BACKGROUND: Henna is a natural dye derived from the leaves of the tree Lawsonia inermis known for its very low allergic properties. Recently, however, cases of pigmented contact dermatitis after henna dyeing have been increasing. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical and histologic features of pigmented contact dermatitis caused by henna dyeing. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and histopathologic features of patients diagnosed with pigmented contact dermatitis after henna dyeing from June 2014 to August 2017. RESULTS: A total of 22 patients with a history of henna dyeing were included. All patients were female, and mean age was 58.9±8.2 years. They presented with rapidly spreading dark brownish patches located mostly adjacent to the hairline, such as at the forehead, temple, and lateral cheek. The mean duration between symptom onset and henna dyeing was 4.52 months (0~15). Standard patch test and as is test using henna showed no significant results. There were 18 patients with pruritus, which was only present at the early stage. Histopathologic examinations showed lichenoid inflammation with dermal melanin incontinence, vacuolar alteration, epidermal apoptotic cells, and perivascular inflammation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that pigmented contact dermatitis observed after henna dyeing was caused by the toxicity of henna itself, not by other additives. The active ingredient of henna is lawsone (2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), which may have induced pigmented contact dermatitis by its own cellular toxicity. Dermatologists should consider henna dyeing as a potential cause of pigmentation of the face and neck.
Cheek ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Female ; Forehead ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lawsonia Plant ; Melanins ; Neck ; Patch Tests ; Pigmentation ; Pruritus ; Retrospective Studies ; Trees

Effect of ethanolic extracts of Lawsonia inermis, Azadirachta indica, Vinca rosea, Tagetes patula, Ocimum sanctum, Colocasia antiquorum, Adhatoda vasica, Moringa oleifera, Datura metel and Curcuma longa leaf on conidial germination, mycelial growth and sporulation of Aspergillus flavus, A. niger and A. fumigatus were examined. The conidial germination of A. flavus and A. fumigatus were most inhibited by the extract of L. inermis, while that of A. niger was inhibited by A. indica. Other tested plant extracts have a good effect on conidial germination on the selected fungi. The highest mycelial growth of A. flavus (37 mm) was found in V. rosea, but in case of A. niger and A. fumigatus it (38 and 39 mm) was found in D. metel. The lowest (4, 9 and 6 mm) respectively mycelial growth of these fungi found in L. inermis. The highest sporulation (75 x 10(4)/ml) of A. flavus was counted in V. rosea, but in case of A. niger and A. fumigatus those (45 x 10(4) and 55 x 10(4)/ml) were in D. metel and the lowest (5 x 10(4), 12 x 10(4) and 9 x 10(4)/ml) respectively sporulation of these fungi counted in L. inermis plant extract medium.
Justicia ; Aspergillus flavus ; Azadirachta ; Catharanthus ; Colocasia ; Curcuma ; Datura metel ; Ethanol ; Fungi* ; Germination* ; Lawsonia Plant ; Moringa oleifera ; Niger ; Ocimum ; Plant Extracts* ; Plants* ; Poultry* ; Tagetes

OBJECTIVETo reveal the antibacterial activity of sequentially extracted different cold organic solvent extracts of fruits, flowers and leaves of Lawsonia inermis (L. against) some pathogenic bacteria.

METHODSPowders of fruits, flowers and leaves of L. inermis were continuously extracted with dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate and ethanol at ambient temperature. The dried extracts were prepared into different concentrations and tested for antibacterial activity by agar well diffusion method, and also the extracts were tested to determine the available phytochemicals.

RESULTSExcept DCM extract of flower all other test extracts revealed inhibitory effect on all tested bacteria and their inhibitory effect differed significantly (P<0.05). The highest inhibitory effect was showed by ethyl acetate extract of flower against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), and ethyl acetate extract of fruit on Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis). The ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of flower, fruit and leaf expressed inhibition even at 1 mg/100 µl against all test bacteria. Among the tested phytochemicals flavonoids were detected in all test extracts except DCM extract of flower.

CONCLUSIONSThe study demonstrated that the ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of fruit and flower of L. inermis are potentially better source of antibacterial agents compared to leaf extracts of respective solvents.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Bacteria ; drug effects ; Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Lawsonia Plant ; chemistry ; Phytochemicals ; chemistry ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Solvents ; Sri Lanka

Lawsonia inermis is a single-species genus of the Lythraceae family, its leaves, stem bark, roots, flowers and seeds have been used in traditional medicine. It has been paid more attention by scholars from many countries because of their various types of compounds and significant physiological activities. The plant is reported to contain quinones, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic compounds and fatty acids. Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that the plant performs antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer and antiparasitic activity. This article mainly summarizes the research advances of chemical constituents and biological activities of Lawsonia inermis, for its further development and utilization.
Anti-Infective Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Antiparasitic Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lawsonia Plant ; chemistry