Skip to main content

Table 3 Summary of data about toxicology of thujone

From: Absinthism: a fictitious 19th century syndrome with present impact

Toxicity data

Reference

oral LD50 in rats

192 mg/kg bw

[66]

oral LD50 in rats

500 mg/kg bw

[107]

iv LD50 in rabbits

0.031 mg/kg bw

[107]

NOEL for convulsions in rats

12.5 mg/kg bw (males)

[108]

NOEL for convulsions in rats

5 mg/kg bw (females), 10 mg/kg bw (males)

[66]

NOEL for convulsions in rats

5 mg/kg bw

[66]

TDI (based on NOEL with safety factor of 500)

10 μg/kg bw/d

[66]

Metabolism

2-,4-, and 7-hydroxylation

[75,76]

Mechanism of toxicity

GABA Type A modulation (α-thujone neurotoxicity, convulsant effects)

[72,74,76]

Mechanism of toxicity

Porphyrogenicity (determined in cultures of chick embryo liver cells)

[46]

Behavioral effects

5-HT3 receptor modulation, but no conclusive evidence for psychotropic actions of thujone

[77]