Oriental lacquer .11. Botany and chemistry of the active components of poisonous Anacardiaceae

Some aspects of the botany of the family Anacardiaceae are discussed with special emphasis on the poisonous genera and species. The focus is on the well-known members of the genus Toxicodendrons, i.e., the lacquer tree, poison ivy, poison sumac, and poison oak. These genera have as their toxic, dermatitis-causing ingredients catechols with C-15 and C-17 aliphatic side chains of various degrees of unsaturation and a variety of compositions of the individual components. Saps with a catechols mixture of a high triene content are used as lacquer for highly desired objects of art and daily use with great beauty and considerable value. Some other members of the Anacardiaceae family which grow in South East Asia have active catechol and phenol components with slightly different chemical side chain structure.