safrole

American  

[saf-rohl] / ˈsæf roʊl /

Also safrol

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless or faintly yellow liquid, C 1 0 H 1 0 O 2 , obtained from sassafras oil or the like: used chiefly in perfumery, for flavoring, and in the manufacture of soaps.

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safrole British  

/ ˈsæfrəʊl /

noun

1. a colourless or yellowish oily water-insoluble liquid present in sassafras and camphor oils and used in soaps and perfumes. Formula: C 10 H 10 O 2

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Etymology

Origin of safrole

First recorded in 1865–70; (sas)safr(as) + -ole ²

Example Sentences

Many of the root beers of today still taste like sassafras, however, from artificial sassafras flavoring or extracts without safrole.

From Seattle Times

They are quick to caution: Safrole cannot be used in people, in part because it is toxic and carcinogenic.

From Scientific American

Chen is part the Stanford team, led by Daria Mochly-Rosen, which found that a chemical called safrole can recruit a completely different enzyme to the breakdown task, replacing the ineffective mutant.

From Scientific American

Adding safrole, however, is like stuffing the toe of this new enzyme shoe with paper.

From Scientific American

Chen and Mochly-Rosen tested safrole alongside another compound called Alda1, which makes ALDH2 work twice as fast.

From Scientific American