FAMILY COUMARIN

Coumarins are natural plant secondary metabolites derived from 2-Coumaric acid derivatives, a phenylpropanoid. They may have pharmacological activities, like esculin from horse-chestnut. The 4-hydroxycoumarins are used as anticoagulant drugs.

Many furo-coumarins are toxic and responsible for photodermatitis: our coumarin reference materials allow to test cosmetic or other topical products against these substances (see IFRA analytical procedures and coumarin standard guidelines at www.ifraorg.org).

COUMARIN