Falcarindiol is a
polyyne
In organic chemistry, a polyyne () is any organic compound with alternating single and triple bonds; that is, a series of consecutive alkynes, with ''n'' greater than 1. These compounds are also called polyacetylenes, especially in the natural p ...
found in
carrot
The carrot ('' Daucus carota'' subsp. ''sativus'') is a root vegetable, typically orange in color, though purple, black, red, white, and yellow cultivars exist, all of which are domesticated forms of the wild carrot, ''Daucus carota'', nat ...
roots which has
antifungal
An antifungal medication, also known as an antimycotic medication, is a pharmaceutical fungicide or fungistatic used to treat and prevent mycosis such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis (thrush), serious systemic infections such as crypto ...
activity. Falcarindiol is the main compound responsible for bitterness in carrots. Falcarindiol and other falcarindiol-type polyacetylenes are also found in many other plants of the family Apiaceae, including some commonly used seasonings such as dill and parsley. A variety of bioactivities have been reported so far for falcaridiol and the falcarindiol-type polyacetylenes, and because of potential health-promoting metabolic effects these compounds are studied as potential
nutraceutical
A nutraceutical or bioceutical is a pharmaceutical alternative which claims physiological benefits. In the US, "nutraceuticals" are largely unregulated, as they exist in the same category as dietary supplements and food additives by the FDA, unde ...
s. It is the most-active among several polyynes with potential anticancer activity found in
Devil's Club
Devil's club or devil's walking stick (''Oplopanax horridus'', Araliaceae; syn. ''Echinopanax horridus'', ''Fatsia horrida'') is a large understory shrub native to the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest, but also disjunct on islands in Lak ...
(''Oplopanax horridus''), a medicinal plant used by many indigenous peoples in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.
See also
*
Falcarinol
Falcarinol (also known as carotatoxin or panaxynol) 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. ...
References
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Fungicides
Diols
Polyynes
Secondary alcohols