Elemicin is a trioxygenated phenylpropane that has been found in A. dracunculus. It is active against S. aureus, B. subtilis, and C. albicans (MICs = 600, 2,500, and 1,000 mg/L, respectively) but not E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa (MICs = >8,000 mg/L for all), or L. monocytogenes (MIC = >3,000 mg/L). Elemicin is toxic to mice following metabolic activation to 1’-hydroxyelemicin by the cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms CYP1A1 and CYP1A2. It increases plasma and hepatic triglyceride levels, decreases stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (Scd1) expression, and induces hepatomegaly in mice when administered at a dose of 500 mg/kg per day for three weeks.
