Falcarinol

Falcarinol (1,9-heptadecadiene-4,6-diyn-3-ol) is a natural pesticide and fatty alcohol found in carrots and red ginseng (Panax ginseng), which protects them 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. [cite journal
author = S. G. Yates, R. E. England
title = Isolation and analysis of carrot constituents: myristicin, falcarinol, and falcarindiol
journal = Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
year = 1982
volume = 30
issue =
pages = 317–320
doi =10.1021/jf00110a025 ] At higher concentrations like in ivy, falcarinol is capable to induce a allergic reaction (contact dermatitis). [cite journal
author = S. Machado, E. Silva, A. Massa
title = Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from falcarinol
journal = Contact Dermatitis
year = 2002
volume = 47
issue = 2
pages = 109–125
doi = 10.1034/j.1600-0536.2002.470210_5.x ]

Falcarinol is thought to reduce the risk of developing cancer, as a research team from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne found in February 2005. [cite journal
author = G. Zhenga, W. Lua, H. A. Aisaa, J. Cai
title = Absolute configuration of falcarinol, a potent antitumor agent commonly occurring in plants
journal = Tetrahedron Letters
year = 1999
volume = 40
issue = 11
pages = 2181–2182
doi = 10.1016/S0040-4039(99)00224-5 ]

See the BBC article: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4246107.stm Carrots may help ward off cancer]

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