Apiol
Encyclopedia
Apiol is an organic chemical compound, also known as parsley
apiol, apiole or parsley camphor. It is found in celery
, parsley seeds, and the essential oil
of parsley. Heinrich Christoph Link, an apothecary
in Leipzig
, discovered the substance in 1715 as greenish crystals reduced by steam from oil of parsley. In 1855 Joret and Homolle discovered that apiol was an effective treatment of amenorrea or lack of menstruation
.
In medicine it has been used, as essential oil or in purified form, for the treatment of menstrual disorders. It is an irritant and in high doses it is toxic and can cause liver and kidney damage.
Hippocrates
wrote about parsley as a herb to cause an abortion
. This effect was caused by the apiol.
Plants containing apiol were used by women in the Middle Ages to terminate pregnancies. Its use was widespread in the USA, often as ergoapiol or apergol, until a highly toxic adulterated product containing apiol and tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate (also famous as the adulterant added to Jamaican ginger
) was introduced on the American market.
The toxic effects of pure crystalline apiol are disputed. It causes a "relatively safe abortion" in pregnant women if taken in small quantities. It also restores the cycle of menstruation. A larger dose does not cause an abortion, it causes nausea and damages the liver and kidneys.
Now that other methods of abortion are available apiol is almost forgotten in the West, but it is still produced and is used in the Middle East.
The name apiol is also used for other closely related compounds, found in dill
(dillapiole
, 1-allyl-2,3-dimethoxy-4,5-methylenedioxybenzene) and in fennel
roots.
Parsley
Parsley is a species of Petroselinum in the family Apiaceae, native to the central Mediterranean region , naturalized elsewhere in Europe, and widely cultivated as an herb, a spice and a vegetable.- Description :Garden parsley is a bright green hairless biennial herbaceous plant in temperate...
apiol, apiole or parsley camphor. It is found in celery
Celery
Apium graveolens is a plant species in the family Apiaceae commonly known as celery or celeriac , depending on whether the petioles or roots are eaten: celery refers to the former and celeriac to the latter. Apium graveolens grows to 1 m tall...
, parsley seeds, and the essential oil
Essential oil
An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils or aetherolea, or simply as the "oil of" the plant from which they were extracted, such as oil of clove...
of parsley. Heinrich Christoph Link, an apothecary
Apothecary
Apothecary is a historical name for a medical professional who formulates and dispenses materia medica to physicians, surgeons and patients — a role now served by a pharmacist and some caregivers....
in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, discovered the substance in 1715 as greenish crystals reduced by steam from oil of parsley. In 1855 Joret and Homolle discovered that apiol was an effective treatment of amenorrea or lack of menstruation
Menstruation
Menstruation is the shedding of the uterine lining . It occurs on a regular basis in sexually reproductive-age females of certain mammal species. This article focuses on human menstruation.-Overview:...
.
In medicine it has been used, as essential oil or in purified form, for the treatment of menstrual disorders. It is an irritant and in high doses it is toxic and can cause liver and kidney damage.
Hippocrates
Hippocrates
Hippocrates of Cos or Hippokrates of Kos was an ancient Greek physician of the Age of Pericles , and is considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine...
wrote about parsley as a herb to cause an abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
. This effect was caused by the apiol.
Plants containing apiol were used by women in the Middle Ages to terminate pregnancies. Its use was widespread in the USA, often as ergoapiol or apergol, until a highly toxic adulterated product containing apiol and tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate (also famous as the adulterant added to Jamaican ginger
Jamaican ginger
Jamaica Ginger extract was a late 19th century patent medicine that provided a convenient way to bypass Prohibition laws, since it contained between 70-80% ethanol by weight.-History:...
) was introduced on the American market.
The toxic effects of pure crystalline apiol are disputed. It causes a "relatively safe abortion" in pregnant women if taken in small quantities. It also restores the cycle of menstruation. A larger dose does not cause an abortion, it causes nausea and damages the liver and kidneys.
Now that other methods of abortion are available apiol is almost forgotten in the West, but it is still produced and is used in the Middle East.
The name apiol is also used for other closely related compounds, found in dill
Dill
Dill is a perennial herb. It is the sole species of the genus Anethum, though classified by some botanists in a related genus as Peucedanum graveolens C.B.Clarke.-Growth:...
(dillapiole
Dillapiole
Dillapiole is an organic chemical compound and essential oil commonly extracted from dill weed, though can be found in a variety of other plants.This compound is closely related to apiole having a methoxy group positioned differently on the benzene ring ....
, 1-allyl-2,3-dimethoxy-4,5-methylenedioxybenzene) and in fennel
Fennel
Fennel is a plant species in the genus Foeniculum . It is a member of the family Apiaceae . It is a hardy, perennial, umbelliferous herb, with yellow flowers and feathery leaves...
roots.