What is "asarone"

Asarone \As"a*rone\, n. [L. asarum hazelwort, wild spikenard, Gr. 'a`saron] (Chem.) A crystallized substance, resembling camphor, obtained from the Asarum Europ[ae]um; -- called also camphor of asarum.

n. (context organic compound English) An aromatic ether, ''2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl-2-propene'', found in the essential oils of plants of the genus ''Asarum''

Asarone, which includes alpha (trans) and beta (cis) types, is an ether found in certain plants such as Acorus and Asarum. As a volatile fragrance oil, it is used in killing plant fungal pests and bacteria. The toxicity and carcinogenicity of asarone means that it may be difficult to develop practical anthelmintics and insecticides based on it.