Assessment of the Skin Sensitizing Potential of Chemicals, Contained in Foods And/or Cosmetic Ingredients, Using a Modified Local Lymph Node Assay with an Elicitation Phase (LLNA:DAE) Method

We evaluated the skin sensitizing potential of 10 natural organic chemicals, or their derivatives, which are included in foods and/or skin products, using a modified local lymph node assay (LLNA), with an elicitation phase (LLNA:DAE). The following compounds were tested: carminic acid, esculetin, 4-methyl esculetin, coumarin, quercetin, curcumin, naringenin, chlorogenic acid, isoscopoletin, and shikonin. Esculetin, 4-methyl esculetin, isoscopoletin, and shikonin yielded positive results. In particular, shikonin at a very low concentration (0.05%) induced an elicitation response. In conclusion, four of the 10 natural organic chemicals tested had a skin sensitization potential, with shikonin producing serious reaction even at a very low concentration.