Furanocoumarin


The furanocoumarins, or furocoumarins, are a class of organic chemical compounds produced by a variety of plants. Most of the plant species found to contain furanocoumarins belong to a handful of plant families. The families Apiaceae and Rutaceae include the largest numbers of plant species that contain furanocoumarins. The families Moraceae and Fabaceae include a few, widely distributed plant species that contain furanocoumarins.
Generally furanocoumarins are most abundant in plants that have flowered and in ripe seeds and fruits. During the early stages of plant growth their presence is not easily detected.

Structure

The chemical structure of furanocoumarins consists of a furan ring fused with a coumarin. The furan ring may be fused in various ways producing several different isomers. The parent compounds of the most common isomers are psoralen and angelicin. Derivatives of these two compounds are referred to respectively as linear and angular furanocoumarins, so called since they exhibit a linear or angular chemical structure.

Biosynthesis

The compounds are biosynthesized partly through the phenylpropanoid pathway and the mevalonate pathway, which is biosynthesized by a coupling of dimethylallyl pyrophosphate and 7-hydroxycoumarin.

Effects

Direct toxicity

Many furanocoumarin compounds are toxic. The phytochemicals enter the nucleus of epithelial cells and form a bond with the DNA when exposed to UV, which causes the cells to die. The result is known as phytophotodermatitis, a serious skin inflammation.
Furanocoumarins may be produced by plants as a defense mechanism against predators such as insects and mammals. It is also likely that furanocoumarins are related to a plant's natural defense against fungal attack. In particular, the linear furanocoumarins, which occur naturally in Apiaceae, Rutaceae, and other plant families, are known to be toxic to fungi. Plants that cause phytophotodermatitis usually contain linear furanocoumarins.
Furanocoumarins are found in the sap of plants such as Ammi majus, parsnip, and giant hogweed. At least 36 species of the genus Heracleum in the family Apiaceae are known to contain one or more furanocoumarin compounds.

Medication interactions

Furanocoumarins have other biological effects as well. For example, in humans, bergamottin and 6',7'-dihydroxybergamottin are responsible for the "grapefruit juice effect", in which these furanocoumarins affect certain P450 liver and gut enzymes, such as the inhibition of CYP3A4 which either activates or deactivates many drugs, thus leading to higher or lower levels in the bloodstream. Furanocoumarins have various effects which can specifically increase or decrease the blood levels of many pharmaceuticals in ways that can be life-threatening and so FDA approved drugs will include warnings for grapefruit.