title: The sensitizing capacity of coumarins (II).
abstract: 5 coumarins used in perfumery, cosmetics, therapeutic ointments or occurring naturally were investigated by Freund's complete adjuvant technique (FCAT) in guinea pigs to determine their contact sensitizing potency. 4-Methylesculetin was also studied. Esculetin, dihydrocoumarin and daphnetin were found to be moderate to strong sensitizers, while fraxetin was nearly and 7-methylcoumarin completely inactive. The results corroborate the hypothetical view that only those coumarins having a catecholic disubstitution in the benzene ring, e.g., esculetin, 4-methylesculetin, daphnetin, can become sensitizers on the basis that they are capable of forming ortho-quinones under oxidizing conditions.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000276:immunology; D003374:Coumarins / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant / Q000276:immunology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods; D012882:Skin Tests; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014468:Umbelliferones / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D003374:Coumarins; D014468:Umbelliferones; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant; C007628:esculetin; C039952:daphnetin