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ALTINGIACEAE
This family, previously included in the Hamamelidaceae, consists of about 10 species in 2 genera, native to Asia Minor, temperate and tropical S.E. Asia, and North and Central America. They are strongly resiniferous trees, some of which yield valuable timber, and some of which are the sources of storax (or styrax), a fragrant gum-resin of value in the pharmaceutical, perfumery, and other industries. Storax is produced by the trees as a pathological product in response to bark damage. Storax of commerce may originate from the following species:
Liquidambar styraciflua is occasionally planted as an ornamental tree for its autumn leaf colouration. Its timber is widely used in the USA, but very little is exported to Europe (Hausen 1973). This species is also sometimes grown as a bonsai, an artificially stunted natural art form. Storax obtained from members of this family may cause contact dermatitis, apparently as a result of its content of cinnamate esters and related aromatic compounds. Storax obtained from Liquidambar species is a gum-resin which contains cinnamic acid and its esters, styrene, and vanillin (Naves & Mazuyer 1947, Igolen 1973). It is a constituent of Compound Benzoin Tincture BPC and other pharmaceuticals used externally. When rubbed on the skin, storax may cause irritation and whealing (Greenberg & Lester 1954). Fragrance material samples of styrax asiatic, styrax oil, and styrax USP. Honduras did not evoke phototoxicity (Forbes et al. 1977). The timber from this species is known in the trade as liquidambar, amberwood, satin walnut, satinwood, American red gum, sweet gum, hazel pine, or bilsted. According to Woods & Calnan (1976), satin walnut was said to be irritant by Krais (1910), but Legge (1907) and Großmann (1920) considered that the wood had been confused with satinwood derived from Fagara L. species (fam. Rutaceae). Nestler (1911) used an ether extract of American satin walnut (imported as East Indian satinwood) to test his own skin. The extract induced painful bulla formation after 5 hours contact. The bulla healed very slowly and left a thickened scar. The sawdust had no effect. Storax is known to be allergenic and to cross react with gum benzoin derived from Styrax L. species (fam. Styracaceae), balsam of Peru (from Myroxylon balsamum Harms, fam. Leguminosae), rosin (from Pinus L. species, fam. Pinaceae), vanilla (from Vanilla Mill. species, fam. Orchidaceae), orange peel (from Citrus L. species, fam. Rutaceae), cinnamon bark (from Cinnamomum Schaeffer species, fam. Lauraceae), clove (from Syzygium aromaticum Merr. & L.M.Perry, fam. Myrtaceae) and other essential oils (Hjorth 1961, 1966a). References
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