2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Coumarins are substances of food origin. The simplest member of the coumarin group is coumarin. It is a white crystalline substance with a vanilla-like aroma.
Coumarins possess a number of biological actions. Coumarins have a characteristic odor, which is why they are often used in perfumery. Coumarins in plants act as a natural pesticide that protects them from pests and insects.
Sources of coumarins
Coumarins are found in the dried yellow leaves of the yellow communion, the seeds and fruits of the plants of the Umbelliferae family.
Coumarins are widespread in nature in the families Legumes, Rosaceae, Oralflowers, fungi and bacteria. When the plants are dried, the alkaloids give them a pleasant smell of fresh hay.
Good sources of coumarins are cinnamon, lavender, licorice, apricots, strawberries, cherries, tonka beans.
Benefits of coumarins
Coumarins help to seal the walls of blood vessels and reduce their permeability. This prevents the formation of swelling.
If swelling is already present, coumarins help to eliminate it. This is due to the ability of coumarins to break down high molecular weight proteins that have passed from the blood through the vessel walls and eventually into the vascular tissues.
If these proteins are not broken down by lower molecular ones that return to the bloodstream, they cause fluid to be attracted and swelling to form.
The use of diuretics has a temporary effect on edema, because these agents eliminate the edematous fluid, but the high-molecular proteins that retain water remain in the vascular tissues and very soon the edema reappears.
On the other hand, coumarins help to control swelling due to the improvement of lymphatic drainage. They support the work of the heart.
Coumarins exert a vascular cleansing effect on dangerous free radicals, while protecting the vessel walls from damage.
A significant role in this action is played by the suppression of the production of substances that cause inflammation. Such are leukotrienes and prostaglandins.
Last but not least, coumarins have a beneficial effect on blood quality, contributing to the increase in the plasticity of erythrocytes, and also because of their good antithrombotic action. Coumarins are also attributed antitumor properties.
In general, one of the most important properties of coumarins is to prevent too much blood clotting and prevent blood clots.
Harm from coumarins
Coumarins have a potentially toxic effect on the liver and kidneys, which is why its use as a dietary supplement is very limited. However, it is completely safe to consume foods that they naturally contain coumarins.
