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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. As a toxin, it protects roots from fungal diseases, such as liquorice rot that causes black spots on the roots during storage.
Contents
What does falcarinol mean
Chemistry
Falcarinol is a polyyne with two carbon-carbon triple bonds and two double bonds. Falcarinol can cause allergic and irritant contact dermatitis. 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.
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.
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.