Pulegone Explained

Pulegone is a naturally occurring organic compound obtained from the essential oils of a variety of plants such as Nepeta cataria (catnip), Mentha piperita, and pennyroyal.^{[1] [2]} It is classified as a monoterpene.

Pulegone is a clear colorless oily liquid and has a pleasant odor similar to pennyroyal, peppermint and camphor. It is used in flavoring agents, in perfumery, and in aromatherapy.

Toxicology

It was reported that the chemical is toxic to rats if a large quantity is consumed.^{[3] [4]}

Pulegone is also an insecticide − the most powerful of three insecticides naturally occurring in many mint species.^[5]

As of October 2018, the FDA withdrew authorization for the use of pulegone as a synthetic flavoring substance for use in food, but that naturally-occurring pulegone can continue to be used.

Sources

• Creeping charlie
• Mentha longifolia
• Mentha suaveolens^[6]
• Pennyroyal^[7]
• Peppermint^[8]
• Schizonepeta tenuifolia
• Bursera graveolens

See also

• Menthofuran
• Menthol

Notes and References

1. Grundschober, F. . 1979 . Literature review of pulegone . Perfum. Flavorist . 4 . 15–17.
2. Sullivan, J.B., Rumack, B.H., Thomas, H., Peterson, R.G. & Brysch, P. . 1979 . Pennyroyal oil poisoning and hepatotoxicity . J. Am. Med. Assoc. . 242 . 2873–2874 . 10.1001/jama.1979.03300260043027 . 26. 513258 .
3. Thorup. I.. Short term toxicity study in rats dosed with pulegone and menthol. Toxicology Letters. 19. 3. 207–210. 1983. 10.1016/0378-4274(83)90120-0. 6658833. Würtzen. G. Carstensen. J. Olsen. P. etal.
4. Asekun. O.T.. Effects of drying methods on the quality and quantity of the essential oil of Mentha longifolia L. subsp. Capensis. Food Chemistry. 101. 3. 995–998. 2006. 10.1016/j.foodchem.2006.02.052. Grierson. D. Afolayan. A. etal.
5. Franzios. G. Mirotsou M. Hatziapostolou E. Kral J. Scouras ZG. Mavragani-Tsipidou P. Insecticidal and genotoxic activities of mint essential oils. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 16 July 1997. 2690–2694. 10.1021/jf960685f. https://archive.today/20121223054744/http://ukpmc.ac.uk/abstract/AGR/IND21242689/reload=0;jsessionid=IzuDur4k1KjWolRsRlm2.0. dead. 23 December 2012. 19 October 2012. 45. 7.
6. Božović M, Pirolli A, Ragno R . Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. (Lamiaceae) Essential Oil and Its Main Constituent Piperitenone Oxide: Biological Activities and Chemistry . . 20 . 5 . 8605–33 . May 2015 . 25985361 . 6272761 . 10.3390/molecules20058605 . free .
7. Gordon. W. Perry. Valerie Howland. Hepatotoxicity and pulmonary toxicity of pennyroyal oil and its constituent terpenes in the mouse. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. 65. 3. 413–424. 1982. 10.1016/0041-008X(82)90387-8. 7157374. etal.
8. Farley. Derek R.. Valerie Howland. The natural variation of the pulegone content in various oils of peppermint. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 31. 11. 1143–1151. 2006. 10.1002/jsfa.2740311104.