Abstract
There are some reports that eugenol in some medicaments for dental treatment causes allergic reaction, but few immunopharmacological studies have been undertaken. In this study, the allergic contact dermatitis of eugenol was examined in the guinea pig using the adjuvant and patch test with eugenol and eucalyptol. Eugenol was prepared in two forms, one a chemical reagent and the other a solution for addition to dental medicament. Eucalyptol was obtained as a chemical reagent. The samples were dissolved in acetone, then the acetone was used as a negative control, and Sudan I was used as a positive control. The concentration of both eugenol and eucalyptol in the induction stage was 50%. The concentrations of eugenol in the reaction-inducing period were 2.5, 10, 25, and 50%, and those of eucalyptol were 3.125, 6.25, 12.5, and 25%. At 24 and 48hrs after reaction-inducing, an obvious reaction to eugenol was recognized at the concentrations of 25% and 50%, but that to eucalyptol was not recognized in any concentration. The results suggest that the eugenol contained in medicaments for clinical dental therapy potentially induces allergic contact dermatitis.
