Dihydrocoumarin CAS 119-84-6

Coumarin was first isolated in 1820 from tonka beans and was also called Coumarou, a vernacular French name. Coumarins belong to a family of benzopyrones and are widely distributed in nature .

Coumarins can be found in seeds, fruits, flowers, roots, leaves, and stems of plants. They are secondary metabolites of higher plants and also a few microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) and sponges. Over 150 different species of different families that contain coumarins have been reported. They include Rutaceae, Umbelliferae, Clusiaceae, Guttiferae, Caprifoliaceae, Oleaceae, Nyctaginaceae, and Apiaceae . Regarding the chemical structure, coumarinic compounds are lactones resulting from the fusion of a benzene ring and a α-pyrone ring.

Coumarin is most often used as a fragrance ingredient, where it functions as a fragrance, as a fragrance enhancer, and as a stabilizer. Coumarin is widely used in perfumes, hand soaps, detergents, and lotions at concentrations from 0.01 to 2.4%. It is used to give pleasant aromas to household products or to mask unpleasant odors. The conservative estimate for systemic exposure of humans by using cosmetic products is 0.13 mg kg−1 day−1, disregarding any corrections that should be made for absorption that is <100%.
Coumarin is used as a pharmaceutical for the treatment of high-protein lymphedema and for improved venous circulation, and has been tested in clinical trials as an antineoplastic. Although coumarin's use in foods is allowed via naturals such as cinnamon, at the present time, coumarin is not permitted for use as a direct food additive; however, it is used as a tobacco flavor. Coumarin is also used in the electroplating industry.

Coumarin is used in the cosmetics industry as a fragrance in perfumes, shower gels, lotions or deodorants. The substance can be absorbed relatively easily through the skin and can thus lead to increased coumarin uptake when used regularly, especially in leave-on products such as perfumes. Due to its contact allergic properties, it is legally regulated in Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009.
The presence of coumarin in cosmetic products must be indicated in the list of ingredients in addition to the indication of perfume or aroma mixtures or of herbal preparations from 0.01% in products that remain on the skin or from 0.001% in products that are washed off after application.

The use of derivatives of natural and synthetic origin has gained attention because of their therapeutic effects against human diseases. Coumarins are one of the most common organic molecules and are used in medicine for their pharmacological and biological effects, such as anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, antihypertensive, anticonvulsant, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and neuroprotective, among others. In addition, coumarin derivates can modulate signaling pathways that impact several cell processes. The objective to provide a narrative overview of the use of coumarin-derived compounds as potential therapeutic agents, as it has been shown that substituents on the basic core of coumarin have therapeutic effects against several human diseases and types of cancer, including breast, lung, colorectal, liver, and kidney cancer.

In published studies, molecular docking has represented a powerful tool to evaluate and explain how these compounds selectively bind to proteins involved in various cellular processes, leading to specific interactions with a beneficial impact on human health. We also included studies that evaluated molecular interactions to identify potential biological targets with beneficial effects against human diseases.