Parthenin

Parthenin is an apparently non-alkaloid, non-glycosidic substance. Parthenin is a sesquiterpene lactone psuedoguaianolide with abnormal carbon skeleton. This active chemical is known to cause dermatitis. While Parthenin is the major sesquiterpene lactone present in Parthenium growing wild in India, in some races of the weed growing in Mexico, Parthenin is replaced by its diasteriomer hymenon

Distribution of Parthenin in P. hysterophorus.

Plant Part Amount of Parthenin

(% wet weight)

Leaf

Leaf 3.40

Flower

Flower 1.08

Stem

Stem 0.12

Root

Root 0.00

Trichomes

Trichomes 1.20

 

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