Asarone

α-Asarone
Names
IUPAC name
1,2,4-Trimethoxy-5-[(E)-prop-1-enyl]benzene
Other names
alpha-Azaron
cis-Isoelemicin
2,4,5-Trimethoxyphenyl-2-propene
Identifiers
2883-98-9 
ChEMBL ChEMBL333306 Yes
ChemSpider 552532 Yes
Jmol-3D images Image
Image
PubChem 636822
Properties
C12H16O3
Molar mass 208.254 g mol−1
Appearance colorless solid substance
Density 1.028 g/cm−3 [1]
Melting point 62 to 63 °C (144 to 145 °F; 335 to 336 K)[2]
Boiling point 296 °C (565 °F; 569 K)[2]
insoluble
Except where noted otherwise, data is given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
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Infobox references

Asarone, which includes alpha (trans) and beta[3] (cis) types, is an ether found in certain plants such as acorus and asarum.[2] As a volatile fragrance oil, it is used in killing plant fungal[4] pests and bacteria.[5] The toxicity and carcinogenicity of asarone means that it may be difficult to develop practical anthelmintics and insecticides based on it.[6]

Pharmacology

The main clinical symptom of asarone is prolonged vomiting that sometimes lasted more than 15 hours. Asarone is not metabolized to trimethoxyamphetamine as has been claimed by online vendors.[7] Beta-asarone may be a potential candidate for development as a therapeutic agent to manage cognitive impairment associated with conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.[8]

See also

Notes and references

  1. Data for α-Asarone at ChemSpider
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Asarone". The Merck Index. 14th edition. Merck Research Laboratories. 2006. p. 135. ISBN 978-0-911910-00-1.
  3. Beta asarone has CAS# 5273-86-9
  4. Suvarna Shenvi, Vinod, Rajendra Hegde, Anil Kush and G. Chandrasekara Reddy (2011). "A unique water soluble formulation of β-asarone from sweet flag (Acorus calamus L.) and its in vitro activity against some fungal plant pathogens" (PDF). Journal of Medicinal Plants Research 5 (20): 5132–5137.
  5. Asha DS, Ganjewala D (2009). "Antimicrobial activity of Acorus calamus (L.) rhizome and leaf extract". Act. Biol. Szeg. 53 (1): 45–49.
  6. Perrett, Sheena; Whitfield, Philip J. (1995). "Anthelmintic and pesticidal activity ofAcorus gramineus (Araceae) is associated with phenylpropanoid asarones". Phytotherapy Research 9 (6): 405. doi:10.1002/ptr.2650090604.
  7. Björnstad K, Helander A, Hultén P, Beck O (2009). "Bioanalytical investigation of asarone in connection with Acorus calamus oil intoxications". J Anal Toxicol 33 (9): 604–9. doi:10.1093/jat/33.9.604. PMID 20040135.
  8. Geng Y. Li C. Liu J. Xing G. Zhou L. Dong M. Li X. Niu Y.Beta-asarone improves cognitive function by suppressing neuronal apoptosis in the beta-amyloid hippocampus injection rats. Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 33(5):836-43, 2010.