Cycasin
Agent Name
Cycasin
CAS Number
14901-08-7
Formula
C8-H16-N2-O7
Major Category
Biological Agents
Synonyms
(Methyl-ONN-azoxy)-methyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside; (Methyl-ONN-azoxy)methyl beta-D-glucopyranoside; Cycas revoluta glucoside; Cykazine; Methylazoxymethanol glucoside; Methylazoxymethanol-beta-D-glucoside; Methylazoxymethanolbeta-D-glucoside; Methylazoxymethyl-b-D-glucopyranoside; beta-D-Glucopyranoside, (methyl-ONN-azoxy)methyl; [ChemIDplus]
Category
Plant Toxins
Description
Colorless solid; [HSDB]
Sources/Uses
Toxin derived from seeds of Cycus revoluta and other plants; [Merck Index] No commercial use in the US; Has been used as a food by Aboriginal groups in northern Australia; Soaking plant in water before consumption reduces its toxicity; The metabolite methylazoxymethanol, a biological methylating agent, is the active carcinogen; [HSDB]
Comments
Carcinogenic in mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, and fish producing malignant tumors mainly of the liver, kidney, and intestine; [IARC]
Biomedical References
Adverse Effects
IARC Carcinogen
Possible (2b)
Diseases, Processes, and Activities Linked to This Agent
Other Information
No other related information on this agent was found.