Toxicity of sesquiterpene lactones.
The intraperitoneal LD50 of 7 sesquiterpene lactones were determined (in mg/kg): mexicanin-E (3, 3.08 +/- .10), helenalin (1, 9.86 +/- .08), hymenoxon (2, 16.24 +/- .10), psilotropin (4, 112.25 +/- .17), hymenoxon dimethyl ether (5, 141.42 +/- 0), tenulin (6, 184.65 +/- .06), and hymenolane (7, above 200). The toxicity of a sesquiterpene lactone depends on the number of alkylating centers such as cyclopentenone, alpha-methylene-gamma-lactone, or hemiacetal moieties in the molecules.
D000818:Animals; D000855:Anorexia / Q000139:chemically induced; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D005260:Female; D007783:Lactones / Q000633:toxicity*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D051379:Mice; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000633:toxicity*
D007783:Lactones; D012717:Sesquiterpenes