Compound Monograph
alpha-Asarone
alpha-Asarone is a phenylpropanoid found in calamus (sweet flag) and certain other aromatic plants.
Classification
alpha-Asarone is a phenylpropanoid, part of the phenolics class. Antioxidant compounds built around one or more phenol rings — the flavonoids, tannins, phenolic acids, coumarins, and pigments behind much of a plant's protective chemistry.
Where Does It Come From? (2)
alpha-Asarone is a naturally occurring phenylpropanoid, found in Calamus / sweet flag and 1 other source. It is flagged as toxic and a known carcinogen.
Research & Evidence
alpha-Asarone is a phenylpropanoid and one of the principal aromatic constituents of calamus (sweet flag, Acorus calamus). It is responsible, with the related beta-asarone, for much of the plant’s characteristic odour and pharmacology, and it has been studied for effects on the central nervous system and lipid metabolism in laboratory models.
Toxicity & Safety
Asarones are a significant safety concern in calamus. beta-Asarone in particular has shown genotoxic and carcinogenic activity in animal studies, and the asarone content is the main reason calamus preparations are restricted or discouraged for internal use in many jurisdictions. Calamus from high-asarone chemotypes should not be taken internally.