Thujone is a toxic terpenoid found in which substances?

Thujone is a toxic terpenoid found in which substances?

• A. Ginseng and ginkgo
• B. Comfrey and alfalfa
• C. Pennyroyal oil
• D. Wormwood and absinthe

Answer: (D)

Thujone is a toxic terpenoid most strongly associated with wormwood and the spirit absinthe. It can cross into the brain and acts as a GABA-A receptor antagonist, which can provoke seizures and neurotoxic effects when ingested in significant amounts. That’s why wormwood, the key ingredient in absinthe, is the correct association. The other substances listed contain different compounds (ginseng and ginkgo with other herbal constituents, comfrey and alfalfa with pyrrolizidine alkaloids, pennyroyal oil with pulegone and other terpenes) but not thujone, so they are not the sources most linked to thujone toxicity.

Thujone is a toxic terpenoid most strongly associated with wormwood and the spirit absinthe. It can cross into the brain and acts as a GABA-A receptor antagonist, which can provoke seizures and neurotoxic effects when ingested in significant amounts. That’s why wormwood, the key ingredient in absinthe, is the correct association. The other substances listed contain different compounds (ginseng and ginkgo with other herbal constituents, comfrey and alfalfa with pyrrolizidine alkaloids, pennyroyal oil with pulegone and other terpenes) but not thujone, so they are not the sources most linked to thujone toxicity.