The medical validity of many of these claims is not well established; however, there is general agreement that most adverse effects are due to the presence of bioactive alkylphenols, such as ginkgolic acids (GAs),cardanols (ginkgols), and cardols. The structures ofthese compounds are given in Figure . The ginkgolic acids have also been designated as 2-hydroxy-6-alkylbenzoic acids,6-alkylsalicyclic acids, and anacardic acids. These potentiallyhazardous components are chemically similar to urushiols found to be responsible for the allergenic properties of poison ivy and sumac.