Toxic anacardiaceae

Toxic Anacardiaceae in other countries include Comocladia and Metopium [34] in Central America and the Caribbean, Mauria [35], Lithraea [36, 37] and T. striata [38] in South America, Smodingium argutum [39, 40, 41] in Africa, the Japanese wax tree (T. Succe-daneum) [42] and T. vernicifluumy the source of Japanese lacquer [43]. 

Cardol (47), one of the phenolic lipids that characterise extracts of members of the plant family Anacardiaceae [118] showed pronounced antifilarial activity (LDioo 3.5 ppm) [119]. In rats, it was tolerated up to concentrations of 5 g/kg body weight. For activity, the phenolic hydroxyls and the alkyl side chain were necessary [119,120]. The related compound urushiol (48) showed toxicity to Ascaris suilla [121]. 

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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