Canadian Medical Guide > Chemicals and Drugs > Heterocyclic Compounds > Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring > Benzopyrans > Coumarins Terms and Definitions

Coumarins

Medical Definition:	Synthetic or naturally occurring substances related to coumarin, the delta-lactone of coumarinic acid. Coumarin itself occurs in the Tonka bean. The various coumarins have a wide range of proposed actions and uses including as anticoagulants, pharmaceutical aids, indicators and reagents, photoreactive substances, and antineoplastic agents.
Guide Notes:	anticoagulants

Coumarins Categories.

	4-Hydroxycoumarins - Substances found in many plants, containing the 4-hydroxycoumarin radical. They interfere with vitamin K and the blood clotting mechanism, are tightly protein-bound, inhibit mitochondrial and microsomal enzymes, and are used as oral anticoagulants.
	Chromonar - A coronary vasodilator agent.
	Esculin
	Ochratoxins - Toxins produced by Aspergillus ochraceus. Occurring widely, ochratoxins have been found as natural contaminants on storage grains, corn, peanuts, cottonseed, and decaying vegetation. They are produced by several other species of Aspergillus as well as by Penicillium viridicatum.
	Pyranocoumarins - A type of COUMARINS with added pyran ring(s).
	Umbelliferones - 7-Hydroxycoumarins. Substances present in many plants, especially umbelliferae. Umbelliferones are used in sunscreen preparations and may be mutagenic. Their derivatives are used in liver therapy, as reagents, plant growth factors, sunscreens, insecticides, parasiticides, choleretics, spasmolytics, etc.

Coumarins Medical Definitions and Terms

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