Pulsatilla koreana is a member of the buttercup familly (Ranuculaceae) which contains the unsaturated lactone, protoanemonin(C5H4O2), formed after injury to the plant by the breakdown of the glycoside ranunculin. It has been prescribed as a
herbal
medicine or a folk medicine for antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, astringent and hemostatic effects in Korea.
A 20 year-old famale patient presented with confluent vesicobullae on the erythematous base with a burning sensation on her upper back. This was caused by contact with crushed Pulsatilla koreana, a folk medicine for the treatment of left facial
nerve
palsy, that had occurred 10 days before her visit.
A provocation patch test with Pulsatilla koreana upon a heathy male volunteer's upper back showed strong positive reactions with the stalk and leaf in fresh and frozen state and after thawing resptively. However no reaction was seen when the folk
medicine was used in a dried form or with the root in any state.
This case indicates that misadvice and ignorant folk remedies could cause misfortunate results to innocent people. (Kor J Dermatol 1997;35(2) : 339∼343)
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