Sumac Family

Mastic. Mastic is the resin obtained from the small mastic tree Pistacia lentis-cus, of the sumac family, found chiefly in Mediterranean countries. When the bark of the tree is injured, the resin exudes as drops. Mastic is transparent and pale yellow to green in color. The main ancient uses of mastic were as an adhesive, for making varnish, as a medicine, and for flavoring. 

Tannins 1. hydrolysable tannins 2. condensed tannins Sumac (Rhus Sp.) oak (Quercus sp.) chestnut (Castanea sp.) alder (alnus sp.) Pineaceae family such as pine, spruce, hemlock Also called 1. gallotannins because they from esters with gallic acid 2. hydrated flavonols or proanthocyanidins Historically labeled as tanning agents... 

The genera in the family of Anacardiaceae (Table 1) include pistachio, poison ivy, and sumac. 

Epi-derm has received four reports of allergic contact dermatitis from phenol-formaldehyde resins and brake pad mixes (N. Cherry, personal communication). The medical literature has very few reports of dermatitis in the brake-lining industry. Phenol-formaldehyde resin is the main potential allergen in the occupational environment. Cashew-nut shell oil is well recognised as an allergen, but the materials used in brake linings rarely appear to sensitise. (Adams 1990). The species Anacardium occidentale produces cashew nuts. It is in the same family as poison ivy, oak and sumac found in North America and elsewhere. Cross-... 

Concurrently, the Egyptians, Japanese, and Chinese were beginning to develop lacquers (Stillman, I960). Some time before 200 b.c., the Chinese used the exudation (sap) from the conifer Rhus vemicifera (which became known as the sumac or varnish tree) as a coating. This plant has also been called the urushi tree. The tree belongs to the same family as the poison ivy plant, and like it, all parts of the tree are toxic— tree, sap, and latex. Those who tap the tree must wear gloves and protective clothing. The active irritant is urushiol, a catechol derivative. 

The Japanese lacquer tree belongs to the family Anacardiaceae which consists of about 600 species. A number of Anacardiaceus species produce poisonous saps, oleoresin mixtures of phenolic compounds that cause contact dermatitis. These compounds are similar in chemical structure to the well known dermatologically toxic components of the sap of poison ivy or poison sumac. 

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