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English ivy

Author: Hon A/Prof Marius Rademaker, Dermatologist, Hamilton, New Zealand,1999.

English ivy — codes and concepts
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Common name: English Ivy
Botanical name: Hedera helix
Family: Araliaceae (ginseng family).
Origin: Originally from temperate Europe where it was found in woods and hedgerows. Commonly found growing on trees, walls and sides of houses.
Description: A woody evergreen plant which often grows as a creeper. Five lobed green leaves although a number of variegated cultivars exist. Yellowish green flowers may be seen in autumn. Black globular berries.
Ivy
Ivy
Uses: Extracts from english ivy have been used as tonics, expectorants and as poutices for bruises.
Allergens: Falcarinol (a diacetylene; heptadeca-1,9-diene-4,6-diyne-3-ol) and didehydrofalcarinol.
Allergy: Both irritant and allergic contact dermatitis has been reported from contact with English ivy, usually after pulling off creepers from walls, trees, etc. However, it has been reported in children following contact by climbing in trees covered with ivy.
Cross reactions: Cross reactions with Queensland umbrella tree: Brassaia (Schefflera) actinophyllaa common house plant. May also cross react with members of the carrot and celery family (Umbilliferae) which may contain falcarinol.
Other information: Berries are poisonous if eaten. English ivy should not be confused with ground ivy or poison ivy (Toxicodendron spp.) which are different species.
Patch test: Leaf as is, falcarinol 0.1%.

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References

  • Lovell CR.1993, Plants and the Skin, Blackwell, Oxford.
  • Mitchell JC, Rook A, 1979, Botanical Dermatology, Plants and Plant products injurious to the skin, Greengrass, Vancouver.
  • Yesudian PD, Franks A. Contact dermatitis from Hedera helix in a husband and wife. Contact Dermatitis 2002 Feb;46(2):125-6.
  • Oka K, Saito F, Yasuhara T, Sugimoto A. The allergens of Dendropanax trifidus Makino and Fatsia japonica Decne. et Planch. and evaluation of cross-reactions with other plants of the Araliaceae family. Contact Dermatitis 1999 Apr;40(4):209-13.
  • Oka K, Saito F, Yasuhara T, Sugimoto A. The major allergen of Dendropanax trifidus Makino. Contact Dermatitis 1997 May;36(5):252-5.
  • Elliott, C. 1995. The ivy debate. Horticulture March:21-23.
  • Garcia M, Fernandez E, Navarro JA, del Pozo MD, Fernandez de Corres L. Allergic contact dermatitis from Hedera helix L. Contact Dermatitis 1995 Aug;33(2):133-4.
  • Johnke H, Bjarnason B. [Contact dermatitis allergy to common ivy (Hedera helix L.)] Ugeskr Laeger 1994 Jun 20;156(25):3778-9. [Article in Danish]
  • Massmanian A, Valcuende Cavero F, Ramirez Bosca A, Castells Rodellas A. Contact dermatitis from variegated ivy (Hedera helix subsp. canariensis Willd.). Contact Dermatitis 1988 Apr;18(4):247-8.
  • Gafner F, Epstein W, Reynolds G, Rodriguez E. Human maximization test of falcarinol, the principal contact allergen of English ivy and Algerian ivy (Hedera helix, H. canariensis). Contact Dermatitis 1988 Aug;19(2):125-8.
  • Hausen BM, Brohan J, Konig WA, Faasch H, Hahn H, Bruhn G. Allergic and irritant contact dermatitis from falcarinol and didehydrofalcarinol in common ivy (Hedera helix L.). Contact Dermatitis 1987 Jul;17(1):1-9.
  • Guin JD, Skidmore G. Compositae dermatitis in childhood. Arch Dermatol 1987 Apr;123(4):500-2.
  • Boyle J, Harman RM. Contact dermatitis to Hedera helix (common ivy). Contact Dermatitis 1985 Feb;12(2):111-2.
  • Mitchell JC. Allergic contact dermatitis from Hedera helix and Brassaia actinophylla (Araliaceae). Contact Dermatitis 1981 May;7(3):158-9.