# Plicatic acid

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**Plicatic acid** is a [carboxylic acid](/source/Carboxylic_acid) from the [resin acid](/source/Resin_acid) group. It is naturally found in *[Thuja](/source/Thuja)* and [cypress](/source/Cupressaceae) resin, and the main irritant and [contact allergen](/source/Contact_allergen) present in thuja wood; in contrast to [pine](/source/Pine), where the primary irritant is [abietic acid](/source/Abietic_acid).

The highest concentrations of plicatic acid can be found in *[Thuja plicata](/source/Thuja_plicata)* (western red cedar), but *[Thuja occidentalis](/source/Thuja_occidentalis)* (eastern arborvitae) and *[Cryptomeria japonica](/source/Cryptomeria_japonica)* (sugi) contain it in significant proportions as well.

Exposure to plicatic acid or *Thuja* wood dust can worsen [asthma](/source/Asthma) and provoke [allergic reactions](/source/Allergic_reaction).[1]

## References

1. Ayars, GH; Altman, LC; Frazier, CE; Chi, EY (1989). "The toxicity of constituents of cedar and pine woods to pulmonary epithelium". *The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology*. **83** (3): 610–8. [doi:10.1016/0091-6749(89)90073-0](https://doi.org/10.1016/0091-6749(89)90073-0). [PMID 2926083](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2926083)

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