Lapachol is a

natural Nature, in the broadest sense, is the physical world or universe. "Nature" can refer to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general. The study of nature is a large, if not the only, part of science. Although humans are ...

phenolic compound In organic chemistry, phenols, sometimes called phenolics, are a class of chemical compounds consisting of one or more hydroxyl groups (— O H) bonded directly to an aromatic hydrocarbon group. The simplest is phenol, . Phenolic compounds ar ...

isolated from the bark of the lapacho tree.Record, Samuel J.. "Lapachol" pages 17-19. In: ''Tropical Woods'' (1925). This tree is known botanically as ''

Handroanthus impetiginosus ''Handroanthus impetiginosus'', the pink ipê, pink lapacho or pink trumpet tree, is a tree in the family Bignoniaceae, distributed throughout North, Central and South America, from northern Mexico south to northern Argentina. It is the national ...

'', but was formerly known by various other

botanical name A botanical name is a formal scientific name conforming to the ''International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants'' (ICN) and, if it concerns a plant cultigen, the additional cultivar or Group epithets must conform to the ''Internat ...

s such as ''Tabebuia avellanedae''. Lapachol is also found in other species of ''Handroanthus''. Lapachol is usually encountered as a yellow, skin-irritating powder from wood. Chemically, it is a derivative of

vitamin K Vitamin K refers to structurally similar, fat-soluble vitamers found in foods and marketed as dietary supplements. The human body requires vitamin K for post-synthesis modification of certain proteins that are required for blood coagulation ...

.Louis F.Fieser. ''The Scientific Method'' pages 163-191. Reinhold Publishing Corporation, New York, 1964 Once studied as a possible treatment for some types of cancer, it is now considered too toxic for use.

References

{{reflist 1,4-Naphthoquinones Hydroxynaphthoquinones Plant toxins

See also

References