Dihydrosafrole

Synonyms

1,2-(Methylenedioxy)-4-propylbenzene; 1,3-Benzodioxole, 5-propyl-; 2',3'-Dihydrosafrole; 4-Propyl-1,2-methylenedioxybenzene; 5-Propyl-1,3-benzodioxole; Safrole, dihydro-; [ChemIDplus]

Category

Plant Toxins

Description

Colorless oily liquid; [HSDB] Colorless to yellow liquid; [MSDSonline]

Sources/Uses

Used in essential oil compositions; Formerly used as a fragrance in cosmetics and a flavoring agent in root beer; Used outside the US to make piperonyl butoxide; [HSDB]

Comments

Emergency treatment: "Sassafras oil"; Safrole is the toxic agent in sassafras oil; Safrole is classified as 2B (possible human carcinogen) by IARC; Safrole is metabolized in the body to 1'-hydroxysafrole; Ingestion of 5 ml of sassafras oil can cause severe symptoms (tachycardia, hypotension, and respiratory paralysis) or death; Large doses may damage the liver; Drinking 10 cups of sassafras tea caused sweating in one adult subject; [HSDB] Sassafras is an abortifacient and narcotic; [Olson, p. 389] Used as a stimulant, antispasmodic, and purifier, sassafras has potential hepatotoxic and carcinogenic effects; [Goldfrank, p. 643] The lethal dose of sassafras oil is about 5 mL; The oil contains about 80% saffrole; [Leikin, p. 955] A skin irritant; [MSDSonline] See "Safrole."

Biomedical References

0.056 mm Hg

Other CNS neurotoxin

Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Possible (2b)

Other Information

No other related information on this agent was found.