The furocoumarins - a family of phototoxic compounds.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Scheel, Lester D.
• Description:
  The phototoxicity of furocoumarins is reviewed. The nomenclature of the compounds is discussed and the natural occurrence of the compounds is considered. Furocoumarins occur in a wide variety of plants, seeds, and fruits either in the free form or conjugated as the glucoside. Two furocoumarins are produced by the symbiotic growth of the mold Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on the celery plant. The isolation and synthesis of the compounds are examined and the biological effects of the compounds are considered. The compounds, when activated by ultraviolet radiation in the wavelength range of 340 to 380 millimicrons cause erythema following topical or oral administration to humans or animals. Liver function studies on humans receiving 30 milligram oral doses of 8-methoxypsoralen (298817) show no abnormalities. Psoralen (66977) and 8- methoxypsoralen inhibit seed germination and root and seedling growth. Other studies have shown psoralen to be a very effective antifungal agent. The author recommends further research on the formation of furocoumarins during food spoilage. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biochemistry Biology Chemistry Occupational Health Safety Toxicology
• Keywords:
  NIOSH-Author; Biology; Biochemical-analysis; Physiological-measurements; Toxicology; Analytical-methods; Physical-properties; Chemical-properties; Chemical-analysis
• Publisher:
  M.I.T. Press
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Guidance
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  109-118
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00135620
• Citation:
  Biochemistry of Some Foodborne Microbial Toxins, Mateles 1967 Jan; :109-118
• CAS Registry Number:
  8-Methoxypsoralen (CAS RN 298-81-7) ; Psoralen (CAS RN 66-97-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1967
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Biochemistry of Some Foodborne Microbial Toxins, Mateles
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7dc847c09aedf140bc731323e8446b4703641ae07d6ad9e7b7238120dab30b8f7dcaa9b938d34d035f87873a0fe7fec262d5d13dcaf290925445e82b6de3b57d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/245617/cdc_245617_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 168.02 KB ]