Furocoumarins are a special type of coumarin, and fall within the subgroup of lactones. Examples include bergaptene, bergaptol, and psoralen. Furocoumarines can be phototoxic and may also interfere with anticoagulant medications.
Bergamot is an essential oil containing bergaptene. Other essential oils containing bergaptene may include lime, orange, and grapefruit. Essential oils labeled FCF that normally contain furocoumarins, have been rectified to remove these constituents.
Furocoumarins can be found in the following foods: grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, carrot, parsnip, celery, parsley, dill, cilantro, cumin, turnip, and coriander.
Links to Plants Containing Furocoumarin
RESEARCH
The listings of research below represents a compilation of scientific articles found on the topic, with a very brief overview description of each article/study. This compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use of any herb listed.
GENERAL
- Furocoumarins have shown in research to have significant antimicrobial, insecticidal, and cancer inhibiting activity. However, there is also a phototoxic effect and there can be interference with drug metabolism. Furocoumarins are found in grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, carrot, celery, parsnip, dill, parsley, cilantro, cumin, coriander, turnip, and fig. From: Melough, M. M., Cho, E., & Chun, O. K. (2018). Furocoumarins: a review of biochemical activities, dietary sources and intake, and potential health risks. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 113, 99-107.
PHOTOTOXIC
- Lemon, as well as lime and bitter orange oil contained furocoumarin ( bergapten and oxypeucedanin) causing phototoxicity. From: Naganuma, M., Hirose, S., Nakayama, Y., Nakajima, K., & Someya, T. (1985). A study of the phototoxicity of lemon oil. Archives of dermatological research, 278(1), 31-36.
DIGESTIVE AID
- In a review of research, flavones from citrus fruits can help improve digestive health. From: Stevens, Y., Rymenant, E. V., Grootaert, C., Camp, J. V., Possemiers, S., Masclee, A., & Jonkers, D. (2019). The Intestinal Fate of Citrus Flavanones and Their Effects on Gastrointestinal Health. Nutrients, 11(7), 1464.
ANTIMICROBIAL
- Furocoumarins from parsley showed antimicrobial activity against multiple tested organisms. From: Manderfeld, M. M., Schafer, H. W., Davidson, P. M., & Zottola, E. A. (1997). Isolation and identification of antimicrobial furocoumarins from parsley. Journal of food protection, 60(1), 72-77.
Kathy Sadowski
Updated: 7/15/19
