Ascaridol

Ascaridol, a liquid belonging to the terpenes, which is a component of chenopodium oil (see Chenopodium oil = Oleum chenonopodii anthelmintici), the oil of the American wormwood. Ascaridol is an oxidation product of alpha-pinene. It is slightly soluble in water but soluble in ether. Miscible with fatty oils.
Ascaridol is, among other terpenes, a component of tea tree oil.

The substance has a significant contact allergenic potency (a 2% application form in a vaseline base is recommended as the optimum test concentration for an epicutaneous test).
Ascaridol is also used in folk medicine as an anthelmintic against ascarid and roundworms. Ascaridol is less effective with oxyurs. MED and MTD 0.6g. In children 0.025g per year of age.
Experimentally an effectiveness against leishmania could be proven.

1. Chittiboyina AG et al (2016) What Happens after Activation of Ascaridols? Reactive Compounds and Their Implications for Skin Sensitization. Chem Res Toxicol PubMed PMID: 27513446.
2. Christoffers WA et al (2014) The optimal patch test concentration for ascaridole as a sensitizing component of tea tree oil. Contact dermatitis 71:129-137.
3. de Groot AC et al. (2016) Tea tree oil: contact allergy and chemical composition. Contact dermatitis 75:129-143.
4. Krutz NL et al. (2015) Activation of the Endoperoxide Ascaridole Modulates Its Sensitizing Capacity. Toxicol Sci 147:515-523.
5. Monzote L et al (2014) Antileishmanial activity of essential oil from Chenopodium ambrosioides and its main components against experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice. Phytomedicins 21:1048-1052.
6. Pastor J et al (2015) Combinations of ascaridole, carvacrol, and caryophyllene oxide against Leishmania. Acta Trop 145:31-38.