Review article
Biological activity of coumarin derivatives – a review
Maja Molnar
; University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer in Osijek, Faculty of Food Technology Osijek, Franje Kuhača 20, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
M. Čačić
; University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer in Osijek, Faculty of Food Technology Osijek, Franje Kuhača 20, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Abstract
Coumarin derivatives are wide spread in nature and found in many plants, fruits and vegetables. They show a broad spectrum of biological activities, but the use of coumarin is restricted by law and its maximal allowed concentration in foodstuff is determined by state regulations. As a model for investigation of coumarin toxicity rats have often been used, but some recent investigations indicate that the coumarin metabolism and therefore coumarin toxicity, are much different in humans and rats. This paper sums up coumarin biological properties as well as specificity of coumarin metabolism in rats and humans.
Keywords
coumarin; metabolism; biological activity; toxicity
Hrčak ID:
76162
URI
Publication date:
30.12.2011.
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