Urushiol: Encyclopedia - Urushiol

Urushiol

For specific information on prevention and treatment of urushiol poisoning, see Urushiol-induced contact dermatitis.

Urushiol (you-ROO-shee-ol) is an oil found in plants of the Family Anacardiaceae, especially Toxicodendron spp. (e.g. poison oak, poison-ivy, and poison sumac). It causes an allergic skin rash on contact. The name comes from urushi, a lacquer produced in Japan from the sap of kiurushi trees (Toxicodendron vernicifluum).

Urushiol is a yellow liquid with a boiling point of 200-210 °C. It is soluble in alcohol and ether, but nearly insoluble in water. Chemically, urushiol is mixture of several closely related organic compounds. Each consists of a catechol substituted with an alkyl chain that has 15 or 17 carbon atoms. The alkyl group may be saturated or unsaturated. The exact mixture depends on the species of the plant. For example, poison oak urushiol contains mostly catechols with C₁₇ side chains, but poison ivy and poison sumac contain mostly catechols with C₁₅ side chains.

R = (CH2)14CH3  or

R = (CH2)7CH=CH(CH2)5CH3 or

R = (CH2)7CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)2CH3 or

R = (CH2)7CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH=CHCH3 or

R = (CH2)7CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CH2 and others.

See also

• Burow's solution, for treating the toxin
• Poison-ivy
• Western Poison-oak
• Toxin

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Urushiol", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki