2,6-Dimethoxybenzoquinone (2,6-DMBQ) is a chemical compound, classified as a

benzoquinone Benzoquinone (C6H4O2) is a quinone with a single benzene ring. There are 2 (out of 3 hypothetical) benzoquinones: * 1,4-Benzoquinone, most commonly, right image (also ''para''-benzoquinone, ''p''-benzoquinone, ''para''-quinone, or just quinone) * ...

, that has been found in ''

Rauvolfia vomitoria ''Rauvolfia vomitoria'', the poison devil's-pepper, is a plant species in the genus ''Rauvolfia''. It is native from Senegal east to Sudan and Tanzania, south to Angola; and naturalized in China, Bangladesh, different ranges of Himalayan and Pue ...

'' and in '' Tibouchina pulchra''.

Toxicity

At physiological concentrations 2,6-dimethoxybenzoquinone is an antibacterial substance. At higher concentrations there is evidence that it is

mutagenic In genetics, a mutagen is a physical or chemical agent that permanently changes genetic material, usually DNA, in an organism and thus increases the frequency of mutations above the natural background level. As many mutations can cause cancer in ...

,Brambilla G; Robbiano L; Cajelli E; Martelli A; Turmolini F; Mazzei M Cytotoxic, DNA-damaging and mutagenic properties of 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone, formed by dimethophrine-nitrite interaction. The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (1988), 244(3), 1011-5

cytotoxic Cytotoxicity is the quality of being toxic to cells. Examples of toxic agents are toxic metals, toxic chemicals, microbe neurotoxins, radiation particles and even specific neurotransmitters when the system is out of balance. Also some types of dr ...

genotoxic Genotoxicity is the property of chemical agents that damage the genetic information within a cell causing mutations, which may lead to cancer. While genotoxicity is often confused with mutagenicity, all mutagens are genotoxic, but some genotoxic s ...

, and

hepatotoxic Hepatotoxicity (from ''hepatic toxicity'') implies chemical-driven liver damage. Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a cause of acute and chronic liver disease caused specifically by medications and the most common reason for a drug to be withdr ...

. Some reports have challenged its mutagenicity and others exclude such a possibility.International Journal of Toxicology, 26:253–259, Safety Studies Regarding a Standardized Extract of Fermented Wheat Germ James T. Heimbach JHeimbach LLC, Port Royal, Virginia, USA Gyula Sebestyen Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary Gabor Semjen Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent Istvan University, Budapest, Hungary Elke Kennepohl Write-Tox Consulting, Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dimethoxybenzoquinone, 2,6- 1,4-Benzoquinones Enol ethers