Food & Drink / Compounds / Ptaquiloside

Ptaquiloside in food: ingestion safety

Elevated risk

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(People-specific data is limited; this page draws from human adult context.) Illudane-type sesquiterpene glycoside from bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum). DNA alkylating agent causing H-ras activation. Linked to gastric/esophageal cancer in bracken-consuming populations (Japan, Brazil, Wales).

What is ptaquiloside?

Also known as: Brusatol, Yatansin, 3ATY6SZ64B, methyl (1R,2S,3R,6R,8R,13S,14R,15R,16S,17S)-10,15,16-trihydroxy-9,13-dimethyl-3-(3-methylbut-2-enoyloxy)-4,11-dioxo-5,18-dioxapentacyclo[12.5.0.01,6.02,17.08,13]nonadec-9-ene-17-carboxylate.

CAS number
87625-62-5
Molecular formula
C20H30O8
Molecular weight
398.45 g/mol
PubChem CID
13962857

Risk for people

Elevated risk

Illudane-type sesquiterpene glycoside from bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum). DNA alkylating agent causing H-ras activation. Linked to gastric/esophageal cancer in bracken-consuming populations (Japan, Brazil, Wales).

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Ptaquiloside.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC1987Group 3 — not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans (ptaquiloside, IARC Monographs Vol 40 / Supplement 7, 1987; limited evidence in experimental animals). The parent plant bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) is a separate IARC agent classified Group 2B in the same evaluation (sufficient evidence in animals); ptaquiloside is its principal carcinogenic constituent but IARC graded the isolated compound separately. Group 3 is "not classifiable", not a finding of safety.

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where you encounter ptaquiloside

  • Natural Product
  • Food Contaminant

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Ptaquiloside:

  • Avoid bracken fern consumption
    Trade-offs: Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) is consumed as vegetable in Japan (warabi) and Korea (gosari). Blanching reduces but doesn't eliminate ptaquiloside.
    Relative cost: N/A

Frequently asked questions

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Sources (2)
  1. —
  2. IARC Monographs Vol 40 / Supplement 7: Bracken fern and some of its constituents — ptaquiloside (CAS 87625-62-5) Group 3, not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans (limited evidence in experimental animals); the parent plant bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) is a separate agent classified Group 2B (sufficient evidence in animals) (1987) (1987) — iarc_monograph

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