Falcarinol CAS NO.21852-80-2

falcarinol (carotatoxin) is a natural pesticide and fatty alcohol found in carrots (daucus carota), red ginseng (panax ginseng) and ivy. in carrots, it occurs in a concentration of approximately 2 mg/kg.^[1][2] as a toxin, it protects roots from fungal diseases, such as liquorice rot that causes black spots on the roots during storage.

chemistry

falcarinol is a polyyne with two carbon-carbon triple bonds and two double bonds.^[3] falcarinol can cause allergic and irritant contact dermatitis.^[4] it is structurally related to the oenanthotoxin and cicutoxin.

biological effects

it was shown that falcarinol acts as a covalent cannabinoid receptor type 1 inverse agonist and blocks the effect of anandamide in keratinocytes, leading to pro-allergic effects in human skin.^[5]

preliminary research in animal models suggest that falcarinol may have a protective effect against certain types of cancer. laboratory rats fed a diet containing raw carrots or isolated falcarinol were a third less likely to develop full-scale tumors induced by azoxymethane than those in a control group.^[6]

normal consumption of carrots doesn't cause any toxic effect in humans. however, when falcarinol is delivered in high doses to laboratory animals, it causes neurotoxical problems.^[7]