ABSTRACT
Toxicodendron succedaneum (L.) Kuntze or the wax tree is a vascular flowering plant. It is widely distributed in temperate zones but its native range is Himalaya to temperate Eastern Asia and North of Sumatra. Despite its toxicity, it has been traditionally used by different communities for medicine and a source of lacquer. T. succedaneum has beautiful foliage which has long been commercially cultivated as an ornamental. However, gardeners who were involved in its cultivation were unaware of the allergic reactions it causes. T. succedaneum is as allergenic as poison ivy and is the most common cause of allergic contact dermatitis worldwide. The plant produces an oily resin in leaves that contain active toxins called urushiols. These toxins may also be found within the entire plant including dead tissue. Toxicity ensues in the autumn coinciding with the leaves changing colour from green to red. As a result, T. succedaneum has been declared a noxious weed in different jurisdictions such as Australia. Extracts from T. succedaneum possess various biological activities, such as anticancer activities and anti-HIV properties, that need to be investigated further as potential drug candidates.
