Dihydrocoumarin is a coumarin that has been found in M. officinalis and has enzyme inhibitory activity.1,2 It inhibits the activities of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and SIRT2 (IC50s = 208 and 295 ?M, respectively, for the human enzymes). Unlike coumarin, dietary administration of dihydrocoumarin (0.76%) does not induce hepatocyte vacuolation, bile duct hyperplasia, or cholangiofibrosis.2 Formulations containing dihydrocoumarin have been used as flavoring agents.
1.Olaharski, A.J., Rine, J., Marshall, B.L., et al.The flavoring agent dihydrocoumarin reverses epigenetic silencing and inhibits sirtuin deacetylasesPLoS Genet.1(6)e77(2005) 2.Lake, B.G., Evans, J.G., Lewis, D.F., et al.Comparison of the hepatic effects of coumarin, 3,4-dimethylcoumarin, dihydrocoumarin and 6-methylcoumarin in the ratFood Chem. Toxicol.32(8)743-751(1994)