Unusual Chemical Burns Caused by Potentilla Argentea

摘要

Patients continue to seek traditional and alternative treatment modalities despite the advances in modern medicine. Such non-medical treatments remain controversial and can yield unexpected results. We report here on patients who had tightly wrapped the plant Potentilla argentea (Rosaceae) around their knees to treat rheumatism symptoms and consequently developed chemical burns. The plant bears 5-petalled yellow flowers that contain 2 polyphenols that inhibit DNA topoisomerases I and II and are thus cytotoxic. We hypothesize that this mechanism explains the chemical burns.