Falcarinol
Encyclopedia
Falcarinol is a natural pesticide and fatty alcohol
found in carrot
s, red ginseng
(Panax ginseng) and ivy
. It protects root
s from fungal diseases, such as liquorice rot that causes black spots on the roots during storage. Falcarinol is a polyyne
with two carbon carbon triple bonds and two double bonds. Falcarinol can cause allergic and irritant contact dermatitis
.
It was shown that falcarinol but not falcarindiol acts as covalent cannabinoid CB1 receptor inverse agonist (antagonist) and blocks the effect of anandamide
in keratinocytes, leading to pro-allergic effects in human skin.
Falcarinol is thought to reduce the risk of developing cancer, as a research team from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne
and Danish Universities found in February 2005 in a study on rats.
Fatty alcohol
Fatty alcohols are aliphatic alcohols consisting of a chain of 8 to 22 carbon atoms. Fatty alcohols usually have even number of carbon atoms and a single alcohol group attached to the terminal carbon. Some are unsaturated and some are branched...
found in carrot
Carrot
The carrot is a root vegetable, usually orange in colour, though purple, red, white, and yellow varieties exist. It has a crisp texture when fresh...
s, red ginseng
Ginseng
Ginseng is any one of eleven species of slow-growing perennial plants with fleshy roots, belonging to the genus Panax of the family Araliaceae....
(Panax ginseng) and ivy
Ivy
Ivy, plural ivies is a genus of 12–15 species of evergreen climbing or ground-creeping woody plants in the family Araliaceae, native to western, central and southern Europe, Macaronesia, northwestern Africa and across central-southern Asia east to Japan and Taiwan.-Description:On level ground they...
. It protects root
Root
In vascular plants, the root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. This is not always the case, however, since a root can also be aerial or aerating . Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either...
s from fungal diseases, such as liquorice rot that causes black spots on the roots during storage. Falcarinol is a polyyne
Polyyne
The polyynes are a group of organic compounds with alternating single and triple bonds. The simplest example is diacetylene or buta-1,3-diyne, HC≡C-C≡CH....
with two carbon carbon triple bonds and two double bonds. Falcarinol can cause allergic and irritant contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is a term for a skin reaction resulting from exposure to allergens or irritants . Phototoxic dermatitis occurs when the allergen or irritant is activated by sunlight....
.
It was shown that falcarinol but not falcarindiol acts as covalent cannabinoid CB1 receptor inverse agonist (antagonist) and blocks the effect of anandamide
Anandamide
Anandamide, also known as N-arachidonoylethanolamide or AEA, is an endogenous cannabinoid neurotransmitter. The name is taken from the Sanskrit word ananda, which means "bliss, delight", and amide. It is synthesized from N-arachidonoyl phosphatidylethanolamine by multiple pathways...
in keratinocytes, leading to pro-allergic effects in human skin.
Falcarinol is thought to reduce the risk of developing cancer, as a research team from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle University is a major research-intensive university located in Newcastle upon Tyne in the north-east of England. It was established as a School of Medicine and Surgery in 1834 and became the University of Newcastle upon Tyne by an Act of Parliament in August 1963. Newcastle University is...
and Danish Universities found in February 2005 in a study on rats.
External links
- Carrots may help ward off cancer, BBC News
- Cancer boost from whole carrots, BBC News