benzoin ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Humans ; Patch Tests* ; Skin Care

Propolis or bee-glue, a resinous bee-hive product, is widely used in foreign countries as a medicinal remedy and in cosmetics. However, it is thought to be the cause of an increasing number of cases of allergic contact dermatitis. More than 180 constituents have been found in propolis and the major sensitizers are 3-methyl-2-butenyl caffeate and phenylethyl caffeate. We report a case of allergic contact dermatitis caused by a propolis tincture that was used in the treatment of a skin wound. Patch test results showed a positive reaction to both propolis and benzoin tinctures, but a negative reaction to fucidic acid. Because benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, esters of cinnamic acid, and vanillin are ingredients common to propolis and benzoin tinctures, these minor sensitizers are suspected as being the cause of allergic contact dermatitis in this case.
Benzoic Acid ; Benzoin ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Esters ; Patch Tests ; Propolis* ; Skin ; Wounds and Injuries

The antibacterial and antifungal activities of three schiff bases were evaluated against some pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Parallel experiments were also carried out with standard drugs (Kanamycin for bacteria and Nystatin for fungi). Two compounds [N-(1-phenyl-2-hydroxy-2phenylethylidine)-2',4' dinitrophenyl hydrazine, abbreviated as PDH and N-(2-hydroxy benzylidine)-2'-hydroxy imine, abbreviated as HHP] showed significant antimicrobial activities. The rest one [N-(1-phenyl 2-hydroxy-2 phenyl ethylidine) 2'-hydroxy phenyl imine, abbreviated as PHP] showed moderate activity. All these three compounds were found to possess pronounced cytotoxic effect. These compounds can be considered as potent antimicrobial agents.
Aldehydes ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Bacteria ; Benzoin ; Fungi ; Hydrazines ; Nystatin ; Schiff Bases

OBJECTIVETo research the effects of moschus, borneol, styrax and benzoinum on the structure and function of blood brain barrier in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury model rats.

METHODFocal middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was introduced as an in vivo ischemic model in rats. After 2 h MCAO, nylon suture was pulled up 1 cm to give blood reperfusion. After 22 h reperfusion, all animals were decapitated. The ultramicrostructure of blood brain barrier of ischemia hemisphere side in fronto-parietal cortex region by transmission electron microscope, and the content of VEGF and MMP-9 in ischemia side brain tissue were measured by ELISA.

RESULTIn model and solvent group rats, the capillary endothelium cells, astro-glial cells and nerve cells in ischemia hemisphere side in fronto-parietal region were emerged in different degree compared with sham-operated groups, which exhibited tight junction between endothelial cells being opened, basal lamina being dissolved, and permeability increasing, and cellularedema. In borneol (0.2 g x kg(-1)) group rats, the structure of three kinds of cells were nearly normal, which tight junction structure was clear, rough endoplasmic reticulum and polyribosome could be found in cytoplasm. In moschus (66.6 mg x kg(-1)) group rats, the structure of capillary endothelium cells and astrocytes were nearly normal as well as the basal lamina, but the electrons in neurons was maldistribution. In styrax (1.332 g x kg(-1)) group rats, astrocytes were nearly normal, while capillary endothelial cells and neurons exhibited oedema in different degrees. And the basal lamina was discontinuous, augmentation of cell spaces in endothelial cells increased the permeability, some endoplasmic reticulum broadened and ribosome ablated. In benzoinum (1.0 g x kg(-1)) group rats, oedema of capillary endothelial cells and astrocytes was significant, basal lamina broke. Meanwhile endoplasmic reticulum broadened as vacuole, the number of ribosome in rough endoplasmic reticulum decreased, crista mitochondriales in some neurons disappeared as vacuole which hint oedema happened. Results also showed that borneol decrease the level of VEGF in ischemia side brain tissue significantly, while has little influence on the level of MMP-9. Moschus showed the tendency to decrease the level of VEGF and MMP-9 in ischemia side brain tissue.

CONCLUSIONAromatic resuscitation drugs showed the protection effect on blood brain barrier in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury rats, which the protection effect of moschus and borneol were better than that of styrax and benzoinum. The mechanism of protection effect maybe related to decrease the level of VEGF and MMP-9.

Animals ; Benzoin ; pharmacology ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; drug effects ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Bornanes ; pharmacology ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated ; pharmacology ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Styrax ; chemistry ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; drug effects ; metabolism