Mezerein

12β -[( E, E )-5 -phenyl- 2,4- pentadienoyloxy ] daphnetoxin

Colorless solid

Fixed

Attention

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Mezerein is an ester of 12β - Hydroxydaphnetoxins with the xanthophyll Juarezinsäure ( C11H10O2 ). In animal studies the substance showed an antitumor effect.

Occurrence and History

Mezerein is found mainly in the seeds of daphne, such as Daphne mezereum ( Real daphne ). Only the seeds contain up to 0.1% of the toxin, besides also Daphnetoxin. And the remainder of the fruit of the plant is much less toxic. Previously, the seeds of Daphne mezereum were popularly used as an emetic, for constipation and for the treatment of cancer. Externally it has been used in gout, rheumatism and skin diseases. In agriculture, the seeds were used as fish poison.

Effects and hazards

An ethanol / water extract of the seeds acts in the standard protocol of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) oral antileukemic both against P -388, and in a dose of 50 micrograms / kg against P -1210 murine leukemia. In dermal administration of doses of 12 to 13 micrograms / application had strong tumor-promoting mezerein.

For humans, the mezerein and thus the seeds are highly toxic and ingestion lead after only a few hours to violent symptoms with burning sensation in mouth and throat, swelling of the face and lips, thirst, vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Chronic recording of mezerein damages the kidneys. Approximately 10-12 seeds lead to death. Externally, the toxin is highly irritating to the skin with formation of swelling, blistering and severe itching. The dermal action threshold is approximately 1 ug.