Herb of Grace: An Unusual Cause of Phytophotodermatitis Mimicking Burn Injury

Abstract

We report the case of a 2-year-old child who suffered an acute phytophotodermatitis with systemic upset after contact with the herb Ruta Graveolens (common rue, Herb of Grace). We review the literature detailing the mechanism of the phytophotodermatitis and the mainstream and alternative medicinal uses of the herb. Clinicians treating burns should consider phytophotodermatitis in their differential diagnosis of any partial-thickness burn injury. Furthermore, the hazards of growing this widespread herb in gardens where children play should be well publicized.

Rues

“…Les quinoleines sont, generalement, de distribution restreinte et centree sur la famille des Rutacees [25].…”

“…• Au Mexique, il est fait etat, pour la premiere fois, du role de R. chalepensis dans la motilite des spermatozo"ides [18]. Les molecules responsables sont, notamment, Ie bergaptene (5-MOP), la xanthotoxine (8-MOP) et la dictamnine [22][23][24][25].…”

“…Les furocoumarines, associees aux uv, sont photosensibilisantes et causent de graves dommages cutanes, en particulier, Ie 5-methoxypsoralene (bergaptene) et Ie 8-methoxypsoralene (xanthotoxine), composes volatils presents dans les HE de R. montana et R. graveolens, ainsi que la dictamnine [23][24][25].…”

Ruta graveolens, rue

“…A group of four adults and seven children applied fresh rue as an insect repellant and spent the afternoon outdoors. A 2-year-old child suffered acute blistering on the hands and was poorly after touching the plant (Furniss & Adams 2007). The rashes tended to be linear where the plant had been rubbed on the skin and people who had spent less time in the sun were less affected (Eickhorst et al 2007).…”

Fototoxicidad tras exposición a ruta graveolens

“…Hasta donde sabemos, Ruta graveolens únicamente aparece relacionada con pacientes quemados en una publicación (10). Nuestro caso sería el primero descrito con una reacción tan extensa como para requerir ingreso hospitalario.…”