Library›Plants and preparation›Herb and Chemical Atlas
Herb and Chemical Atlas
The Herb and Chemical Atlas is the one-page index to everything in this library about plants, the chemicals in them, what those chemicals do to each other inside a person, and what people make out of them — cooking first, then lotions and balms, then diffusers and candles. Every entry here is a short line. The detail lives on the page each line links to.
It exists because the same plant turns up in four different conversations — a kitchen spice, a scent, a dye, and a drug interaction — and nowhere were those four facts on one line next to each other. Cooking is the centre of this page because cooking is where almost everyone meets these plants first.
The charts
Two diagrams carry the structural part of this page. Both are drawn from the data files beside this article rather than copied from anywhere, so they are the same on every load and correct in print.
The colour key is the one from the chart the operator has used since 2018, published on Herbpedia: position 1 black (the side chain), 2 brown, 3 red, 4 green, 5 blue, 6 purple. What each position is said to do is a community claim, from the 69Ron material, and is not a verified structure–activity result. It is on the chart because it is how this family has been read for twenty years, not because it has been demonstrated.
Read these with one thing in mind: they are the composition of the oil, not of the plant. Piperine is 5–9% of black pepper but almost none of its distilled oil; curcumin is the colour and the pharmacology of turmeric and is not volatile at all; the grapefruit furanocoumarins that cause the famous drug interaction are in the juice, not the peel oil. A plant and its essential oil are not interchangeable, and most bad advice in this subject comes from treating them as if they were.
Shulgin's ten essential oils
Shulgin noticed that ten common essential oils carry the ring substitution patterns of ten known amphetamines, and that adding ammonia across the side chain would, on paper, turn each oil into its partner. His own words are "in theory" and "in principle", and that qualifier is the whole point: no human in vivo conversion of an allylbenzene into an amphetamine has ever been demonstrated. Every pair below is hypothetical.
What is actually documented is different. Allylbenzenes fed to animals yield tertiary aminopropiophenone alkaloids - dimethylamine, piperidine and pyrrolidine types - detected in urine by GLC/CIMS, NOT amphetamines (Peele & Oswald, PMID 870079). Propenylbenzenes (anethole, alpha/beta-asarone, isoeugenol, isosafrole) form no such alkaloid metabolites at all. The only amphetamine-adjacent experimental claim in the series is the rabbit-liver myristicin to MMDA report Shulgin himself cites, and the repo's own knowledge file concedes the products were most likely aminopropiophenones.
The pairs, each one hypothetical:
- 4-methoxy — estragole (methyl chavicol, 4-allylanisole) → 4-MA, 4-methoxyamphetamine
- 3,4-dimethoxy — methyleugenol → 3,4-DMA, 3,4-dimethoxyamphetamine
- 3,4-methylenedioxy — safrole → MDA, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
- 3-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxy — myristicin → MMDA, 3-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxyamphetamine
- 2-methoxy-3,4-methylenedioxy — croweacin → MMDA-3a, 2-methoxy-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
- 2-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxy — asaricin → MMDA-2, 2-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxyamphetamine
- 3,4,5-trimethoxy — elemicin → TMA, 3,4,5-trimethoxyamphetamine
- 2,4,5-trimethoxy — asarone → TMA-2, 2,4,5-trimethoxyamphetamine. Shulgin names 'asarone'. The common calamus isomers alpha- and beta-asarone are PROPENYL and form no alkaloid metabolites; only the rare ALLYL isomer gamma-asarone (euasarone, sekishone) fits the series.
- 2,5-dimethoxy-3,4-methylenedioxy — apiole → DMMDA, 2,5-dimethoxy-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
- 2,3-dimethoxy-4,5-methylenedioxy — dillapiole → DMMDA-2, 2,3-dimethoxy-4,5-methylenedioxyamphetamine
- 2,3,4,5-tetramethoxy — 2,3,4,5-tetramethoxyallylbenzene → TA, 2,3,4,5-tetramethoxyamphetamine
See Shulgin Ten Essential Oils, Shulgin Ten Essential Amphetamines and Metabolic Chemistry and Oilahuasca.
The chemicals, grouped by how alike they are
The grouping below is computed, not editorial: RDKit Morgan fingerprint (radius 2, 2048 bits), Tanimoto distance, SciPy average-linkage hierarchical clustering, cut at distance 0.65. Molecules that sit together here are built the same way, which is usually why they smell alike, are metabolised by the same enzymes, or show up in the same plants.
- piperidine (C8082) · pyrrolidine (C31268)
- bixin (C5281226) · norbixin (C5281249)
- linalool (C6549) · myrcene (C31253) · citral (C638011) · geraniol (C637566) · nerolidol (C5284507) · farnesene (C5281516) · linalyl acetate (C8294) · geranyl acetate (C1549026)
- cannabidiol (C644019) · tetrahydrocannabinol (C16078) · cannabidiolic acid (C160570)
- cannabigerol (C5315659) · cannabinol (C2543) · cannabichromene (C30219)
- valerenic acid (C6440940) · valerenal (C6440942)
- alpha-thujone (C261491) · beta-thujone (C91456)
- borneol (C64685) · patchoulol (C10955174) · bornyl acetate (C93009)
- eucalyptol (C2758) · cineole (C2758)
- valencene (C9855795) · nootkatone (C1268142)
- limonene (C22311) · carvone (C7439) · perillyl alcohol (C10819)
- beta-caryophyllene (C5281515) · caryophyllene oxide (C1742210)
- alpha-pinene (C6654) · beta-pinene (C14896)
- caffeine (C2519) · theobromine (C5429) · theophylline (C2153)
- N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (C6089) · 5-MeO-DMT (C1832) · bufotenine (C10257) · N-methyltryptamine (C6088) · tryptamine (C1150) · serotonin (C5202) · melatonin (C896)
- harmaline (C3564) · tetrahydroharmine (C442118)
- harmine (C5280953) · harman (C5281404) · norharman (C64961)
- bergamottin (C5471349) · 6,7-dihydroxybergamottin (C6440498) · bergapten (C2355)
- myristicin (C4276) · apiole (C10659) · dillapiole (C10231) · croweacin (C5316141) · gamma-asarone (C636750) · sarisan (C95289) · asaricin (C95289) · isomyristicin (C6436484) · MMDA (C26175)
- TMA-2 (C31014) · DMMDA (C44349928) · 4-methoxyamphetamine (C31721) · 3,4-dimethoxyamphetamine (C8423) · 3,4,5-trimethoxyamphetamine (C31016) · MMDA-2 (C90966) · MMDA-3a (C90967) · DMMDA-2 (C16766527)
- elemicin (C10248) · estragole (C8815) · methyleugenol (C7127) · eugenol (C3314) · chavicol (C68148) · chavibetol (C596375) · hydroxychavicol (C70775) · allylbenzene (C9309) · eugenyl acetate (C7136)
- capsaicin (C1548943) · gingerol (C442793) · shogaol (C5281794) · zingerone (C31211)
- 1-hydroxyestragole (C40003) · 1'-hydroxysafrole (C21268)
- safrole (C5144) · isosafrole (C637796) · piperonal (C8438) · piperine (C638024) · 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (C1614) · safrole 2',3'-oxide (C101123)
- kavain (C5281565) · dihydrokavain (C10220256) · methysticin (C5281567)
- chlorogenic acid (C1794427) · rosmarinic acid (C5281792)
- caffeic acid (C689043) · cinnamic acid (C444539) · p-coumaric acid (C637542) · resveratrol (C445154) · naringenin chalcone (C5280960)
- anethole (C637563) · anisaldehyde (C31244) · yangonin (C5281575) · desmethoxyyangonin (C5273621)
- alpha-asarone (C636822) · beta-asarone (C5281758) · carpacin (C5281763)
- isoeugenol (C853433) · methyl isoeugenol (C7128) · isoelemicin (C5318557) · vanillin (C1183) · ferulic acid (C445858) · sinapic acid (C10743) · curcumin (C969516)
- naringin (C442428) · rutin (C5280805) · hesperidin (C10621) · luteolin 7-glucoside (C5280637) · naringin dihydrochalcone (C9894584) · apiin (C5280746)
- cyanidin (C128861) · delphinidin (C128853) · pelargonidin (C440832)
- quercetin (C5280343) · kaempferol (C5280863) · apigenin (C5280443) · luteolin (C5280445) · galangin (C5281616) · myricetin (C5281672) · baicalein (C5281605)
- genistein (C5280961) · daidzein (C5281708) · puerarin (C5281807)
- epigallocatechin gallate (C65064) · catechin (C9064) · epicatechin (C72276)
- naringenin (C439246) · hesperetin (C72281) · silybin (C31553)
- hematoxylin (C442514) · brazilin (C73384)
- thymol (C6989) · carvacrol (C10364) · p-cymene (C7463)
- alizarin (C6293) · lawsone (C6755) · purpurin (C6683)
- cocaine (C446220) · atropine (C174174) · scopolamine (C3000322) · hyoscyamine (C154417)
- cinnamaldehyde (C637511) · benzaldehyde (C240)
- phenelzine (C3675) · tyramine (C5610) · phenethylamine (C1001)
- phenylalanine (C6140) · tryptophan (C6305)
- On their own: allicin · sulforaphane · crocin · glutathione · citronellol · alpha-bisabolol · santalol · hyperforin · chamazulene · pulegone · menthone · menthol · guaiol · sabinene · ascaridole · camphor · cedrol · beta-elemene · terpinen-4-ol · humulene · terpinolene · gamma-terpinene · safranal · glycyrrhizin · moclobemide · iproniazid · nicotine · genipin · harmol · xanthotoxin · coumarin · mescaline · sanguinarine · piperonyl butoxide · xanthohumol · berberine · hydrastine · boldine · colchicine · mitragynine · oleuropein · betanin · carthamin · ellagic acid · gallic acid · hypericin · glabridin · thymoquinone · nigellone · carnosic acid · emodin · carminic acid · juglone · thujaplicin · indigo · methyl salicylate · shikonin · ephedrine · salicylaldehyde · azulene · benzyl benzoate · selegiline · dimethylamine
Each name is a PubChem compound id (C number), so any of them can be looked up directly. Identity data — formula, weight, log P and the structure itself — was taken from PubChem rather than written from memory; the file is knowledge/herb-atlas/pubchem.json.
Plant oils, butters and waxes
69 of them, with the numbers that decide what each one is good for. [object Object]
Oils
- Olive oil (extra virgin / virgin / refined / pomace) — Olea europaea; mainly oleic 69%, palmitic 14%, linoleic 12%; melts clouds 0-10 C; solidifies about -6 C; NaOH SAP 0.135; cooking, infusion_carrier, soap (castile), balm, lotion
- Sweet almond oil — Prunus dulcis; mainly oleic 71%, linoleic 18%, palmitic 7%; melts about -18 C (pour point); NaOH SAP 0.139; massage, lotion, balm, infusion_carrier, soap (up to ~20%), cooking
- Apricot kernel oil — Prunus armeniaca; mainly oleic 66%, linoleic 27%, palmitic 6%; melts about -15 C; NaOH SAP 0.139; face oil, lotion, massage, infusion_carrier
- Grapeseed oil — Vitis vinifera; mainly linoleic 68%, oleic 20%, palmitic 8%; melts about -10 C; NaOH SAP 0.129; lotion (light), massage, cooking (moderate heat)
- Sunflower oil, high-oleic — Helianthus annuus; mainly oleic 83%, stearic 4%, linoleic 4%; NaOH SAP 0.135; cooking, lotion, balm, soap, infusion_carrier
- Sunflower oil, standard (high-linoleic) — Helianthus annuus; mainly linoleic 70%, oleic 16%, palmitic 7%; NaOH SAP 0.135; cooking, lotion, soap (<=15-20%)
- Safflower oil, high-oleic — Carthamus tinctorius; mainly oleic 77%, linoleic 15%, palmitic 5%; NaOH SAP 0.135; cooking, lotion, soap, infusion_carrier
- Safflower oil, high-linoleic — Carthamus tinctorius; mainly linoleic 75%, oleic 15%, palmitic 7%; NaOH SAP 0.137; lotion (light), cooking (cold)
- Coconut oil, fractionated / MCT — Cocos nucifera (fraction); mainly caprylic 54%, capric 43%, lauric 2%; melts liquid down to about -5 C; NaOH SAP 0.232; infusion_carrier, tincture-like oil dosing, roll-ons, perfume oil, reed diffuser base (some), massage
- Avocado oil — Persea americana; mainly oleic 58%, palmitic 20%, linoleic 12%; NaOH SAP 0.133; cooking, soap, balm, lotion (rich), infusion_carrier
- Argan oil — Argania spinosa; mainly oleic 46%, linoleic 34%, palmitic 14%; NaOH SAP 0.136; face oil, hair oil, lotion, cooking (roasted, finishing)
- Rosehip seed oil — Rosa canina / R. rubiginosa; mainly linoleic 46%, linolenic 31%, oleic 12%; NaOH SAP 0.133; face serum, lotion (oil phase, small %)
- Sea buckthorn seed oil — Hippophae rhamnoides; mainly linolenic 38%, linoleic 36%, oleic 14%; NaOH SAP 0.139; face serum (small %)
- Sea buckthorn fruit (pulp/berry) oil — Hippophae rhamnoides; mainly palmitoleic C16:1 (omega-7) 25-40%, palmitic 25-35%, oleic 15-25%; NaOH SAP 0.13; face serum (low %), balm colourant
- Castor oil — Ricinus communis; mainly ricinoleic 90%, oleic 4%, linoleic 4%; melts pour point about -10 to -18 C; NaOH SAP 0.128; soap (5-10%: stabilises lather), lip balm/gloss, hair, balm (small %)
- Hemp seed oil — Cannabis sativa (seed); mainly linoleic 57%, linolenic 21%, oleic 12%; NaOH SAP 0.138; cooking (cold), lotion, soap (<=15%)
- Black seed oil (Nigella sativa, "black cumin") — Nigella sativa; mainly linoleic 60%, oleic 22%, palmitic 13%; NaOH SAP 0.139; face/hair oil (low %), balm, cooking (cold)
- Sesame oil (untoasted; toasted noted) — Sesamum indicum; mainly linoleic 43%, oleic 40%, palmitic 10%; NaOH SAP 0.134; cooking, massage (abhyanga), infusion_carrier (Ayurvedic taila)
- Rice bran oil — Oryza sativa; mainly oleic 38%, linoleic 34%, palmitic 22%; NaOH SAP 0.133; cooking, soap, lotion
- Camellia (tsubaki / tea seed) oil — Camellia oleifera / C. japonica; mainly oleic 77%, palmitic 9%, linoleic 8%; NaOH SAP 0.138; cooking, hair oil, face oil, lotion
- Macadamia nut oil — Macadamia integrifolia / tetraphylla; mainly oleic 55-65%, palmitoleic C16:1 16-23%, palmitic 7-10%; NaOH SAP 0.139; face oil, lotion, balm, cooking, soap
- Meadowfoam seed oil — Limnanthes alba; mainly 5-eicosenoic C20:1 58-64%, docosenoic C22:1 (5- and 13-) 10-20%, 5,13-docosadienoic C22:2 10-20%; NaOH SAP 0.12; lotion, lip balm, hair, stabilising blends with fragile oils
- Evening primrose oil — Oenothera biennis; mainly linoleic 70-77%, gamma-linolenic GLA 8-11%, oleic 6-10%; NaOH SAP 0.135; face serum (low %), lotion oil phase
- Borage (starflower) seed oil — Borago officinalis; mainly linoleic 35-38%, gamma-linolenic GLA 20-24%, oleic 16-20%; NaOH SAP 0.135; face serum (low %)
- Pomegranate seed oil — Punica granatum; mainly punicic acid (9c,11t,13c-C18:3, conjugated) 65-80%, linoleic 5-8%, oleic 5-8%; NaOH SAP 0.135; face serum (low %)
- Tamanu (foraha, kamani) oil — Calophyllum inophyllum; mainly linoleic 38%, oleic 34%, stearic 13%; NaOH SAP 0.148; balm (scar/wound-care tradition, low %), salve
- Neem seed oil — Azadirachta indica; mainly oleic 46%, palmitic 21%, stearic 16%; melts partly solid below ~25 C (clouds); NaOH SAP 0.138; balm/salve (1-10%), soap (up to ~10%), pet/plant sprays
- Moringa (ben) oil — Moringa oleifera; mainly oleic 70-76%, behenic C22:0 5-7%, palmitic 5-7%; NaOH SAP 0.137; perfume carrier, face oil, balm, cooking
- Baobab seed oil — Adansonia digitata; mainly oleic 37%, linoleic 28%, palmitic 24%; NaOH SAP 0.143; lotion, balm, hair
- Marula oil — Sclerocarya birrea; mainly oleic 75%, palmitic 11%, stearic 7%; NaOH SAP 0.137; face oil, lotion, hair
- Kukui (candlenut) oil — Aleurites moluccanus; mainly linoleic 42%, linolenic 29%, oleic 20%; NaOH SAP 0.135; face oil, lotion
- Flaxseed (linseed) oil — Linum usitatissimum; mainly linolenic 50%, oleic 27%, linoleic 13%; NaOH SAP 0.135; cooking (cold)
- Walnut oil — Juglans regia; mainly linoleic 50-65%, alpha-linolenic 10-15%, oleic 15-25%; NaOH SAP 0.135; cooking (cold)
- Pumpkin seed oil (Styrian roasted) — Cucurbita pepo; mainly linoleic 50%, oleic 33%, palmitic 11%; NaOH SAP 0.139; cooking (cold)
- Peanut (arachis / groundnut) oil — Arachis hypogaea; mainly oleic 56%, linoleic 26%, palmitic 8%; NaOH SAP 0.137; cooking
- Canola / low-erucic rapeseed oil — Brassica napus / B. rapa (LEAR); mainly oleic 61%, linoleic 21%, linolenic 9%; NaOH SAP 0.133; cooking, soap (<=15-20%; DOS risk), container-candle wax base (rapeseed wax = hydrogenated)
- Rapeseed oil, traditional (high-erucic) — Brassica napus / B. rapa; NaOH SAP 0.125; industrial
- Mustard oil (kachi ghani, Indian cold-pressed) — Brassica juncea / B. nigra; NaOH SAP 0.123; cooking, pickling, massage (traditional)
- Corn (maize) oil — Zea mays; mainly linoleic 51%, oleic 32%, palmitic 12%; NaOH SAP 0.137; cooking, soap (small %)
- Soybean oil — Glycine max; mainly linoleic 50%, oleic 24%, palmitic 11%; NaOH SAP 0.136; cooking
- Hazelnut oil — Corylus avellana; mainly oleic 75%, linoleic 10%, palmitic 5%; NaOH SAP 0.139; face oil (oily skin), cooking
- Wheat germ oil — Triticum aestivum; mainly linoleic 58%, palmitic 17%, oleic 17%; NaOH SAP 0.13; lotion oil phase (low %)
- Cottonseed oil — Gossypium spp.; mainly linoleic 52%, oleic 18%, palmitic 13%; NaOH SAP 0.138; cooking
Butters
- Shea butter — Vitellaria paradoxa; mainly oleic 48%, stearic 40%, linoleic 6%; melts 32-45 C (unrefined ~32-38; broad); NaOH SAP 0.128; balm, lotion, body butter, soap (5-15%), lip balm
- Cocoa butter — Theobroma cacao; mainly oleic 35%, stearic 33%, palmitic 28%; melts 34-38 C; NaOH SAP 0.138; balm, lip balm, lotion bar, soap (<=15%), chocolate
- Mango (kernel) butter — Mangifera indica; mainly oleic 45%, stearic 42%, palmitic 7%; melts 30-38 C; NaOH SAP 0.136; balm, body butter, soap, lip balm
- Kokum butter — Garcinia indica; mainly stearic 56%, oleic 36%, palmitic 4%; melts 38-42 C; NaOH SAP 0.135; lotion bars, lip balm, soap hardness, chocolate CBE
- Cupuacu butter — Theobroma grandiflorum; mainly oleic 38-45%, stearic 30-35%, arachidic C20:0 8-11%; melts 27-32 C; NaOH SAP 0.137; balm, lotion, hair
- Murumuru butter — Astrocaryum murumuru; mainly lauric 47%, myristic 26%, oleic 15%; melts 30-35 C; NaOH SAP 0.196; soap (lather), balm, lip balm, hair
- Illipe butter (Borneo tallow) — Shorea stenoptera (and other Shorea); mainly stearic 45%, oleic 35%, palmitic 17%; melts 34-39 C; NaOH SAP 0.132; lip balm, lotion bar, soap
- Sal butter — Shorea robusta; mainly stearic 40-48%, oleic 35-42%, arachidic C20:0 6-8%; melts 30-38 C; NaOH SAP 0.132; lotion bar, balm, soap
Waxes
- Beeswax (yellow and white) — Apis mellifera (secretion); mainly monoesters (mainly myricyl palmitate C46) ~35%, hydroxy/di/tri-esters ~30-35%, hydrocarbons (C25-C33) 12-16%; melts 61-66 C (USP/NF white and yellow wax: 62-65 C); NaOH SAP 0.067; balm (stiffener), lip balm, candle (dipped/moulded/pillar; needs bigger wick, burns hot), wax wraps, emulsion co-stabiliser (cold cream, with borax - historic)
- Candelilla wax — Euphorbia antisyphilitica; mainly hydrocarbons (mainly hentriacontane C31) ~50%, wax esters 28-29%, free acids/alcohols/resins balance%; melts 68.5-72.5 C (NF/FCC); NaOH SAP 0.031; vegan balm/lip balm (use ~half the beeswax weight), stick products
- Carnauba wax — Copernicia prunifera; mainly wax esters (C24-C34 acids x C30-C34 alcohols) ~80-85%, free alcohols 10-16%, acids/hydrocarbons/resins balance%; melts 80-86 C (NF/FCC); vegan stiffener (1/3-1/2 the beeswax weight; high-melt sticks), polish, candle hardener (small %)
- Rice bran wax — Oryza sativa; mainly wax esters (C16-C26 acids x C24-C36 alcohols) ~90+%, free acids/alcohols balance%; melts 75-80 C; vegan lip balm/stick stiffener, candle additive
- Sunflower wax — Helianthus annuus (dewaxing by-product); mainly wax esters C40-C60 ~95+%; melts 74-80 C (supplier data); vegan stiffener (strong gelling: ~1/2 to 1/3 of beeswax weight), lip balm
- Lanolin (wool wax; non-plant comparison) — Ovis aries (sebaceous wax); melts 38-44 C (USP anhydrous lanolin); NaOH SAP 0.076; nipple balm, lip balm, w/o emulsions (cold cream), soap (small %)
Comedogenic numbers come from the rabbit-ear assay (Kligman/Fulton era, e.g. Fulton 1989 J Soc Cosmet Chem 40:321-333; Fulton 1984 J Am Acad Dermatol PMID 6229554). The rabbit ear over-predicts human comedogenicity, tested many materials neat or at 10% in propylene glycol, and popular 0-5 lists online frequently cite no source at all. Treat as a weak hint; a finished formula must be judged on its own.
The plants
157 of them. Each line gives the major constituents, why a kitchen uses it, what it dyes, and what should stop you. The full record — chemotypes, enzyme targets, traditional and evidence-based medical use, interactions, regulatory status and sources — is in knowledge/herb-atlas/plants.json.
A warning that applies to every percentage on this page: these are indicative ranges, not assay values. Chemotype, cultivar, ploidy, growing conditions and distillation all move them, sometimes by an order of magnitude. Calamus makes the point: the usual rule of thumb is that the North American diploid carries little or no β-asarone while Asian material carries a great deal, but measured Himalayan diploid populations have come in at 7.4% and 11.7%, and a twenty-accession study found no relationship to ploidy at all. Treat unanalysed material as the hazardous type.
Culinary spice
- Ajwain — Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague; mainly thymol 35-60, gamma-terpinene 15-30, p-cymene 15-25; Thymol's sharp phenolic taste cuts heavy fried batters and legumes; it is added to gram-flour batters and breads explicitly for digestibility. Small…; Thymol irritant; large oral doses nausea. Omum water in infants is traditional; concentrated oil unsafe for infants.
- Allspice (pimento) — Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr.; mainly eugenol 60-80, methyleugenol 2-12, beta-caryophyllene 3-10; Allspice is the economical single-spice shortcut because its eugenol-dominant oil overlaps clove, its methyleugenol adds the nutmeg-ish note and its…; dyes brown; Culinary use is benign. The oil carries both eugenol (hepatotoxic in overdose by the glutathione-depletion mechanism)…
- Anise (aniseed) — Pimpinella anisum L.; mainly (E)-anethole 80-95, estragole (methyl chavicol) 0.5-5, anisaldehyde 0.1-3; Anethole has an extremely low odour threshold and reads as sweetness on the palate, so a small quantity makes a low-sugar baked good taste sweeter —…; Low at culinary and tea doses. EMA restricts the medicinal product to adults and adolescents over 12 and to no more…
- Annatto (achiote) — Bixa orellana L.; mainly ishwarane major sesquiterpene, β-humulene / germacrene variable; Bixin is fat-soluble: seeds are fried gently in oil or lard to make achiote oil; norbixin (alkaline-extracted) colours water-based foods like cheese…; dyes orange to salmon-pink; yellow-orange on cotton; Low. JECFA ADI bixin 0-12 mg/kg bw, norbixin 0-0.6 mg/kg bw (unverified).
- Asafoetida — Ferula assa-foetida L. (also F. foetida, F. narthex); mainly (E)-1-propenyl sec-butyl disulfide 20-60, (Z)-1-propenyl sec-butyl disulfide 5-25, di-sec-butyl trisulfide 2-10; Its volatile disulfides mimic onion/garlic flavour, so it replaces alliums where those are avoided (Jain, some Vaishnava). Blooming a pinch in hot…; Low culinary. Large doses: GI upset, methaemoglobinaemia reported in infants (case reports).
- Black cardamom — Amomum subulatum Roxb.; mainly 1,8-cineole 60-75, alpha-terpineol 3-8, beta-pinene 3-7; Cineole gives cooling lift to rich meat dishes; the fire-drying adds guaiacol smokiness that reads as savoury/meaty. Used whole in long braises where…; Low.
- Black pepper — Piper nigrum L.; mainly beta-caryophyllene 10-35, limonene 10-25, sabinene 5-25; Pepper does two separate jobs with two separate chemical fractions, and conflating them is the commonest error in spice cookery. The aroma is a…; Very low as a food. Piperine is a genuine pharmacological agent at supplement doses, and piperine-containing…
- Caraway — Carum carvi L.; mainly (S)-(+)-carvone 45-75, limonene 20-50, trans-dihydrocarvone 1-5; Caraway's partnership with cabbage, rye and fatty pork is not arbitrary. Carvone is strongly antifoaming/carminative and has documented antispasmodic…; Very low as a food. The oil should be dosed as a medicine, not a condiment.
- Cassia cinnamon — Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J.Presl (also C. burmannii, C. loureiroi); mainly (E)-cinnamaldehyde 70-90, cinnamyl acetate 1-6, coumarin 1-6 of the oil; Cassia is the robust cinnamon: high cinnamaldehyde gives it the heat and carrying power to survive baking and long braising, and cinnamaldehyde is a…; dyes warm brown to tan; The dominant issue is coumarin, which is hepatotoxic in susceptible individuals. BfR and EFSA set a tolerable daily…
- Celery (seed; also stalk/leaf) — Apium graveolens L.; mainly limonene 60-80, beta-selinene 5-20, 3-n-butylphthalide 1-5; Phthalides (3-n-butylphthalide, sedanenolide) give celery character and amplify savoury perception at sub-threshold levels; celery powder is used as…; Low
- Ceylon cinnamon ('true' cinnamon) — Cinnamomum verum J.Presl (syn. C. zeylanicum); mainly (E)-cinnamaldehyde 55-75, eugenol 1-13, cinnamyl acetate 1-8; Ceylon's lower cinnamaldehyde and higher eugenol/linalool make it an aromatic rather than a hot spice, so it is used where the spice should perfume…; dyes warm tan-brown; Low coumarin, so the cassia hepatic concern is largely absent — this is the main practical reason to choose Ceylon for…
- Chili pepper — Capsicum annuum L., C. chinense Jacq., C. frutescens L., C. baccatum L., C. pubescens Ruiz & Pav.; mainly 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine trace, (E)-2-hexenal minor, hexanal minor; Capsaicin is fat- and alcohol-soluble and almost water-insoluble, so oil and dairy both carry and quench the burn. Paprika carotenoids colour fat…; dyes orange-red; Mucosal burns; extreme superhot ingestion has caused oesophageal injury, vomiting and reversible cerebral…
- Clove — Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M.Perry; mainly eugenol 70-90, eugenyl acetate 5-20, beta-caryophyllene 5-14; Clove is the most concentrated common spice — 15-20% essential oil, almost all of it eugenol — which is why it is used in tiny quantities and…; dyes brown; Clove oil is one of the most dangerous common household essential oils for children by ingestion. Published paediatric…
- Cubeb — Piper cubeba L.f.; mainly sabinene 10-30, beta-cubebene 5-15, alpha-cubebene 2-10; Woody sesquiterpenes give allspice-like depth; less pungent than black pepper because little piperine.; Large doses irritate kidneys/urinary tract.
- Cumin — Cuminum cyminum L.; mainly cuminaldehyde (4-isopropylbenzaldehyde) 15-50, gamma-terpinene 10-30, beta-pinene 5-20; Cumin's whole culinary logic is toasting. Raw cumin is harsh and the p-menthadienals read as sweaty; dry-toasting or frying in fat drives Maillard…; Very low as a food. Note the 2015 international recall episode in which cumin was found adulterated with undeclared…
- Fennel (sweet and bitter) — Foeniculum vulgare Mill. — var. dulce (sweet) and var. vulgare (bitter); mainly (E)-anethole 80-90, estragole (methyl chavicol) 1-5, fenchone 1-5; Anethole is the key: it is intensely sweet-smelling (detectable at very low thresholds), fat-soluble, and heat-stable enough to survive sausage…; Culinary and tea use is well tolerated. The concern is estragole: EFSA regards estragole as genotoxic and carcinogenic…
- Fenugreek — Trigonella foenum-graecum L.; mainly sotolon (3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethyl-2(5H)-furanone) trace, 3-amino-4,5-dimethyl-2(5H)-furanone trace; Sotolon, odour threshold in the low ppb, gives maple/caramel ('curry' smell of fenugreek). Light toasting reduces bitterness (saponins) and develops…; dyes yellow; Low; maple-syrup odour of urine/sweat (sotolon) — can mimic maple syrup urine disease in neonates when mothers consume…
- Ginger — Zingiber officinale Roscoe; mainly zingiberene 20-35, beta-sesquiphellandrene 7-20, beta-bisabolene 5-12; Ginger is the clearest culinary case of pungency and aroma living in two different fractions with two different behaviours. The aroma (zingiberene…; dyes pale yellow; Very low. Heartburn and mild GI upset at high doses; the dried spice is more irritant than fresh to a sensitive stomach.
- Grains of paradise — Aframomum melegueta K.Schum.; mainly beta-caryophyllene 10-60, humulene 10-30, caryophyllene oxide 2-10; Paradol gives ginger-family pungency without black pepper's piperine harshness; caryophyllene/humulene give woody depth valued in beer and gin.; Low.
- Grains of Selim — Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A.Rich.; mainly beta-pinene 15-35, sabinene 5-20, 1,8-cineole 5-20; Pinene/cineole pods smoked over fire give a resinous smoky pepper used whole in soups and roasted with coffee (café Touba).; Low.
- Greater galangal — Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd.; mainly 1,8-cineole 20-50, alpha-terpineol 2-15, alpha-fenchyl acetate 2-15; Galangal is used where ginger would be too sweet and too soft: its cineole-dominant oil and ACA pungency give a sharp, medicinal-pine lift that cuts…; dyes pale yellow; Food spice, low risk. Concentrated extracts are more active; ACA is cytotoxic in vitro.
- Green cardamom — Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton; mainly alpha-terpinyl acetate 25-55, 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) 20-45, linalool 2-8; Cardamom's volatile profile is unusually balanced between a cooling chemesthetic (1,8-cineole acts at TRPM8-adjacent cooling pathways and is the same…; Very low as a food. The oil is a cineole-rich oil with the usual cineole cautions.
- Horseradish — Armoracia rusticana G.Gaertn., B.Mey. & Scherb.; mainly allyl isothiocyanate 70-90, 2-phenylethyl isothiocyanate 5-25; Same sinigrin-myrosinase chemistry as mustard: grate and the AITC forms; adding vinegar ~2-3 min after grating fixes the heat level (immediately =…; Large amounts irritate GI tract; topical blistering
- Indian dill (sowa) — Anethum sowa Roxb. ex Fleming (often treated as A. graveolens var. sowa); mainly dillapiole 20-60, (R)-(+)-carvone 10-40, limonene 10-30; Used as both herb and seed spice in Indian cooking for its carminative reputation in pulse dishes — pulses produce gas through oligosaccharide…; Dillapiole shares the methylenedioxyphenyl motif with safrole and myristicin; concentrated oil should not be treated as…
- Juniper (berry) — Juniperus communis L.; mainly alpha-pinene 25-50, myrcene 5-20, sabinene 2-25; alpha-Pinene and myrcene give resinous freshness that cuts gamey fat and rich pork; crushed berries release oil into marinades and braises. In gin…; Historic claim of renal irritation at high doses; prolonged use (>4-6 weeks) not advised (EMA). Savin (J. sabina) is a…
- Lesser galangal — Alpinia officinarum Hance; mainly 1,8-cineole 20-50, alpha-terpineol 3-10, camphor 2-8; Cineole and pungent diarylheptanoids give a sharp, warming lift to rich meat and liqueurs; medieval Europe used it like ginger.; Low culinary.
- Licorice (liquorice) — Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (also G. uralensis, G. inflata); mainly anethole (trace; anise-like note mostly comes from added anise in confectionery) trace, estragole, eugenol, hexanoic acid trace; Glycyrrhizin is a slow-onset, lingering sweetener that also suppresses bitterness and boosts savoury in braises; foams (saponin) — used in historic…; Glycyrrhizin-induced pseudohyperaldosteronism: hypertension, hypokalaemia, oedema, rhabdomyolysis, arrhythmia; deaths…
- Mace — Myristica fragrans Houtt.; mainly sabinene 15-40, alpha-pinene 8-20, beta-pinene 7-18; Mace carries the nutmeg aroma without nutmeg's fixed oil and without the coarse sweetness, and it does not cloud a pale sauce — the traditional…; Same myristicin-driven overdose syndrome as nutmeg; mace is the more aromatic per gram but not safer.
- Mustard (black, brown, white/yellow) — Brassica nigra (L.) W.D.J.Koch (black); Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. (brown); Sinapis alba L. (white/yellow); mainly allyl isothiocyanate 90-99 of volatile oil, 4-hydroxybenzyl isothiocyanate (non-volatile, unstable) major; Heat is created on demand: myrosinase hydrolyses sinigrin to allyl isothiocyanate only when crushed seed meets water. Cold water gives the hottest…; Topical plasters can cause chemical burns/blistering if left on; mustard oil (B. juncea) high in erucic acid — not sold…
- Nigella — Nigella sativa L.; mainly p-cymene 15-50, thymoquinone 10-50, alpha-thujene 2-15; Toasting releases a savoury oniony-oregano aroma (p-cymene, thymoquinone, carvacrol) that complements breads and pickles. Seeds sprinkled before…; Low culinary. Case reports of contact dermatitis (topical oil) and one of acute kidney injury with high-dose oil…
- Nutmeg — Myristica fragrans Houtt.; mainly sabinene 15-35, alpha-pinene 10-22, beta-pinene 8-18; Nutmeg's volatiles are lipophilic terpenes and phenylpropenes, so they dissolve into dairy fat and egg yolk and read as 'richness' rather than as a…; Large single ingestions (on the order of one to several whole nutmegs, i.e. several grams of kernel) cause an…
- Pink peppercorn — Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi; Schinus molle L.; mainly alpha-pinene 10-30, beta-pinene 5-20, myrcene 5-25; Pinene and limonene give a rose-pine top note with almost no pungency, so it is used for aroma and colour rather than heat; the brittle husk is…; Anacardiaceae: contains urushiol-related alkylphenols. Contact dermatitis, and reports of respiratory irritation and GI…
- Saffron — Crocus sativus L.; mainly safranal 30-70 of volatile fraction, isophorone / 4-ketoisophorone 5-15, 2,6,6-trimethyl-1,4-cyclohexadiene-1-carboxaldehyde variable; Three quality factors: crocin (colour), picrocrocin (bitterness), safranal (aroma, released from picrocrocin by drying/heat). Crocins are…; dyes golden yellow to orange; Culinary amounts safe; >5 g toxic, 12-20 g reported lethal (historic abortifacient). Adulteration common (safflower…
- Sichuan pepper — Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. (also Z. simulans, Z. piperitum, Z. armatum); mainly linalool 10-55, limonene 5-25, beta-myrcene 2-10; The 'ma' of málà comes from hydroxy-alpha-sanshool blocking two-pore potassium channels in touch-sensitive and nociceptive fibres, so lips feel…; Low at culinary doses. Concentrated extracts can cause oral numbness/drooling; seeds are gritty but not toxic.
- Star anise (Chinese) — Illicium verum Hook.f.; mainly (E)-anethole 80-95, foeniculin 0.5-5, limonene 0.5-5; Star anise is the long-cook anise: its anethole is carried on a heavy, resinous base that survives hours of simmering, so unlike aniseed or fennel…; Chinese star anise (I. verum) is regarded by FDA as GRAS. The hazard is adulteration with Japanese star anise (Illicium…
- Sumac — Rhus coriaria L.; mainly beta-caryophyllene 5-25, cembrene 5-15, limonene 2-10; Supplies sourness as a dry powder (malic acid) rather than liquid, so it acidifies salads, grilled meat and onions without making them wet. Tannins…; dyes tan, yellow-brown; with iron grey-black; Culinary R. coriaria safe. Note: unrelated poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) has white berries and urushiol — not a…
- Tamarind — Tamarindus indica L.; mainly 2-furfural 10-30, 2-phenylacetaldehyde 5-15, furan-2-carboxylic acid esters 5-15; Tartaric acid gives a rounded fruity sourness that persists through long cooking (unlike volatile vinegar); sugars and pectin add body and glaze.…; dyes seed and leaf: yellow-brown; used as mordant assist; Low.
- Turmeric — Curcuma longa L.; mainly ar-turmerone 20-45, alpha-turmerone 10-35, beta-turmerone 5-25; Turmeric's culinary job is two-thirds colour and one-third earthy bitterness; its aroma contribution is modest, which is why it functions as a base…; dyes brilliant yellow to golden orange; shifts red-brown in alkali; Culinary use is safe and long-established. Supplement-dose curcumin is a different matter: hepatotoxicity has been…
- Uziza / Ashanti pepper — Piper guineense Schumach. & Thonn.; mainly beta-caryophyllene 5-20, myristicin 0-30, elemicin 0-15; Gives pepper heat plus a nutmeg/cubeb aromatic (allylbenzenes); leaves are shredded into soups at the end for fresh peppery aroma. Postpartum Igbo…; Low culinary. Folk reports of anti-fertility effects in males at high doses (rat studies).
Culinary herb
- Bay laurel (sweet bay) — Laurus nobilis L.; mainly 1,8-cineole 35-50, alpha-terpinyl acetate 8-15, sabinene 4-12; Cineole and terpinyl acetate leach slowly into long-cooked liquids; the effect is a subtle 'roundness' that reads as savoury depth rather than as a…; Whole leaves: mechanical GI hazard. Methyl eugenol in oil is genotoxic carcinogen in rodents.
- Chervil — Anthriscus cerefolium (L.) Hoffm.; mainly methyl chavicol (estragole) 60-85, 1-allyl-2,4-dimethoxybenzene 15-30, undecane trace-5; Estragole gives a subtle anise note; extremely volatile and heat-labile, so fines herbes are added at the last moment.; Culinary safe. Estragole genotoxic carcinogen in rodents at high doses; irrelevant at garnish amounts.…
- Common sage (Dalmatian sage) — Salvia officinalis L.; mainly alpha-thujone 18-43, beta-thujone 3-8.5, camphor 4.5-24.5; Thujone/camphor bitterness and astringent tannins balance fatty pork, goose, butter and offal; carnosic acid protects sausage fat from rancidity…; dyes yellow, khaki, grey-green; alpha-Thujone is a GABA-A antagonist convulsant; oil ingestion has caused seizures. EMA thujone guidance: 3 mg…
- Coriander / cilantro — Coriandrum sativum L.; mainly linalool (mostly (S)-(+)) 60-80, alpha-pinene 3-7, gamma-terpinene 2-7; Seed linalool is fat-soluble and survives toasting, giving floral-citrus warmth; leaf aldehydes are extremely heat-labile, so cilantro is added raw.…; Low
- Culantro — Eryngium foetidum L.; mainly (E)-2-dodecenal 30-60, dodecanal 5-20, 2,4,5-trimethylbenzaldehyde 5-20; The long-chain aldehydes survive cooking far better than coriander leaf's, so culantro is used in cooked bases (sofrito, stews) where cilantro would…; Low.
- Curry leaf — Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng. (syn. Bergera koenigii); mainly beta-caryophyllene 10-30, alpha-pinene 10-50, sabinene 5-35; Leaves are fried in hot oil/ghee with mustard seed in the tadka; frying releases terpenes into fat and Maillard-crisps the leaf. The fat then carries…; Low. Seeds reported toxic in some folk sources (unverified).
- Dill (weed and seed) — Anethum graveolens L.; mainly alpha-phellandrene 20-60, dill ether (3,9-epoxy-p-menth-1-ene) 5-25, (R)-(+)-carvone 5-30; Dill weed's actives are extremely volatile monoterpenes, so it must be added at the end or used raw; the seed, dominated by the much less volatile…; Low. Food herb and food spice.
- Epazote — Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants (syn. Chenopodium ambrosioides); mainly ascaridole 40-70, p-cymene 10-25, alpha-terpinene 5-20; Added to black beans explicitly as a carminative, and for a resinous flavour that cuts earthy legumes. Monoterpenes partition into both fat and the…; Oil of chenopodium is seriously toxic: documented fatal poisonings, hepatic and renal injury, deafness and convulsions…
- French tarragon — Artemisia dracunculus L. var. sativa; mainly estragole (methyl chavicol) 50-85, (E)-beta-ocimene 2-20, (Z)-beta-ocimene 2-15; Tarragon is the backbone of French sauce work because estragole is fat-soluble and survives a warm emulsion, so it perfumes butter and egg-yolk…; The culinary herb is food. The oil is an estragole-dominant oil and therefore among the more restricted culinary-herb…
- Garden angelica (root, seed) — Angelica archangelica L.; mainly alpha-pinene 10-30, delta-3-carene 5-15, alpha-phellandrene 5-15; Root's musky macrocyclic lactones fix and lift other gin botanicals; terpenes add dry pine. Bitter-aromatic for aperitifs.; Low culinary. Not to be confused with poisonous Apiaceae (water hemlock Cicuta) when foraging.
- Garlic — Allium sativum L.; mainly diallyl disulfide 20-45, diallyl trisulfide 15-40, allyl methyl trisulfide 5-15; Garlic flavour is enzymatic: crushing lets alliinase convert alliin to allicin within seconds; finer crushing = more allicin = more bite. Allicin…; dyes pale yellow/beige (skins); Raw garlic applied to skin causes chemical burns (case reports, often in infants). Garlic-in-oil at room temperature is…
- Hoja santa — Piper auritum Kunth; mainly safrole 64.5, beta-caryophyllene 4.6, myristicin 4.3; The whole leaf is used as a wrapper and aromatic rather than as a concentrated extract: the leaf delivers a small fraction of what distilled oil…; Safrole is a rodent hepatocarcinogen and is classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans (IARC Group 2B).…
- Holy basil (tulsi) — Ocimum tenuiflorum L. (syn. O. sanctum); mainly eugenol 30-75, beta-caryophyllene 5-25, beta-elemene 2-12; Holy basil is eugenol-led, so it behaves in the pan more like clove than like sweet basil: eugenol is less volatile and more heat-stable than…; Leaf and tea are well tolerated in traditional use. The oil carries methyleugenol, a rodent genotoxic carcinogen…
- Hyssop — Hyssopus officinalis L.; mainly cis-pinocamphone (isopinocamphone) 10-50, trans-pinocamphone 5-35, beta-pinene 5-20; Bitter-camphoraceous note balances rich food; important in liqueurs (green Chartreuse, absinthe colouring step with Melissa/Artemisia pontica).; Oil convulsant (pinocamphone); case reports of tonic-clonic seizures in adults and children after oral oil.
- Lemon balm — Melissa officinalis L.; mainly geranial 20-40, neral 15-30, citronellal 1-15; Citral gives lemon flavour without acidity; very volatile, so used raw or infused briefly.; Low
- Lemongrass — Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf; C. flexuosus (Nees ex Steud.) W.Watson; mainly geranial (alpha-citral) 30-50, neral (beta-citral) 25-38, myrcene 5-20; Citral provides lemon aroma without acid, so it flavours coconut-milk and broth dishes without curdling. Citral partitions into fat (coconut milk)…; Low orally at food levels. Citral is a skin sensitiser and mucosal irritant neat.
- Lovage — Levisticum officinale W.D.J.Koch; mainly (Z)-ligustilide 40-70, butylidene phthalide 1-5, alpha-terpinyl acetate 5-25; Phthalides (ligustilide, sedanolide) are the 'celery' odorants and enhance perceived umami/saltiness in broths — why it is nicknamed after Maggi…; Low culinary
- Makrut lime (leaf and rind) — Citrus hystrix DC.; mainly citronellal 60-80, citronellol 2-10, linalool 1-5; Citronellal from the leaf gives the 'Thai' lime note distinct from lime juice; leaves are torn or chiffonaded to rupture oil glands. Rind adds bitter…; Low.
- Mexican oregano — Lippia graveolens Kunth (Poliomintha longiflora also sold as such); mainly carvacrol 20-60, thymol 2-15, p-cymene 10-25; Carvacrol-dominant phenolics hold up against chilies, cumin and long braises better than Mediterranean oregano; commonly crumbled between the palms…; Low as a culinary herb; the concentrated oil is a mucosal irritant.
- Mexican tarragon / Mexican mint marigold — Tagetes lucida Cav.; mainly methyl chavicol (estragole) 95-97, estragole ~48, anethole ~35; Anethole and estragole give the anise-tarragon profile that makes it a drop-in for French tarragon; the plant tolerates heat and humidity that kill…; dyes yellow to gold; Estragole and methyl eugenol are genotoxic rodent hepatocarcinogens; the concentrated oil is not appropriate for…
- Mugwort — Artemisia vulgaris L. (also A. princeps / A. argyi in East Asia); mainly 1,8-cineole 5-30, camphor 5-25, alpha/beta-thujone 0-40; Bitter-aromatic note helps digest goose and pork fat; young spring leaves give green colour (chlorophyll) and grassy aroma to rice cakes.; dyes yellow-green, olive; Low culinary; thujone in some chemotypes
- Onion (bulb; dry skins as dye) — Allium cepa L.; mainly dipropyl disulfide major, methyl propyl disulfide / trisulfides major, syn-propanethial S-oxide (lachrymatory factor, transient) on cutting; Cutting releases alliinase onto isoalliin; LF synthase diverts the intermediate to the tear gas (syn-propanethial S-oxide) — chilling, a sharp knife…; dyes Yellow skins: golden yellow/orange (alum), rust-brown (copper)…; Toxic to dogs and cats (N-propyl disulfide haemolytic anaemia) — relevant for household safety.
- Oregano (Greek/Turkish) — Origanum vulgare L. (incl. subsp. hirtum), O. onites; mainly carvacrol 60-80, gamma-terpinene 3-10, p-cymene 5-12; Unusually, dried oregano is stronger and preferred: drying concentrates carvacrol in intact glands while volatile green notes are lost. Carvacrol's…; dyes reddish-brown/purple-grey (flowering tops); Oil caustic; oil capsules can cause GI burning.
- Pandan — Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb.; mainly 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline trace, 3-methyl-2(5H)-furanone major, hexanal minor; 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline gives the 'fragrant rice' note; knotting leaves into rice or coconut milk makes ordinary rice smell like jasmine rice. Juice is…; dyes green (food); Low.
- Parsley (leaf) — Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Fuss; mainly myristicin 10-50 of leaf oil, beta-phellandrene 5-30, 1,3,8-p-menthatriene 10-30; Parsley is a finishing herb because its character lives in a tiny, highly volatile oil fraction (p-menthatriene, phellandrene) that boils off in…; dyes pale green-yellow; Culinary amounts are food. The isolated oil and large seed/oil doses are a different hazard class (see parsley_seed).
- Peppermint — Mentha × piperita L.; mainly menthol 30-55, menthone 14-32, 1,8-cineole 3.5-8; Menthol activates the cold receptor TRPM8, so peppermint reads as 'cool' rather than as heat; it refreshes the palate after fatty meals and masks…; Oil: menthol fatal oral dose estimated ~1 g/kg adult (old data); pulegone/menthofuran hepatotoxic — EMA list entry…
- Perilla / shiso — Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton; mainly perillaldehyde 40-75, limonene 5-20, beta-caryophyllene 2-10; Perillaldehyde gives a cooling, aromatic note that cuts raw fish and fatty pork. Red shiso anthocyanins turn bright red in acid — the colour of…; dyes red-pink (acid), food colourant; Perilla ketone (PK chemotype) causes fatal pulmonary oedema in cattle and is a pneumotoxin in lab animals; culinary PA…
- Pot marigold (calendula) — Calendula officinalis L.; mainly α-cadinol 20-25, τ-cadinol 10-20, δ-cadinene variable; Lutein/flavoxanthin carotenoids are fat-soluble, so petals coloured butter, cheese and broths; cheap saffron substitute.; dyes yellow (alum); olive-khaki (iron); brassy (copper); Low.
- Rosemary — Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. (syn. Rosmarinus officinalis L.); mainly 1,8-cineole 38-55, camphor 5-15, alpha-pinene 9-14; Terpene oils (cineole, camphor, pinenes) cut through fat and gamey odours in lamb and pork; carnosic acid and carnosol are potent fat-phase…; dyes pale yellow to khaki/olive; Culinary amounts safe. Essential oil: camphor content makes oral ingestion of oil convulsant in overdose; avoid oral…
- Rue — Ruta graveolens L.; mainly 2-undecanone (methyl nonyl ketone) 30-90, 2-nonanone 5-30, 2-nonyl acetate 1-10; Methyl nonyl ketone gives intense bitter-fruity note; used in tiny amounts against fatty or gamey food and as a digestive bitter.; Abortifacient doses are close to toxic: hepatorenal toxicity and deaths reported (Ciganda & Laborde 2003, Uruguay case…
- Savory (summer and winter) — Satureja hortensis L. (summer); Satureja montana L. (winter); mainly carvacrol 30-50, gamma-terpinene 20-40, p-cymene 3-10; Carvacrol bite works as a pepper substitute; traditional 'bean herb' because carminative phenolics are believed to reduce flatulence from legumes.; Oil caustic
- Spearmint — Mentha spicata L.; mainly (R)-(-)-carvone 55-75, limonene 8-20, 1,8-cineole 1-5; (R)-carvone is the spearmint enantiomer — its mirror image (S)-carvone is caraway/dill — a clean example that odour receptors are chiral. Low menthol…; Low
- Sweet basil — Ocimum basilicum L.; mainly linalool 30-60, estragole (methyl chavicol) 5-30, 1,8-cineole 2-10; Basil's actives are among the most fragile in the herb world: linalool is volatile and oxidises readily, and the leaf's phenolics brown through…; The culinary herb is food. The regulatory and toxicological concern is estragole, which EFSA regards as genotoxic and…
- Sweet marjoram — Origanum majorana L.; mainly terpinen-4-ol 15-35, cis-sabinene hydrate 3-25, gamma-terpinene 8-15; cis-Sabinene hydrate and terpinen-4-ol give a sweet, piney-floral note that is volatile; marjoram suits pulses, potatoes and sausage where oregano's…; Low
- Thyme (common/garden) — Thymus vulgaris L. (also T. zygis); mainly thymol 37-55, p-cymene 14-28, gamma-terpinene 4-11; Phenolic monoterpenes (thymol, carvacrol) survive long braising, give savoury-medicinal depth and are strongly antimicrobial, a historic reason for…; dyes yellow-beige; Neat thymol/carvacrol oil burns mucosa; hepatotoxic at high oral oil doses.
Beverage
- Butterfly pea — Clitoria ternatea L.; Ternatins are blue at neutral pH and shift to purple/magenta when acid (lime, tonic, citrus) is added — a visible pH indicator. Polyacylation makes…; dyes blue to blue-violet (neutral); purple (acid); green-teal (alkali); Low in beverage amounts; seeds laxative/purgative.
- Cacao / Cocoa — Theobroma cacao L.; mainly 3-methylbutanal trace, 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine / tetramethylpyrazine trace, linalool trace; Bitter-roasty depth balances chilli heat and fruit sweetness in moles; cocoa butter's sharp melt at 34 °C gives snap and melt-in-mouth…; dyes warm brown; Theobromine toxic to dogs/cats; humans tolerate well. Heavy metals: cadmium and lead in some dark chocolates (EU Cd…
- Coffee — Coffea arabica L.; C. canephora Pierre ex A.Froehner; mainly 2-furfurylthiol trace, key roast note, 4-vinylguaiacol trace, β-damascenone trace; Roasted bitterness balances sweetness and fat; pyrazines and furanones echo grilled-meat Maillard notes (why coffee rubs work on beef); acidity…; dyes tan to brown; grey-brown with iron; Caffeine: >400 mg/day associated with anxiety, insomnia, tachycardia; toxic ~>1 g, lethal reports with concentrated…
- Elder (flower; berry noted) — Sambucus nigra L.; mainly linalool major, cis-rose oxide minor, hotrienol minor; Flower aroma is highly volatile and ester/oxide-based, so cordials are cold- or warm-steeped with citric acid (acid preserves and brightens; inhibits…; dyes Berries: purple-violet, lilac (alum), grey (iron); leaves…; Raw berries/leaves/stems: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea (cyanogenic glycosides, lectin) — 1983 California outbreak from…
- German chamomile — Matricaria chamomilla L. (syn. M. recutita, Chamomilla recutita); mainly alpha-bisabolol oxide A 25-50, alpha-bisabolol oxide B 5-15, (E)-beta-farnesene 5-30; Apple-like ester/farnesene notes infuse readily into water, milk and cream; bitter sesquiterpenes are mild.; dyes bright yellow (alum); olive/khaki (iron); Low
- Guarana — Paullinia cupana Kunth; mainly estragole (methyl chavicol) reported trace, anethole trace; Caffeine dose plus tannin body; the tannin slows perceived onset compared with coffee (claimed, weak evidence).; Caffeine load is easy to underestimate in 'natural energy' products (1 g seed ≈ 40-60 mg caffeine). Case reports of…
- Hops — Humulus lupulus L.; mainly myrcene 20-40, alpha-humulene 15-40, beta-caryophyllene 8-15; Boiling isomerises alpha-acids to iso-alpha-acids (bitter, water-soluble, antibacterial vs Gram-positive Lactobacillus) — that is why hops displaced…; dyes yellow-brown; stems give brown/beige; Low. Toxic to dogs (malignant hyperthermia).
- Kola nut — Cola nitida (Vent.) Schott & Endl.; C. acuminata (P.Beauv.) Schott & Endl.; Shared stimulant of hospitality; bitterness suppresses thirst and hunger for travellers; flavour in colas from citrus oils, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla…; dyes reddish-brown to brown; As caffeine; habitual chewing associated with oral/gastric lesions (weak evidence).
- Roman chamomile — Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All. (syn. Anthemis nobilis); mainly isobutyl angelate 25-40, isoamyl angelate / 2-methylbutyl angelate 10-25, methallyl angelate 5-10; Angelate esters give fruity notes; nobilin bitterness suits aperitifs.; Low
- Roselle (hibiscus) — Hibiscus sabdariffa L.; Organic acids give tartness and act as a natural acidulant; anthocyanins colour drinks ruby red (pH-dependent — red in acid, blue-grey/green in…; dyes pinks to purples (alum); greys and blue-greys (alkali, iron); fugitive; Low.
- Tea — Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze (var. sinensis, var. assamica); mainly linalool variable, geraniol variable, cis-jasmone trace; Bitterness and astringency cut fat (butter tea, dim sum); theanine/glutamate give umami for broths (ochazuke); tannins bind and mellow spices in…; dyes tan, beige, khaki, brown; grey with iron; Caffeine toxicity possible only at very high intakes; concentrated green-tea extract (EGCG >800 mg/day) linked to…
- Wormwood (grand wormwood) — Artemisia absinthium L.; mainly beta-thujone 18-60, alpha-thujone 0-10, sabinyl acetate 0-20; Bitter sesquiterpene lactones stimulate TAS2R receptors and reflex digestive secretion; used in aperitifs where bitterness is the point. Thujone…; dyes yellow-green, green-grey; Thujone convulsant; oil ingestion caused seizures, rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure (Weisbord 1997 NEJM, 10 ml…
- Yerba mate — Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil.; mainly linalool trace, α-terpineol trace, smoke phenols (guaiacol, cresols) in barbacuá-dried trace; Shared ritual stimulant; bitterness cut with sugar, citrus peel or cold herbs (yuyos: mint, lemongrass, burrito) in tereré.; Very hot (>65 °C) mate consumption classified by IARC Group 2A (probably carcinogenic, oesophageal) — the heat, not…
Medicinal
- Cannabis — Cannabis sativa L.; mainly beta-myrcene 20-60, alpha-pinene 5-25, beta-caryophyllene 5-25; Two completely separate culinary logics live under one species name. (1) HEMP SEED is a food in its own right: ~25% protein with a complete…; No documented human lethal dose from cannabinoid toxicity alone — the LD50 gap is very large and CB1 is sparse in the…
- Coca — Erythroxylum coca Lam.; E. novogranatense (D.Morris) Hieron.; mainly methyl salicylate major volatile; Mild stimulant tea traditional at altitude; flavour extract after alkaloid removal is used in cola beverages.; Cardiovascular stimulant; positive drug tests from coca tea.
- Echinacea (purple coneflower) — Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench; E. angustifolia DC.; E. pallida (Nutt.) Nutt.; mainly germacrene D major, β-caryophyllene variable, α-pinene variable; Alkamides give tingle (like Sichuan pepper's sanshools, related isobutylamides); not used as a food.; Short-term use of E. purpurea likely safe; GI upset; allergic reactions possibly severe (NCCIH). Rash in children…
- Goldenseal — Hydrastis canadensis L.; Bitter alkaloid content; no culinary tradition.; dyes bright yellow; deeper with alum; ~3 g/day short term without serious harm in small studies (NCCIH). High doses: GI upset, possible bradycardia, CNS…
- Kava — Piper methysticum G.Forst.; Kavalactones are lipophilic (logP ~2–3) and poorly water-soluble; traditional preparation works by mechanically emulsifying root resin into water…; Rare idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity, some severe or fatal; first linked to ethanol/acetone extracts, but water-prepared…
- Kudzu — Pueraria montana var. lobata (Willd.) Maesen & S.M.Almeida ex Sanjappa & Predeep; Kudzu starch has large granules and high amylopectin; it gels to a clear, glossy, elastic texture and holds at lower temperatures than cornstarch…; Kudzu food starch benign. Root extract: isoflavones (phytoestrogens). Puerarin injection: haemolysis reports in China.…
- Milk thistle — Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.; Close relative of artichoke/cardoon; same bitter-sweet vegetable use.; Well tolerated; laxative effect, GI upset.
- Passionflower (maypop) — Passiflora incarnata L.; Fruit pulp sweet-sour; herb taken as calming bedtime tea.; Low; drowsiness, rare vasculitis/QT case reports.
- St John's wort — Hypericum perforatum L.; mainly 2-methyloctane variable, often major, α-pinene variable, β-caryophyllene / caryophyllene oxide variable; Used for colour and bitterness rather than flavour; hypericin gives the red oil.; dyes yellows (alum, from flavonoids); red-maroon on wool from hypericin…; Generally safe up to 12 weeks without other drugs (NCCIH). GI upset, dizziness, insomnia, restlessness. Phototoxicity…
- Tobacco — Nicotiana tabacum L.; Nicotiana rustica L.; Aroma of cured leaf; nicotine content makes it a poison food-wise.; Nicotine is acutely toxic; green tobacco sickness from wet-leaf skin contact in harvest workers. Smoke is carcinogenic…
- Valerian — Valeriana officinalis L.; mainly bornyl acetate up to ~40, valerenal variable, valeranone variable; Isovaleric esters at trace levels contribute fruity-apple notes to flavour houses; at high levels the free acid is repellent.; Generally well tolerated; headache, GI upset, morning grogginess. Rare hepatotoxicity reports, often multi-herb…
Dye
- African / Mexican marigold — Tagetes erecta L.; mainly terpinolene variable, often major, (Z)-β-ocimene variable, piperitone variable; Fat-soluble lutein colours sauces and yolks; mild bitterness.; dyes alum: bright yellow to golden; iron: olive-khaki; copper: brassy…; low as food colourant
- Black walnut — Juglans nigra L.; Distinctive pungent flavour; kernel fat carries it — toast lightly; high linoleic content makes it go rancid fast (store cold).; dyes none/alum: warm tan to deep chocolate brown; iron: grey-brown to…; Juglone is allelopathic (kills tomatoes, apples nearby) and toxic to horses (laminitis from bedding shavings). Hull…
- Henna — Lawsonia inermis L.; mainly α- and β-ionone major; Not a food.; dyes orange (fresh stain) oxidising over 24-48 h to red-brown/maroon on…; Pure henna: very low allergenicity. MAJOR HAZARD is 'black henna' adulterated with para-phenylenediamine (PPD; found at…
- Japanese indigo — Persicaria tinctoria (Aiton) Spach (syn. Polygonum tinctorium); Novelty and tradition; leaf is edible in small amounts.; dyes blue: fresh-leaf method gives turquoise-aqua on silk (no reduction…; low
- Logwood — Haematoxylum campechianum L.; Not a food.; dyes alum: purple to violet-blue; iron: grey to true black (the historic…; Low acute toxicity; chrome mordants (Cr VI) toxic — prefer iron/alum.
- Madder — Rubia tinctorum L. (also R. cordifolia, R. peregrina); Not a food.; dyes alum: true reds to orange-red (alizarin), pinks; iron: purple…; Do NOT ingest madder root medicinally: lucidin and its metabolites are genotoxic; madder root caused kidney and liver…
- Safflower — Carthamus tinctorius L.; Yellow water-soluble safflor yellows colour food cheaply; no saffron aroma.; dyes two dyes in one plant: water-soluble yellow (washed out first) and…; low
- True indigo — Indigofera tinctoria L. (also I. suffruticosa, I. arrecta); Not a food plant.; dyes blue — pale sky to near-black navy by number of dips; never needs a…; Dye pigment low toxicity; reducing agents (dithionite, lye) caustic. Oral indigo naturalis: pulmonary arterial…
- Weld — Reseda luteola L.; Not a food.; dyes alum: clear lemon to bright yellow (the most lightfast natural…; low; not consumed
- Woad — Isatis tinctoria L.; Not a food plant.; dyes blue (same indigotin as Indigofera; paler per leaf mass); Invasive weed in western US. Oral TCM use generally low toxicity at standard doses.
Resin
- Balm of Gilead (Judean/Mecca balsam) — Commiphora gileadensis (L.) C.Chr. (syn. C. opobalsamum); mainly sabinene 15.8-35.9, α-pinene 11.1-18.4, β-pinene 5.8-18.0; Low data.
- Balsam poplar buds ('Balm of Gilead' salve) — Populus balsamifera L.; P. × jackii (P. candicans); P. nigra and P. deltoides buds used similarly; mainly α-bisabolol 15-30, γ-curcumene / ar-curcumene 5-15, β-bisabolene ~5; dyes yellow to gold; olive with iron; Low topically.
- Benzoin — Styrax tonkinensis (Pierre) Craib ex Hartwich (Siam); Styrax benzoin Dryand. (Sumatra); mainly coniferyl benzoate 60-70 of resin, benzoic acid 10-20, vanillin ~1-2.3; Vanillin + benzoates give vanilla-balsam flavour; benzoic acid is itself a preservative.; Low.
- Copal — Protium copal (Schltdl. & Cham.) Engl.; Bursera bipinnata (DC.) Engl. / B. copallifera / B. linanoe; Hymenaea courbaril L. (Fabaceae); mainly α-pinene variable 10-40, limonene 5-25, linalool / linalyl acetate (B. linanoe 'linaloe' wood oil) up to 50+; dyes n/a (varnish/binder); Smoke inhalation particulates.
- Elemi (Manila elemi) — Canarium luzonicum (Blume) A.Gray (also C. commune; pili nut = C. ovatum); mainly limonene 40-65, α-phellandrene 10-24, elemol 1-25; Elemicin: alkenylbenzene with genotoxicity signal after metabolic activation (CYP1A2 + SULT).
- Frankincense / olibanum — Boswellia sacra Flueck. (Oman/Yemen; syn. B. carteri, Somalia), B. frereana, B. serrata Roxb. (India), B. papyrifera (Ethiopia/Eritrea/Sudan); mainly α-pinene 20-60, limonene 5-20, myrcene 2-10; Gum + terpenes freshen breath; smoke imparts resinous aroma to vessels; luban water traditionally taken as tonic.; Low; GI upset, reflux. Oxidised oil sensitising.
- Labdanum (rock rose) — Cistus ladanifer L.; C. creticus L. (ladanisterion-collected Cretan labdanum); mainly α-pinene 20-50, camphene 2-10, viridiflorol 2-5; Low.
- Mastic — Pistacia lentiscus L. var. chia (Duham.) DC.; mainly α-pinene 58-80, myrcene 1-25, β-pinene 1.5-3.5; α-pinene resin note perfumes enriched breads and dairy; ground with sugar (to prevent gumming) because the polymer fraction is insoluble and sticky…; Low.
- Myrrh — Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl. (syn. C. molmol); mainly furanoeudesma-1,3-diene 15-35, curzerene 10-25, lindestrene 5-15; Bitter aromatic; preservative in wine; rarely culinary today.; High internal doses: diarrhoea, renal irritation, bradycardia (case).
Citrus
- Bergamot — Citrus x bergamia Risso & Poit. (often treated as C. aurantium ssp. bergamia); mainly limonene 25-53, linalyl acetate 15-40, linalool 2-20; Earl Grey works because bergamot oil's linalyl acetate and linalool are floral rather than purely citric, so they sit on top of black tea's tannins…; The oil's hazard is photosensitisation, not oral toxicity. Severe bullous phototoxic reactions are documented from…
- Bitter orange — Citrus x aurantium L.; mainly limonene 88-96, myrcene 1-3, linalool 0.2-1; Its bitterness and high acid are the point: naringin and limonin give marmalade and amaro their backbone, and the sour juice tenderises and flavours…; p-Synephrine in weight-loss products has been linked to cardiovascular adverse events in case reports, nearly always…
- Grapefruit — Citrus x paradisi Macfad.; mainly limonene 88-95, myrcene 1-4, alpha-pinene 0.3-1; Naringin's bitterness is what distinguishes it from orange and is why sugar, salt or chili is used alongside. Its thiol aroma overlaps chemically…; The fruit is not toxic; the hazard is pharmacological. Interaction-driven harms are real and documented: rhabdomyolysis…
- Lemon — Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck; mainly limonene 56-76, beta-pinene 6-17, gamma-terpinene 3-13; The zest holds the oil and the juice holds the acid, which is why recipes call for both separately: the oil is fat-soluble and goes into butter…; Low. Peel oil is a mucosal irritant neat.
- Lime — Citrus aurantiifolia (Christm.) Swingle; Citrus x latifolia Tanaka; mainly limonene 45-65, beta-pinene 10-20, gamma-terpinene 8-15; Lime acid denatures fish protein in ceviche, which 'cooks' it without heat; it is the acid of choice where a bitter-resinous edge is wanted rather…; Low internally. The classic hazard is on the skin, not in the mouth.
- Mandarin — Citrus reticulata Blanco; mainly limonene 65-94, gamma-terpinene 2-20, myrcene 1-3; The defining culinary use is aged dried peel (chen pi): drying and years of ageing drive off the fresh limonene top notes and concentrate bitter…; Low.
- Pomelo — Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr.; mainly limonene 30-70, beta-myrcene 2-20, nootkatone 0-2; The vesicles stay dry and firm when separated, so pomelo behaves like a textural ingredient in salads rather than a juice fruit. The thick albedo is…; Not toxic; the hazard is the drug interaction, which is under-recognised because people assume only grapefruit matters.
- Sweet orange — Citrus x sinensis (L.) Osbeck; mainly limonene 83-97, myrcene 0.5-3, alpha-pinene 0.4-1; Zest is the aromatic (limonene plus sinensal) and juice is the sweet acid, so they do different jobs. Pectin in peel and pith is what sets marmalade…; dyes yellow to orange (food colourant); Low. Large volumes of juice are a sugar and potassium load.
- Yuzu — Citrus junos Siebold ex Tanaka; mainly limonene 60-80, gamma-terpinene 5-15, beta-phellandrene 2-6; Yuzu is grown for peel and juice rather than flesh. Its aroma is more floral than lemon, so it finishes dashi-based sauces without clashing with…; Low.
Aromatherapy
- Clary sage — Salvia sclarea L.; mainly linalyl acetate 45-75, linalool 9-25, germacrene D 1-10; Linalyl acetate/linalool give a grape-muscat note; sclareol-derived ambery notes flavoured wine and tobacco.; Low. Non-irritant oil.
- Eucalyptus (blue gum) — Eucalyptus globulus Labill.; E. radiata Sieber ex DC.; Corymbia citriodora (Hook.) K.D.Hill & L.A.S.Johnson; mainly 1,8-cineole 70-85, α-pinene 2-15, limonene 2-8; Cineole's cooling TRPM8 activity reads as 'clearing' in confectionery; not a culinary herb.; dyes orange, rust-red, gold, brown; greys/black with iron (E. cinerea, E.…; Oral: 3.5 mL reported fatal in adult; children seizures/CNS depression after a few mL. Aspiration risk.
- Patchouli — Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth.; mainly patchoulol (patchouli alcohol) 27-40, α-bulnesene (δ-guaiene) 13-21, α-guaiene 11-16; Low.
- Rose geranium — Pelargonium graveolens L'Hér. (and P. × asperum, P. capitatum hybrids 'Rosé'); mainly citronellol 21-28, geraniol 13-18, citronellyl formate 8-10; Leaf oil gives an inexpensive rose note; steeped in cream or sugar, terpene alcohols transfer to fat; leaves line cake tins to perfume batter by…; Low.
- Sandalwood — Santalum album L. (also S. spicatum, S. austrocaledonicum); mainly (Z)-α-santalol 41-55, (Z)-β-santalol 16-24, epi-β-santalol ~4; Santalols add milky-woody fixative note to syrups and rice in micro-doses; quandong is a separate edible Santalum fruit.; dyes red sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus, a different plant) gives red…; Internal oil historically caused renal irritation and GI upset.
- Tea tree — Melaleuca alternifolia (Maiden & Betche) Cheel; mainly terpinen-4-ol 35-48, γ-terpinene 14-28, α-terpinene 6-12; Oral ingestion: CNS depression, ataxia, coma in children with ~<10 mL; aspiration risk. Oxidised oil sensitiser.…
- Vetiver — Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty (syn. Vetiveria zizanioides); mainly khusimol 3-15, vetiselinenol / isovalencenol 1-12, α-vetivone 2-7; Root sesquiterpenes are slightly water-transferable; earthy cooling flavour in summer drinks; roots woven into evaporative 'khus tatties' that…; Low.
Floral aromatic
- Damask rose — Rosa × damascena Herrm. (also R. centifolia, R. gallica); mainly citronellol 20-34, geraniol 15-22, nerol 5-12; Rose water carries 2-phenylethanol (water-soluble, the 'rose' that ends up in hydrosol) and perfumes sugar syrups; dried buds give…; dyes petals: pale pink-beige to greenish-grey; with iron grey; Oil: low acute toxicity; methyl eugenol content is the regulatory driver. Petals/rose water food-safe.
- Jasmine — Jasminum grandiflorum L.; Jasminum sambac (L.) Aiton; mainly benzyl acetate 15-25, benzyl benzoate 8-20, phytol / isophytol 7-12; Tea leaves adsorb volatile benzyl acetate/linalool/indole from fresh flowers (scenting); Thai cooks perfume coconut desserts with flower-infused…; Low. Do not confuse with yellow/Carolina 'jasmine' (Gelsemium sempervirens, Gelsemiaceae) — highly toxic.
- Lavender (true/fine lavender) — Lavandula angustifolia Mill.; mainly linalyl acetate 25-47, linalool 20-45, (Z)-beta-ocimene 1-10; Linalool/linalyl acetate floral notes pair with sugar and dairy fat; use culinary angustifolia — lavandin's camphor and cineole taste…; dyes pale green-grey/yellow; Low. Silexan side effects: eructation, GI.
- Neroli / orange blossom — Citrus × aurantium L. (flower); mainly linalool 28-44, limonene 9-18, β-pinene 7-17; Hydrosol carries water-soluble linalool/2-phenylethanol/methyl anthranilate into syrups and doughs without oil; floral note lifts dairy and semolina…; Low.
- Osmanthus — Osmanthus fragrans Lour.; mainly β-ionone 10-25, dihydro-β-ionone 5-15, γ-decalactone 5-10; Carotenoid-derived ionones and lactones survive drying and sugar preservation; apricot-violet note pairs with glutinous rice and sweet osmanthus…; Low.
- Ylang-ylang — Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook.f. & Thomson var. genuina (cananga oil from var. macrophylla); mainly linalool 8-28, p-cresyl methyl ether 5-16, methyl benzoate 4-10; Minor flavour use; mainly perfumery (Chanel No.5 heart).; Low oral toxicity; skin sensitiser.
Medicinal traditional
- Calamus (Asian tetraploid) — Acorus calamus L.; 4n = 48; mainly beta-asarone 70-96, alpha-asarone low relative to beta, sesquiterpenes minor; Not a food. Included in a culinary-first dataset precisely because it is the cytotype that got the whole genus removed from the food supply, and…; Highest-risk calamus cytotype: beta-asarone at 70-96% of the essential oil. Beta-asarone is a genotoxic rodent…
- Calamus (European/Indian triploid) — Acorus calamus L.; 3n = 36 (sterile triploid); mainly beta-asarone highly variable: commonly cited as low, alpha-asarone up to about 16.8% in the highest Indian genotype, sesquiterpenes (shyobunone, acorenone, calamenene) balance; Historical only. This is the cytotype behind the European culinary tradition and also the cytotype behind the ban: high beta-asarone in a…; Beta-asarone is a genotoxic rodent hepatocarcinogen. This cytotype should be assumed to be high in it unless the…
- Calamus (North American diploid) — Acorus americanus (Raf.) Raf. (syn. A. calamus var. americanus); 2n = 24; mainly beta-asarone reported absent or not detectable in North American diploid material; some Indian diploid populations have measured 7.4-11.7% — see the conflict note, alpha-asarone low to moderate, acorenone, isoshyobunone, shyobunone major sesquiterpenes in diploid oil; Calamus was a standard European aromatic bitter and confectionery root until the FDA prohibition, and it persists in some traditional bitters…; The species-level hazard is beta-asarone, a genotoxic rodent hepatocarcinogen (long-term high-dose feeding in rats…
Entheogen tryptamine
- Chacruna — Psychotria viridis Ruiz & Pav.; DMT physiologically well tolerated in healthy volunteers (transient BP/HR rise); risks are psychological and…
- Chaliponga / chagropanga — Diplopterys cabrerana (Cuatrec.) B.Gates (syn. Banisteriopsis rusbyana); As DMT; 5-MeO-DMT traces raise concern when combined with MAOIs (5-MeO-DMT + harmala fatalities reported).
- Jurema preta — Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir. (syn. M. hostilis); dyes purple-red, mauve, brown; deep purple-grey with iron; Bark tannins cause nausea/vomiting; DMT risks as P. viridis; with harmalas all MAOI interaction risks apply. Livestock…
Entheogen maoi
- Ayahuasca vine (caapi) — Banisteriopsis caapi (Spruce ex Griseb.) C.V.Morton; Not culinary. Harmala alkaloids are water-soluble salts in the acidic, long-boiled decoction; reduction concentrates them.; Nausea/vomiting, diarrhoea, tremor, bradycardia/tachycardia, hypertension. Deaths reported mainly with admixtures…
- Syrian rue — Peganum harmala L.; dyes red ('Turkish red') from seeds; yellows/browns from plant; Poisoning (often self-medication, abortion attempts): vomiting, tremor, ataxia, bradycardia, hypotension…
Culinary nut
- Almond (sweet and bitter) — Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A.Webb — var. dulcis (sweet) and var. amara (bitter); mainly benzaldehyde 95-98, hydrogen cyanide 2-4 in the crude oil; removed in the FFPA grade, benzyl alcohol, benzoic acid trace; Almond is two ingredients. Sweet almond is a fat-and-protein ingredient: 45-60% oil, which is why ground almonds enrich and tenderise baked goods by…; dyes yellow-tan to brown; Bitter almonds and other Rosaceae kernels are a genuine cyanide hazard, and children are the highest-risk group because…
Masticatory
- Betel leaf (paan) — Piper betle L.; mainly chavibetol (3-hydroxy-4-methoxyallylbenzene) 20-60, chavibetol acetate 5-25, hydroxychavicol present, sometimes major; The leaf's culinary role is as an aromatic, astringent, mildly numbing wrapper: its phenolics and tannins cut fat and richness, and the peppery…; This is the central caution. IARC Monograph Volume 85 (2004) classified betel quid WITH tobacco as Group 1, betel quid…
Culinary spice historic
- Long pepper — Piper longum L. (and Piper retrofractum Vahl); mainly beta-caryophyllene 10-30, beta-bisabolene 5-20, zingiberene 2-15; Historically long pepper, not black pepper, was the prestige pepper: Pliny priced it higher, and it dominates Apicius. It fell out of European use as…; Food spice at culinary doses. Piperlongumine is cytotoxic in vitro and the plant's extracts are more pharmacologically…
Culinary vegetable
- Parsley root (Hamburg parsley) — Petroselinum crispum var. tuberosum (Bernh.) Mart.Crov.; mainly apiole variable, often major, myristicin variable, beta-phellandrene present; The root reads sweeter than the leaf because the sugars and starch dominate and the volatile fraction is low; roasting caramelises those sugars and…; Food vegetable at normal intake.
Spice minor
- Parsley seed (fruit) — Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Fuss; mainly apiole 58-80, myristicin 49-77, 1-allyl-2,3,4,5-tetramethoxybenzene 50-60; Barely used as a culinary spice because the apiole/myristicin fraction is bitter and the hazard profile is poor. Its culinary relevance is mainly…; Apiole is a documented hepatotoxin and nephrotoxin, and apiole-containing parsley preparations have a real history of…
Culinary other
- Pomegranate — Punica granatum L.; Acidity (citric/malic) brightens fatty and nutty dishes; tannins give grip; anthocyanins colour; molasses (reduced juice) is a concentrated sour…; dyes rind: alum — mustard to khaki yellow; iron — dark grey to black…; Juice/arils safe. Root/stem bark (pelletierines) toxic: dizziness, vision disturbance, paralysis at high doses.
Culinary herb minor
- Russian tarragon — Artemisia dracunculus L. (seed-grown wild type); mainly elemicin variable, reported as a major constituent in some accessions, methyleugenol variable, can be major, sabinene 5-30; Russian tarragon is seed-grown, vigorous and cheap, where French tarragon is a sterile clone that must be divided — so most 'tarragon' seed sold is…; Culinary amounts are food. Methyleugenol- and elemicin-rich oils carry the phenylpropene genotoxicity concern…
Historic culinary
- Sassafras — Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees; mainly safrole 75-90, camphor 1-10, methyleugenol 0.5-5; Two completely different culinary stories live in this plant. The leaf, dried and ground as file powder, is used for its mucilage: added off the heat…; dyes yellow to orange-brown; Safrole is a rodent hepatocarcinogen, acting through CYP-mediated 1'-hydroxylation then sulfation to a DNA-reactive…
Culinary seed
- Sesame — Sesamum indicum L.; mainly 2-furfurylthiol trace, 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone trace, 2-acetylpyrazine and alkylpyrazines trace; Roasting creates furfurylthiol and pyrazines by Maillard chemistry from the seed's sugars and sulfur amino acids, which is why toasted sesame oil…; Low. The hull carries oxalate and phytate.
Culinary flavouring
- Vanilla — Vanilla planifolia Jacks. ex Andrews (also V. tahitensis, V. pompona); mainly vanillin 1-3 of the cured bean, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde 0.1-0.5 of bean, vanillic acid 0.05-0.3; Vanilla is the key worked example of flavour as a product of enzymatic processing rather than of the raw plant: the green pod is odourless, and…; Food, very low risk. The real hazard is adulteration: 'Mexican vanilla' sold cheaply has repeatedly been found to be…
Cooking
Cooking is where the chemistry on this page was worked out long before anyone named it. Four rules carry most of it.
- Most of what you are after is not water-soluble. The aroma compounds in the chart above are oils. That is why a spice blooms in hot fat and not in a watery sauce, why tempering — tadka, the Indian technique of frying whole spices in ghee and pouring it over the dish — extracts more in thirty seconds than an hour of simmering, and why an infused oil tastes of the herb while an infused broth often does not.
- Heat both makes and destroys flavour. Toasting builds new compounds through the Maillard reaction and the breakdown of sugars; it also drives off the volatile ones that were already there. This is the whole reason whole spices go in early and ground spices go in late, and why delicate herbs — basil, coriander leaf, dill — are added off the heat.
- Spice use tracks climate, and the usual explanation is antimicrobial. Billing and Sherman's 1998 survey across thousands of traditional recipes found hotter climates use more spices, and the most-used spices are the most strongly antibacterial. It is a correlation with a plausible mechanism rather than a proven cause, and it is often overstated — but the pattern is real and it is why the preserving traditions and the flavouring traditions are the same traditions.
- Pairings are not arbitrary. Shared aroma compounds explain a good deal of why certain things go together, and also why the rule inverts by cuisine — Western pairings tend to share compounds, East Asian pairings tend not to (Ahn and colleagues, 2011).
Infused oils, honeys and vinegars carry a real safety rule. Fresh plant material in oil, garlic above all, is a botulism risk: oil excludes air, the plant brings the spores and the water, and nothing in the jar stops them. Use dried material, or acidify, keep it refrigerated and use it inside a week. See Sauce Food Safety Acidification pH Garlic in Oil and Refrigeration and Tinctures Glycerites Syrups and Infused Oils and Butters.
More: Cooking with Herbs and Spices · Scratch Cooking and Culinary Ratios · Cooking Methods · Preservation Fermentation and Spice · Traditional Spiced Formulations and Synergistic Blends
Lotions, balms and salves
A balm is anhydrous — oil, butter and wax, no water. A lotion or cream has water in it, and the moment there is water there is something living in it within days.
- Balm ratio. Roughly 1 part wax to 4 parts oil by weight gives a soft salve; 1 to 3 gives a firm stick; 1 to 6 or 8 gives something barely set. Butters sit between: they add body without the brittleness wax gives. Test a spoonful in the freezer for two minutes rather than guessing at the whole batch.
- Anything with water needs a real preservative. Vitamin E is an antioxidant — it slows oils going rancid and does nothing whatever to bacteria or mould. A broad-spectrum preservative at its stated use rate and within its stated pH range is not optional in a water-containing product, and "natural" alternatives marketed as preservatives are mostly not.
- Essential oils have dermal limits, and they are lower than people expect. Around 1% for a leave-on body product is a common working figure — about 6 drops in 30 ml — and lower on the face, lower again for children, with several oils restricted much further. Cinnamon bark, oakmoss and isoeugenol are sensitisers; expressed citrus oils are phototoxic and have bergapten limits for leave-on use. Tisserand and Young is the reference that actually gives per-oil numbers.
- Infusing the oil. Dry plant material only, unless you intend to use it immediately and refrigerate it — the same water rule as the kitchen, for the same reason.
More: Tinctures Glycerites Syrups and Infused Oils and Butters · Soap Calculator
Diffusers, candles and the air
- Diffusers. A few drops in 100 ml of water is a normal strength in an ultrasonic unit, run in short sessions rather than continuously. Intermittent is both more effective and safer: the nose stops registering a constant smell within minutes, so running it all day mostly just raises the dose.
- Cats are the serious exception. Cats lack much of the glucuronidation capacity other mammals use to clear phenols and terpenes, so oils that are unremarkable to a person accumulate in them. Tea tree is the best-documented harm. Birds are more sensitive still, by way of how their lungs work. A diffuser in a shared room is a dose for everyone in it, including the ones who cannot leave.
- Terpenes react with indoor ozone. Limonene and the pinenes in particular react to form formaldehyde and fine secondary aerosol. It is not a reason to avoid them; it is a reason to ventilate rather than to seal a room and run a diffuser into it.
- Candles. Fragrance load is typically 6–10% by weight of wax and is capped by what the wax will actually hold; above that it sweats out or pools. Soy is usually scented around 85 °C so the fragrance binds rather than flashing off. Wick size has to be tested against the actual vessel diameter, and a cured candle — a week or two — throws noticeably better than a fresh one. Essential oils have flash points, which matters for both the pour and the burn.
Potentiation and drug interactions
This is the part of the page that can actually hurt someone. "Potentiation" and "drug interaction" are the same mechanism described by someone who wants the effect and by someone who doesn't — a plant that makes a drug stronger does it by blocking the enzyme that clears it, and the enzyme does not know which outcome was intended.
Most of these run through the cytochrome P450 enzymes, which metabolise the majority of drugs. Inhibit one and everything it clears rises in the blood; induce one and everything it clears falls — including the drug somebody depends on.
The ones that put people in hospital:
- MAOIs with tyramine-rich food — aged cheese, cured meat, soy sauce, miso, yeast extract, unpasteurised beer. Monoamine oxidase in the gut and liver normally destroys dietary tyramine; blocked, it reaches the circulation and can cause a hypertensive crisis. This applies to the β-carbolines in ayahuasca and Syrian rue as much as to prescription MAOIs.
- MAOIs with serotonergic drugs — SSRIs, SNRIs, tramadol, triptans, dextromethorphan. Serotonin syndrome. This is the single most dangerous combination in this whole subject, and the overlap between people taking an antidepressant and people interested in harmala alkaloids is not small.
- Grapefruit with CYP3A4 substrates — the furanocoumarins irreversibly disable intestinal CYP3A4, so the enzyme has to be rebuilt. The effect lasts far beyond the glass of juice, and for some drugs the resulting blood level is several times intended.
- St John's wort — the opposite problem. It induces CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein, dropping the levels of immunosuppressants, antiretrovirals, anticoagulants and hormonal contraceptives, with pregnancies and transplant rejections in the literature.
- Kava with alcohol or other hepatotoxins, against the background of the kava hepatotoxicity signal that took it off several markets.
- Nutmeg in quantity is genuinely toxic — prolonged, unpleasant and occasionally hospitalising — and the dose is the kind of amount a recipe would never call for.
Quieter but real: piperine from black pepper raises the absorption of many drugs and supplements by inhibiting CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein, which is exactly why it is added to turmeric products; licorice can drive potassium down; ginkgo and garlic are discussed with anticoagulants; cassia carries enough coumarin to have a tolerable daily intake set for it; and caffeine is cleared by CYP1A2, so CYP1A2 inhibitors leave it in circulation much longer.
See Enzyme Inhibition Kinetics and Molecular Transporters and Kava Potentiation.
The documented list
90 of them, each with its mechanism rather than a yes or no. The full records — evidence grade and the PubMed id for every claim — are in knowledge/herb-atlas/applications.json.
Major
- grapefruit juice (furanocoumarins: bergamottin, 6',7'-dihydroxybergamottin) + felodipine — Mechanism-based (irreversible) inactivation of intestinal (enterocyte) CYP3A4 by furanocoumarins; hepatic CYP3A4 largely spared. Effect lasts ~24-72 h until new enzyme is synthesized. Raises felodipine exposure (mean bioavailability 284% of water, range 164-469%); lower diastolic BP, higher heart rate. Nifedipine only 134%. (PMID 1671113, 23184849)
- grapefruit juice + simvastatin + lovastatin — Intestinal CYP3A4 inactivation; simvastatin/lovastatin have very high first-pass CYP3A4 extraction, so the effect is large. Raises statin and active acid exposure: double-strength juice 200 mL tid -> simvastatin Cmax ~9-fold, AUC far higher; lovastatin ~15-fold; one… (PMID 9834039, 9585793)
- grapefruit juice + cyclosporine (ciclosporin) — Intestinal CYP3A4 inactivation plus possible intestinal P-gp effects. Raises oral cyclosporine AUC (~55%) and Cmax (~35%); IV cyclosporine unaffected. (PMID 7768070, 7715295)
- Seville (bitter) orange juice + pomelo + CYP3A4 substrates (felodipine, cyclosporine, tacrolimus) — Same furanocoumarins (bergamottin, 6',7'-DHB) inactivate intestinal CYP3A4; pomelo also inhibits P-gp in vitro. Seville orange raised felodipine AUC 76% (grapefruit 93% in same study). Pomelo raised cyclosporine AUC/Cmax (~19%/12%) and caused a clinically… (PMID 11180034, 16513449)
- St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum; hyperforin) + cyclosporine — Hyperforin activates PXR -> induction of intestinal/hepatic CYP3A4 and intestinal P-gp (MDR1). Lowers cyclosporine levels (profound trough drops); acute rejection reported. (PMID 10683008, 10852634)
- St John's wort + combined oral contraceptives (ethinyl estradiol + norethindrone) — CYP3A4 induction (PXR) increases clearance of both estrogen and progestin. Lowers contraceptive exposure: increased norethindrone oral clearance, shorter ethinyl estradiol half-life; increased breakthrough bleeding and… (PMID 14663455, 15914127)
- St John's wort + indinavir — CYP3A4 (+P-gp) induction. Lowers indinavir AUC ~57% and trough ~81% in healthy volunteers - risk of HIV treatment failure and resistance. (PMID 10683007)
- St John's wort + digoxin — Induction of intestinal P-glycoprotein (MDR1) -> reduced absorption (digoxin is a P-gp probe, not CYP-metabolized). Lowers digoxin AUC ~25% and troughs ~33% after 10 days. (PMID 10546917, 11180019)
- St John's wort + SSRIs (sertraline, paroxetine), nefazodone, other serotonergic drugs — Pharmacodynamic: hyperforin inhibits reuptake of serotonin (and other monoamines) -> additive serotonergic activity. Additive effect -> serotonin syndrome (agitation, tremor, clonus, hyperthermia). (PMID 10447148, 15784664)
- St John's wort + warfarin — Induction of CYP2C9 (S-warfarin) and CYP3A4/1A2 (R-warfarin). Lowers warfarin exposure: S-warfarin clearance rose from ~198 to ~270 mL/h; reduced INR / anticoagulant effect. Swedish reports of falling INR. (PMID 15089812, 10683030)
- goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis; berberine, hydrastine) + CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 substrates — Inhibition (partly mechanism-based, methylenedioxyphenyl alkaloids) of CYP2D6 and CYP3A4/5. Raises exposure of CYP2D6 substrates (debrisoquine ratio ~40% inhibition) and CYP3A substrates (midazolam ~40% inhibition; midazolam AUC up in later… (PMID 15900287, 18214849)
- MAO inhibitors (irreversible: phenelzine, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid) + tyramine-rich foods (aged cheese, cured/fermented meats, tap beer, soy/fermented products, spoiled food) — Inhibition of gut/liver MAO-A removes first-pass metabolism of dietary tyramine; tyramine displaces noradrenaline from nerve terminals -> pressor response. Additive/pressor effect: hypertensive crisis (occipital headache, stroke risk). (PMID 14275713, 6034391)
- MAO inhibitors + SSRIs / SNRIs / clomipramine / tramadol / meperidine (pethidine) / dextromethorphan / methadone / tapentadol — Pharmacodynamic: MAO inhibition + serotonin reuptake inhibition -> massive synaptic serotonin (5-HT2A/1A over-stimulation). Additive/synergistic -> severe serotonin toxicity (hyperthermia, clonus, rigidity, death). (PMID 15784664, 16051647)
- harmala alkaloids (harmine, harmaline, tetrahydroharmine; Peganum harmala seeds, Banisteriopsis caapi/ayahuasca) + SSRIs and other serotonin reuptake inhibitors — Harmine/harmaline are potent reversible MAO-A inhibitors (RIMA-like); THH also weakly inhibits serotonin reuptake. Combined with an SSRI -> serotonin toxicity mechanism as for MAOI+SSRI… Additive/synergistic serotonergic effect -> serotonin syndrome. (PMID 9924842, 10404423)
- harmala alkaloids / ayahuasca (or any MAO-A inhibitor) + MDMA, amphetamine, methamphetamine, other releasers — MAO-A inhibition prevents breakdown of serotonin/noradrenaline released by MDMA/amphetamines -> massive monoamine excess. Synergistic -> serotonin toxicity, hyperthermia, hypertensive crisis; fatalities with MDMA + moclobemide. (PMID 12603236, 21570786)
- kava + liver (hepatotoxicity debate) — Idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity; proposed contributors: poor-quality raw material (aerial parts/peelings containing pipermethystine, mould/aflatoxin), acetone/ethanol extracts vs water… Adverse effect (hepatitis, rare liver failure/transplant). (PMID 20720265, 12821045)
- nutmeg (Myristica fragrans; myristicin, elemicin, safrole) + toxicity (alone; plus serotonergic/anticholinergic co-ingestions) — Myristicin/elemicin: anticholinergic-like and psychoactive effects; myristicin is a weak MAO inhibitor in vitro and is metabolised (CYP) to amphetamine-like derivatives (debated). Toxic effect: tachycardia, agitation, hallucinations, nausea, dry mouth, prolonged (24-48 h) intoxication. (PMID 24452991)
- licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra; glycyrrhizin -> glycyrrhetinic acid) + thiazide/loop diuretics, corticosteroids, laxatives — Glycyrrhetinic acid inhibits renal 11beta-HSD2 -> cortisol activates mineralocorticoid receptors (apparent mineralocorticoid excess/pseudohyperaldosteronism). Additive potassium loss with K-wasting diuretics -> hypokalaemia, hypertension, metabolic alkalosis, rhabdomyolysis/paralysis, arrhythmia; also… (PMID 2889032, 11751713)
- licorice + digoxin / digitalis glycosides — Indirect pharmacodynamic: licorice-induced hypokalaemia increases myocardial sensitivity to digoxin (enhanced Na+/K+-ATPase binding). Additive -> digoxin toxicity (arrhythmia) at otherwise 'therapeutic' digoxin levels. (PMID 2889032)
- garlic supplements + saquinavir — Induction of intestinal CYP3A4 and/or P-gp (exact mechanism unclear). Lowers saquinavir AUC ~51%, trough ~49%, Cmax ~54%; only partially recovered (60-70% of baseline) after 10-day washout. (PMID 11740713)
- cannabidiol (CBD) + clobazam — CBD inhibits CYP2C19 (and CYP3A4), blocking clearance of the active metabolite N-desmethylclobazam (nCLB, cleared by CYP2C19). Raises clobazam levels (~60%) and N-desmethylclobazam markedly (~500%) at 4 weeks, causing sedation; clobazam dose reduced in 77% of children. (PMID 26114620)
- cannabidiol (CBD) + warfarin — CBD inhibits CYP2C9 (S-warfarin) and CYP3A4. Raises warfarin effect (INR rose as CBD dose was escalated; warfarin dose had to be reduced ~30%). (PMID 29387536)
- cannabidiol (Epidiolex) + valproate (and clobazam) — Pharmacodynamic/hepatotoxic synergy, not a PK change (valproate levels are not raised); mechanism unclear (mitochondrial/hepatocellular stress). Additive hepatotoxicity: transaminase (ALT/AST) elevations >3x ULN occur predominantly in patients co-treated with valproate; risk also rises with… (PMID 28538134, 37458709)
- cannabis or tobacco SMOKE (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) + CYP1A2 substrates: clozapine, olanzapine, theophylline, caffeine — PAHs in smoke activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor -> CYP1A2 induction. Due to combustion products, not THC/CBD/nicotine. Smoking LOWERS clozapine/olanzapine levels; QUITTING (or switching to edibles/vaping/patches) RAISES levels by roughly 30-50%+ within 1-2 weeks ->… (PMID 11981356, 385272)
- green tea / green tea extract (EGCG, catechins) + nadolol; liver — Green tea catechins inhibit intestinal OATP1A2 uptake of nadolol. Separately, concentrated EGCG extracts cause idiosyncratic hepatocellular DILI, which is worse with fasting bolus dosing. Green tea LOWERS nadolol exposure (Cmax and AUC each down about 85%) and blunts its BP-lowering effect. Extracts raise the risk of liver injury. (PMID 24419562, 32140423)
- vitamin K1-rich leafy greens (kale, spinach, collards, chard, parsley, natto=K2) + warfarin — Pharmacodynamic: dietary vitamin K bypasses VKORC1 inhibition by supplying reduced vitamin K for gamma-carboxylation of factors II, VII, IX, X. Sudden increases lower INR (clot risk); sudden decreases raise INR (bleeding risk). (PMID 15121490, 27346552)
- yohimbe / yohimbine + MAOIs; hypertension/antihypertensives; stimulants — Alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonist that increases central and peripheral noradrenaline release. With MAOIs or other sympathomimetics it adds to pressor load. Raises BP and HR, with risk of hypertensive crisis. Opposes clonidine and other antihypertensives. (PMID 11744068, 10337904)
- ephedra / ma huang (ephedrine alkaloids) + caffeine (and other stimulants) — Pharmacodynamic sympathomimetic synergy: ephedrine (indirect/direct adrenergic agonist) plus caffeine (adenosine antagonism, PDE inhibition). Additive/synergistic rises in BP, HR and arrhythmia risk. Reports of stroke, MI, seizure and sudden death. (PMID 11117974, 12672771)
- kratom (Mitragyna speciosa; mitragynine, 7-OH-mitragynine) + CYP3A substrates; CYP2D6 substrates; opioids, benzodiazepines, alcohol, other CNS depressants — PK: mitragynine strongly inhibits CYP2D6 and CYP3A in vitro. In humans kratom tea modestly inhibits intestinal CYP3A and has no measurable CYP2D6 effect. PD: mu-opioid partial agonism adds… Raises midazolam AUC 1.39x and Cmax 1.50x (CYP3A). Dextromethorphan (2D6) is unchanged. Additive CNS/respiratory depression with opioids and… (PMID 36924284, 30973850)
- Mucuna pruriens (natural L-DOPA) + MAOIs (nonselective: phenelzine, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid; also linezolid) — L-DOPA is converted to dopamine and noradrenaline. With MAO-A blocked, catecholamine breakdown is prevented, leading to pressor crisis. Hypertensive crisis (raised BP, flushing, palpitations). (PMID 5451592, 15548480)
- 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) + SSRIs/SNRIs, MAOIs, triptans, tramadol; carbidopa — 5-HTP bypasses rate-limiting tryptophan hydroxylase and is decarboxylated to serotonin, adding to reuptake/MAO blockade (serotonin toxicity). Carbidopa inhibits peripheral AADC, raising… Additive serotonergic toxicity. Carbidopa raises 5-HTP exposure; the combination has been linked to scleroderma-like illness. (PMID 1918474, 4091416)
- L-tryptophan + MAOIs (phenelzine, tranylcypromine) — Precursor loading plus MAO-A blockade leads to excess serotonin. Serotonin toxicity (hyperreflexia, myoclonus, confusion, hyperthermia). (PMID 6691495, 3976924)
- berberine (goldenseal, barberry, Coptis, Oregon grape) + CYP2D6, CYP2C9, CYP3A4 substrates; cyclosporine — Inhibition of CYP2D6 (strongest), CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 after repeated dosing. Cyclosporine levels raised via CYP3A4 (and possibly P-gp). RAISES exposure of 2D6/2C9/3A4 substrates. Markedly raises cyclosporine blood concentrations. (PMID 21870106, 16133554)
- Schisandra (S. sphenanthera / Wuzhi tablet; S. chinensis) + tacrolimus (also other CYP3A/P-gp substrates) — Lignans (schisantherin A, deoxyschizandrin) inhibit intestinal/hepatic CYP3A and P-gp. RAISES tacrolimus exposure substantially (oral bioavailability up). (PMID 17506780, 24195812)
- calcium/dairy (milk, yogurt), antacids, iron, zinc, magnesium + tetracyclines; fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin) — Chelation of divalent/trivalent cations by the drug in the gut, forming non-absorbable complexes. LOWERS antibiotic absorption: milk/yogurt cut ciprofloxacin AUC by 30-36% and Cmax by 36-47%. Tetracycline loss is larger. (PMID 1934862, 946598)
- alcohol (chronic heavy use) / fasting + acetaminophen (paracetamol) — Chronic ethanol induces CYP2E1, increasing NAPQI formation, while depleting glutathione (malnutrition, fasting). Acute ethanol competitively inhibits CYP2E1 and is transiently protective. Increased hepatotoxicity at therapeutic-to-modestly-supratherapeutic acetaminophen doses in chronic drinkers. (PMID 7657281)
- alcohol + benzodiazepines; opioids (and gabapentinoids, Z-drugs) — Pharmacodynamic additive/synergistic CNS and respiratory depression (GABA-A potentiation + mu-opioid brainstem depression). Ethanol may also raise some benzodiazepine levels acutely… Synergistic respiratory depression, sedation and overdose death. (PMID 28170358, 11990206)
- alcohol + metformin; MAOIs (tap/draft beer tyramine) — Metformin: ethanol inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis and raises NADH/NAD+, increasing lactate production while reducing clearance, which adds to metformin's lactate burden (worse with… Metformin + binge alcohol raises lactic acidosis and hypoglycaemia risk. MAOI + high-tyramine beer causes hypertensive crisis. (PMID 38983827, 41281028)
- black licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra; glycyrrhizin -> glycyrrhetinic acid) + spironolactone; ACE inhibitors/ARBs; thiazide/loop diuretics; digoxin — Glycyrrhetinic acid inhibits renal 11beta-HSD2, so cortisol occupies the mineralocorticoid receptor (apparent mineralocorticoid excess): Na/water retention, K loss, hypertension. Opposes the antihypertensive effect of ACEi/ARBs and diuretics. Additive hypokalaemia with thiazide/loop diuretics, which raises digoxin toxicity… (PMID 37764649, 31379750)
- sage (Salvia officinalis) oil, camphor, eucalyptus, hyssop, rosemary, pennyroyal essential oils (ingested) + seizure threshold; proconvulsant drugs; epilepsy — Monoterpene ketones (thujone, camphor) and 1,8-cineole are convulsant via GABA-A antagonism and other mechanisms. Seizures and status epilepticus after ingestion, especially in children. Additive with proconvulsant drugs. (PMID 22353306, 21907890)
- pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium / Hedeoma; pulegone) + liver; CYP inducers/inhibitors; acetaminophen; N-acetylcysteine (treatment) — Pulegone is bioactivated by CYP (CYP1A2, 2E1, 2C19) to menthofuran and reactive electrophiles that deplete glutathione, causing centrilobular hepatic necrosis (and renal toxicity). Hepatotoxicity. Theoretically worse with CYP inducers or GSH depletion (fasting, chronic alcohol, acetaminophen). NAC may be protective. (PMID 8633832, 28905185)
- topical methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen, sports rubs, Chinese medicated oils) + warfarin — Percutaneous salicylate absorption (large areas, occlusion, heat) potentiates warfarin, possibly via protein-binding displacement and hypoprothrombinaemic and antiplatelet salicylate… RAISES INR / bleeding, including life-threatening bleeding. (PMID 2371186, 10860133)
- eucalyptus oil (1,8-cineole) ingestion + children (also CNS depressants) — Direct CNS toxicity of cineole, plus aspiration pneumonitis. Dose-related CNS depression, ataxia, seizures, vomiting and aspiration. (PMID 7651249, 9270157)
- tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia; terpinen-4-ol) + ingestion (children, pets) — Terpene CNS toxicity and aspiration risk. Ataxia, drowsiness, confusion and CNS depression after ingestion of millilitre amounts. Topically: contact dermatitis from oxidised oil. (PMID 16243420, 12813303)
Moderate
- grapefruit juice + midazolam (oral) + triazolam — Intestinal CYP3A4 inactivation; only the oral route is affected. Raises oral midazolam AUC ~52%, Cmax ~56%, stronger sedation; IV midazolam unchanged. Raises triazolam concentrations (~48% AUC). (PMID 7628179, 7648762)
- goldenseal + metformin — Predicted from in vitro: inhibition of OCT1/2 and MATE1/2-K transporters. Observed in vivo: reduced absorption, mechanism not fully explained (possibly intestinal uptake/OCT3 or other). LOWERS metformin AUC (GMR ~0.77) and Cmax (~0.73); no change in half-life or renal clearance. Midazolam (CYP3A) AUC raised as positive control; no… (PMID 33174626)
- harmala alkaloids (reversible MAO-A inhibitors) + tyramine-rich foods — Reversible competitive MAO-A inhibition; high tyramine concentrations can partly displace a reversible inhibitor, so pressor potentiation is smaller than with irreversible MAOIs but not… Additive pressor effect (raised tyramine exposure) -> possible hypertensive reaction. (PMID 35600851, 30255284)
- kava (Piper methysticum; kavalactones) + alcohol (ethanol) — Pharmacodynamic additive CNS depression (kavalactones modulate GABA-A, block Na+/Ca2+ channels); possible additive hepatic stress. Additive: kava alone had little effect but kava + alcohol produced greater impairment on divided attention and subjective intoxication than alcohol… (PMID 16203421, 8481222)
- kava + benzodiazepines (alprazolam) — Pharmacodynamic additive GABAergic CNS depression; possible additional PK contribution (kavalactone CYP inhibition) not established. Additive sedation -> lethargic, disoriented semi-comatose state. (PMID 8967683)
- kava + CYP2E1 substrates (chlorzoxazone probe; also ethanol, acetaminophen metabolism) — Inhibition of CYP2E1. Raises CYP2E1 substrate exposure (~40% reduction in chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation ratio). Kava did NOT inhibit CYP1A2, CYP2D6 or CYP3A in vivo in… (PMID 15900287, 17495878)
- Ginkgo biloba + warfarin / antiplatelets (aspirin, clopidogrel) — Proposed: ginkgolide B platelet-activating-factor antagonism (antiplatelet); no meaningful CYP2C9 effect. Controlled data: NO change in INR or S/R-warfarin PK, and no warfarin dose change needed in an RCT. Case reports: spontaneous bleeding (hyphema… (PMID 15801937, 12083489)
- turmeric / curcumin + tacrolimus; warfarin / vitamin K antagonists — Curcumin inhibits CYP3A4 and P-gp in vitro (raising tacrolimus); antiplatelet activity and possible CYP2C9 inhibition (warfarin). Raises tacrolimus levels (case of toxicity in renal transplant patient eating turmeric/curry); raised INR with vitamin K antagonist (case). (PMID 37586787, 25230280)
- piperine + phenytoin, propranolol, theophylline — Inhibition of CYP-mediated metabolism (CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP2C9) and P-gp; possibly increased absorption. Raises exposure: propranolol and theophylline AUC/Cmax increased after a single 20 mg piperine dose; phenytoin AUC/Cmax increased in volunteers and… (PMID 1815977, 11808866)
- piperine + CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein substrates (digoxin, cyclosporine, verapamil etc.) — Direct inhibition of human P-gp (Caco-2 digoxin/cyclosporine transport) and CYP3A4 (human liver microsomes; verapamil metabolism). Raises exposure (predicted) of dual CYP3A4/P-gp substrates; inhibition is mixed-type at low-micromolar concentrations. (PMID 12130727)
- chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) + warfarin — Proposed: coumarin constituents (herniarin, umbelliferone) additive anticoagulant effect and/or CYP inhibition (in vitro CYP1A2/3A4) - mechanism unconfirmed. Raised INR and bleeding: 70-year-old woman on warfarin, INR ~7.9 with retroperitoneal and other haematomas after drinking chamomile tea (4-5… (PMID 16636327)
- Echinacea purpurea root + CYP3A substrates (midazolam), CYP1A2 substrates (caffeine), lopinavir/ritonavir — Mixed: inhibits intestinal CYP3A while inducing hepatic CYP3A; inhibits CYP1A2. Oral midazolam: net small change (intestinal inhibition offsets hepatic induction); IV midazolam clearance increased 34%, AUC down 23%; caffeine… (PMID 14749695, 20653355)
- fluvoxamine + caffeine — Potent CYP1A2 inhibition by fluvoxamine (also CYP2C19); caffeine is ~95% CYP1A2-cleared. Raises caffeine exposure: total clearance fell ~80% (107 -> 21 mL/min), half-life 5 -> 31 h. Even 10-20 mg/day fluvoxamine inhibits CYP1A2. (PMID 8807660, 11907488)
- ciprofloxacin (and enoxacin, more potent) + caffeine — Quinolone inhibition of CYP1A2-mediated caffeine N-demethylation. Raises caffeine exposure: clearance reduced (~30-50% with ciprofloxacin, dose-dependent; enoxacin much stronger), half-life prolonged. (PMID 2729942, 2589393)
- caffeine (coffee, tea, energy drinks) + clozapine — Competitive inhibition of CYP1A2 by caffeine (both are CYP1A2 substrates). Raises clozapine exposure: controlled study ~19% AUC increase (14% lower clearance) in healthy volunteers; in patients, removing caffeine from the… (PMID 10606838, 9690697)
- alcohol (ethanol) + common ink cap mushroom (Coprinopsis atramentaria, formerly Coprinus atramentarius; coprine) — Coprine is metabolised to 1-aminocyclopropanol, which inhibits aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) -> acetaldehyde accumulation (disulfiram-like). Disulfiram-like reaction when alcohol is taken from ~30 min up to ~72 h after eating the mushroom: flushing, palpitations, tachycardia… (PMID 350009, 577107)
- alcohol (ethanol) + metronidazole (also tinidazole) — Traditionally claimed ALDH inhibition (disulfiram-like); controlled evidence does not support raised acetaldehyde. Alternative explanations: coincident adverse effects of either drug alone… Classic claim: flushing, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia. RCT: metronidazole did NOT raise blood acetaldehyde or cause objective/subjective reactions… (PMID 10676835, 12022894)
- cassia cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia/aromaticum) coumarin + liver — Coumarin hepatotoxicity in a susceptible subset of humans; coumarin cleared mainly by CYP2A6 7-hydroxylation, with the minor 3,4-epoxidation pathway producing hepatotoxic… Dose-dependent rise in liver-injury risk (reversible transaminase elevations) when intake exceeds the TDI. (PMID 20024932, 21462332)
- American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius); Asian ginseng (P. ginseng) + warfarin — Unclear; possible induction of warfarin metabolism or a pharmacodynamic effect. Ginsenosides also have in-vitro antiplatelet activity. LOWERS warfarin effect: INR and plasma warfarin both decreased vs placebo. (PMID 15238367)
- ginseng (Panax) + phenelzine (MAOI) — Unknown; possibly additive CNS stimulation or monoaminergic effects. Additive adverse effects: headache, insomnia, tremor, irritability/manic-like symptoms. (PMID 3597812)
- dong quai (Angelica sinensis) + warfarin — Unknown. Contains coumarin derivatives (e.g., osthole) and ferulic acid with antiplatelet activity. Rabbit data show a pharmacodynamic but not a pharmacokinetic effect. Raises INR / bleeding risk. (PMID 10417036, 7588995)
- fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) + warfarin — Proposed: coumarin-type constituents and antiplatelet effects. The mechanism is unproven. Raises INR (case with boldo+fenugreek, positive rechallenge). (PMID 11310527)
- ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) + liver; thyroid (levothyroxine, antithyroid drugs) — Idiosyncratic cholestatic/mixed DILI. Separately, it raises thyroid hormone (T4/T3), with case reports of thyrotoxicosis and painless thyroiditis. Liver injury after 2-12 week latency. May raise thyroid hormones, which adds to levothyroxine and opposes antithyroid therapy. (PMID 31991029, 35475098)
- valerian (Valeriana officinalis) + CNS depressants (benzodiazepines, alcohol, opioids, Z-drugs, barbiturates) — Pharmacodynamic GABAergic additivity (valerenic acid is a GABA-A modulator). Minimal CYP effect. Additive sedation/psychomotor impairment. No meaningful PK change for CYP3A4/2D6 substrates. (PMID 15328251, 19441067)
- hops (Humulus lupulus), passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) + sedatives/hypnotics, alcohol — Pharmacodynamic additive CNS depression (GABAergic; hops 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol). Additive sedation. (PMID 19441067)
- bitter orange (Citrus aurantium; p-synephrine) + caffeine — p-Synephrine has weak alpha-1 and beta-3 adrenergic activity (much weaker than m-synephrine/phenylephrine or ephedrine). Pressor effects in products mainly come from caffeine and… In controlled trials p-synephrine up to ~100 mg did not augment the BP/HR effects of caffeine. Multi-ingredient 'ephedra-free' products raised BP/HR. (PMID 29047215, 16164886)
- betel nut / areca (arecoline) + antipsychotics + anticholinergics (procyclidine) — Pharmacodynamic: arecoline is a muscarinic agonist that antagonises anticholinergic anti-EPS drugs and adds cholinergic tone. Precipitates extrapyramidal symptoms (rigidity, tremor, akathisia) in patients on depot neuroleptics. (PMID 2572964)
- SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) + SSRIs/TCAs (clomipramine), MAOIs — SAMe is a methyl donor in monoamine synthesis and has antidepressant serotonergic effects, adding to serotonergic drugs. Serotonin toxicity (case with clomipramine). (PMID 8434674)
- resveratrol (high-dose supplements) + CYP3A4, CYP2D6, CYP2C9 substrates; CYP1A2 substrates — At 1 g/day for 4 weeks: inhibits CYP3A4, CYP2D6, CYP2C9 and induces CYP1A2 (phenotyping cocktail). May raise exposure of 3A4/2D6/2C9 substrates and lower exposure of 1A2 substrates. (PMID 20716633)
- quercetin supplements + P-gp substrates (talinolol, digoxin?), CYP2C9 (diclofenac), CYP2E1 (chlorzoxazone) — Mixed: P-gp induction (Wang 2013) and OATP modulation lowering talinolol exposure. CYP2C9 and CYP2E1 inhibition in short human trials. Bidirectional and drug-specific: talinolol slightly LOWER, diclofenac and chlorzoxazone HIGHER. (PMID 24472704, 23422925)
- psyllium / high-fibre meals; also coffee, soy, calcium, iron + levothyroxine; also digoxin, lithium, carbamazepine, metformin (fibre binding) — Physical adsorption/binding in gut and delayed gastric emptying. Calcium/iron/aluminium chelate T4. May lower or delay absorption. (PMID 9737361, 33801406)
- grapefruit juice (naringin), also orange and apple juice + fexofenadine (OATP1A2 substrate) — Inhibition of intestinal OATP1A2 uptake transporter (not CYP3A). LOWERS fexofenadine exposure: AUC and Cmax reduced to about 30-40% of the water control. (PMID 11823753, 19789373)
- orange juice, apple juice + celiprolol; fexofenadine; aliskiren, atenolol, some others (OATP1A2/2B1 substrates) — Intestinal OATP inhibition by juice flavonoids (hesperidin, phloridzin). Possible pH/complexation contribution. LOWERS exposure: orange juice cut celiprolol AUC by about 83%. Apple and orange juice lower fexofenadine. (PMID 15001969, 11823753)
- wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) / absinthe; thujone + seizure-threshold-lowering drugs (bupropion, tramadol, tricyclics, some antipsychotics); epilepsy; anticonvulsants — alpha-Thujone is a noncompetitive GABA-A receptor antagonist (chloride-channel blocker). It is rapidly detoxified by CYP-mediated hydroxylation. Lowers seizure threshold, which adds to other proconvulsants and may oppose anticonvulsant control. (PMID 10725394, 15896935)
- tamarind (Tamarindus indica fruit) + aspirin — Unclear; likely enhanced absorption (acidic fruit pulp affecting dissolution/ionisation) plus reduced elimination. RAISES aspirin/salicylate bioavailability (salicylic acid AUC ~172 to ~266 mg/mL·h, about +55%; Cmax ~44 to ~68). (PMID 8980919)
- cruciferous vegetables (Brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli; indoles/sulforaphane); charcoal-broiled meat (PAHs) + CYP1A2 substrates (theophylline, caffeine, clozapine, olanzapine, tizanidine, phenacetin/antipyrine probes) — Aryl-hydrocarbon-receptor-mediated induction of CYP1A2 (PAHs from charbroiling; indole-3-carbinol products). Also induction of glucuronidation (cruciferous). LOWERS exposure of CYP1A2 substrates: faster phenacetin, antipyrine and theophylline clearance. Acetaminophen conjugation unaffected by charbroiled… (PMID 758247, 630792)
Minor
- garlic (Allium sativum; supplements/high dose) + warfarin — Proposed antiplatelet effect (ajoene, inhibits platelet aggregation) -> additive bleeding tendency; no consistent PK change. Case reports of raised INR/bleeding; aged garlic extract RCT showed no increased bleeding risk or INR change. (PMID 16484565, 17918162)
- piperine (black pepper) + curcumin — Inhibition of hepatic and intestinal glucuronidation (UGT) of curcumin, plus CYP3A4/P-gp inhibition. Raises curcumin bioavailability: in humans 2 g curcumin + 20 mg piperine increased bioavailability ~2000% (20-fold) with no adverse effects in that… (PMID 9619120)
- coumarin (cassia, tonka, sweet woodruff, melilot) + hepatotoxic drugs (acetaminophen, methotrexate, isoniazid, azoles, valproate, etc.) — Additive hepatotoxic load. People with low CYP2A6 activity (CYP2A6*4/*2 alleles, or CYP2A6 inhibitors such as methoxsalen or tranylcypromine) shunt more coumarin to the 3,4-epoxide pathway. Additive liver-injury risk; CYP2A6 inhibition raises the fraction going down the toxic pathway. (PMID 10418958, 20024932)
- green tea + warfarin — Vitamin K1 is present in dried tea leaf, plus possible antiplatelet catechin effects. Antagonism: lower INR, reported with very high intake. (PMID 10332534)
- cranberry juice/extract + warfarin — Proposed CYP2C9 inhibition is NOT supported in vivo. A possible minor pharmacodynamic effect (salicylic acid content, flavonoids). Possible small INR increase. Controlled trials show no PK change. (PMID 17392729, 19553405)
- pomegranate juice/extract + warfarin (CYP2C9 substrate) — In vitro CYP2C9 (and CYP3A) inhibition that did NOT translate to humans (no change in flurbiprofen clearance). Case reports describe raised INR while drinking and a subtherapeutic INR after stopping. The mechanism is unconfirmed. (PMID 23047652, 19637955)
- nutmeg / mace (myristicin, elemicin, safrole) + MAOIs / serotonergic drugs — Myristicin showed weak MAO inhibition in rodent tissue (1963). Clinical relevance is unestablished. Theoretical additive MAO inhibition or serotonergic effect. (PMID 13994372, 39559662)
- Rhodiola rosea + serotonergic drugs / MAOIs — In vitro MAO-A and MAO-B inhibition by root extracts. Theoretical additive serotonergic/MAO effect. (PMID 19168123)
- milk thistle (silymarin, silibinin) + CYP substrates (CYP1A2, 2D6, 2E1, 3A4) — In vitro CYP3A/2C9 and UGT inhibition. Human phenotyping shows no clinically relevant effect. No meaningful change for midazolam (3A), debrisoquine (2D6), caffeine (1A2) or chlorzoxazone (2E1). (PMID 15536458, 16432272)
- capsaicin (chili; topical capsaicin) + ACE inhibitors (cough); aspirin (absorption) — ACE inhibitors raise bradykinin and substance P and sensitise the TRPV1 cough reflex, so capsaicin triggers cough more easily. Ingested capsaicin alters GI mucosa and absorption (rat data). Cough induction with topical capsaicin in an ACEi patient (case). Lower salicylate bioavailability with chili in rats. (PMID 2221491, 10537230)
See also
- Oilahuasca
- Allylbenzene Metabolism
- Shulgin Ten Essential Oils
- Terpenes
- Terpene Map
- Aroma Wheels Euphoric Odours and the Science of Aromatherapy
- Cooking with Herbs and Spices
- Culinary Arts
- Dye Chemistry
- Enzyme Inhibition Kinetics and Molecular Transporters
- Kava Potentiation
- Soap Calculator
- Tinctures Glycerites Syrups and Infused Oils and Butters
- Traditional Spiced Formulations and Synergistic Blends
Sources
- PubChem (identity, structure, formula, weight, log P) — every compound record on this page
- PIHKAL, and
knowledge/shulgin-pihkal-tihkal/in this repository - Peele & Oswald, PMID 870079 — what allylbenzenes actually become in vivo
- Herbpedia, the allylbenzene chart and the 69Ron material — the colour key, labelled on this page as a community model
- Codex Alimentarius CXS 210-1999 (Amended 2005, 2011, 2013, 2015) Standard for Named Vegetable Oils
- Codex Alimentarius CXS 33-1981 (rev. 2015) Standard for Olive Oils and Olive Pomace Oils
- SoapCalc oil list (SAP KOH/NaOH)
- Soapee seed oil database (mirrors SoapCalc fatty acids, iodine, INS)
- Hourihane JO et al. 1997 BMJ - allergenicity of peanut oils
- Lack G et al. 2003 NEJM - factors associated with peanut allergy
- Danby SG et al. 2013 Pediatr Dermatol - olive vs sunflower oil and the skin barrier
- Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL 2017 Int J Mol Sci - topical plant oils and barrier repair (review)
- Chawla KK et al. 2011 JACI - shea butter contains no IgE-binding soluble proteins
- Le Coz CJ 2004 Contact Dermatitis - tamanu oil ACD
- Romita P et al. 2019 Contact Dermatitis - neem oil ACD
- Dhongade RK et al. 2008 Indian Pediatr - neem oil poisoning
- Fulton JE 1984 J Am Acad Dermatol - comedogenicity in the rabbit ear
- Fulton JE 1989 J Soc Cosmet Chem 40:321-333 - comedogenicity and irritancy of common ingredients
- EFSA CONTAM Panel 2016 - erucic acid in feed and food, EFSA J 14(11):4593
- USDA FoodData Central (fatty-acid profiles for edible oils)
Coverage
One-page index to the plants, the chemicals in them, their enzyme and interaction profiles, their smell, taste, dye and medical profiles, the oils and butters, and what to make with all of it.
Videos
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