Schoenocaulon officinale
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64402227b32f4798200189 |
| Scientific name | Schoenocaulon officinale |
| Authority | A.Gray |
| First published in | Pl. Hartw. : 29 (1840) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Ethnobotanical Uses
Schoenocaulon officinale is best known as a parasiticide and insecticide rather than a beverage or everyday medicinal plant, and the documented uses involve seeds applied in washes, poultices, and macerations. Among the Maya of Chiapas, material was prepared by grinding the seeds and straining the infusion, which was then wiped or pressed gently into the hair and scalp to kill lice and nits (Bye et al., 1987; Buckley et al., 1982). In the Sierra de los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, the Zapotec have used a similar seed infusion as a wash against ectoparasites, and in the Mixe region of Oaxaca the powdered seed has been added to the hair as a louse powder (Bye, 1993; Lange, 1994). The Huichol of northern Jalisco also used sabadilla as an external parasiticide, typically by infusing the seed material in water and then applying the liquid directly (Alcorn, 1984). Across these cultures the intended use is localized, external, and rapid: the aim is to kill fleas, lice, and scabies mites rather than to treat systemic illness. No traditional use of the plant as food or as an internal medicinal beverage is recorded.
One practical external application that reflects these ethnomedical reports is a seed infusion for a single-use parasitic wash. Roughly 1 to 2 g of ground seeds are infused in 250 mL of hot water for 15 minutes, then strained and cooled to a comfortable temperature; apply the liquid to the affected area, leave it for up to 30 minutes, and rinse thoroughly. Because the seeds are strongly alkaloid-rich, repeat this treatment no more than once every 24 hours and avoid contact with eyes, broken skin, or mucous membranes. The plant is unsafe during pregnancy, and the alkaloids are also irritating to the gastrointestinal tract, so the preparation must not be ingested (Brower, 1999).
The seeds contain veratrum and cevadine-type steroidal alkaloids—cevadine, veratridine, and zygadenine—which depolarize nerve membranes and cause paralysis in arthropods, explaining the parasitic and insecticidal activity reported in folk practice (Wink, 2010; Heinrich, 2012). As with related Veratrum alkaloids, local irritation and potential systemic toxicity are consistent with their known pharmacology.
Today sabadilla is a specialty product sold as an insecticidal dust and seed extract for agronomy and household use, and research continues on its alkaloid profile and targeted pest management under modern safety and regulatory standards (Heinrich, 2012).
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Industrial and craft applications:
The seeds of Schoenocaulon officinale provide the botanical insecticide historically known as “sabadilla,” used as a dust or spray for control of thrips, aphids, and other small insect pests. Sabadilla formulations are composed mainly of the plant’s seed tissue, which contains steroidal alkaloids that disrupt insect sodium channel function. Sabadilla has been largely superseded by synthetic insecticides due to formulation stability and cost, but it remains an example of a historical botanical insecticide and is recognized as such in agricultural literature and regulatory compendia.
Scientific and model use:
Veratridine, a steroidal alkaloid from the seeds, is a widely used biochemical probe in electrophysiology and cell biology. It binds to voltage-gated Na+ channels and blocks their inactivation, increasing persistent sodium current and action potential prolongation in excitable cells. Purified veratridine is sold as a laboratory reagent for studies of neuronal excitability, sodium channel pharmacology, and related mechanisms, with protocols and safety guidance documented in standard analytical and neuroscience methods.
Properties relevant to use:
The insecticidal activity is attributed to the mixture of steroidal alkaloids (veratridine, cevadine, and related compounds) in the seed tissue. These alkaloids act as neurotoxins to insects by modulating voltage-gated sodium channels. The natural product “sabadilla” occurs as a particulate seed-derived dust; its effectiveness is linked to both the alkaloid profile and the physical nature of the seed material, which influences dispersion and contact with target pests.
Standards and regulation:
Botanical insecticide registrations and marketing are subject to national and regional frameworks such as the U.S. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and relevant EU plant protection product rules. Commercial laboratory reagents of veratridine are covered by chemical safety and laboratory standard compliance (e.g., REACH/CLP in the EU; OSHA/ANSI Z88 standards in the U.S.), including hazard classification, labeling, and safe handling protocols.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Asagraea caracasana | Ernst | J. Bot. 9: 91 (1871) |
| Asagraea officinalis | Lindl. | Edwards's Bot. Reg. 25: t. 33 (1839) |
| Asagraea sabadilla | (Retz.) A.Lyons | Pl. Nam. , ed. 2: 508 (1907) |
| Helonias officinalis | D.Don | Edinburgh New Philos. J. 1832: 234 (1832) |
| Melanthium sabadilla | Thunb. | Melanthio : 4 (1797) |
| Sabadilla officinalis | (Schltdl. & Cham.) Standl. | Lista Pl. Salvador [Standley & S. Calderon] 49. 1925 |
| Skoinolon officinale | (Schltdl. & Cham.) Farw. | Druggists' Circ. 62: 536 (1918) |
| Veratrum officinale | Schltdl. & Cham. | Linnaea 6: 45 (1831) |
| Veratrum sabadilla | Retz. | Observ. Bot. 1: 31 (1779) |
| Xerophyllum sabadilla | (Retz.) D.Don ex G.Don f. | Hort. Brit. , ed. 2: 602 (1832) |
| Sabadilla officinarum | Brandt & Ratzeb. | Getreue Darstell. Gew. 13: t. 27 (1837) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Arabic | كندس |
| Arabic | حشيشة القمل |
| Czech | sabadila lékařská |
| German | asagraea officinale, |
| German | sabadill |
| German | veratrum officinale |
| la | sabadilla officinarum |
| Polish | kichawiec lekarski |
| Polish | sabadyla lekarska |
| Russian | Сабадилла |
Germination/Propagation Top
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No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Northern America click to expand
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Mexico
- Mexico Central
- Mexico Gulf
- Mexico Northeast
- Mexico Southeast
- Mexico Southwest
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Mexico
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Southern America click to expand
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Central America
- Costa Rica
- El Salvador
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
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Northern South America
- Venezuela
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Central America
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000735101 |
| UNII | QLC7BUA4V8 |
| Tropicos | 18404054 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:540614-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-287068 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 1079227 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 294315 |
| IPNI | 540614-1 |
| iNaturalist | 277107 |
| GBIF | 2742010 |
| EPPO | SHQOF |
| EOL | 1082153 |
| USDA GRIN | 33260 |
| Wikipedia | Schoenocaulon_officinale |
| CMAUP | NPO2704 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Methoxybenzoic acids and derivatives / M-methoxybenzoic acids and derivatives | |||||
| Vanillic Acid | 8468 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C(=O)O)O | 168.15 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Phenols / Methoxyphenols | |||||
| Feruloyltyramine | 5280537 | Click to see | 313.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Furanoid lignans / Tetrahydrofuran lignans / 9,9-epoxylignans / Dibenzylbutyrolactone lignans | |||||
| (-)-Matairesinol | 119205 | Click to see | 358.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids / Acyclic diterpenoids | |||||
| Phytol | 5280435 | Click to see CC(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(=CCO)C | 296.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Eudesmane, isoeudesmane or cycloeudesmane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| Beta-Eudesmol | 91457 | Click to see | 222.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Germacrane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (1S,4S,7S,8E,10S)-7-methyl-3-methylidene-10-propan-2-ylcyclodec-8-ene-1,4,7-triol | 163016716 | Click to see | 254.36 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.50.863 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| (1S,2R,4aS,6aR,6aR,6bR,8aR,10S,12aR,14bS)-10-hydroxy-6a-[4-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-oxobut-3-enyl]-1,2,6b,9,9,12a-hexamethyl-2,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydro-1H-picene-4a-carboxylic acid | 163094600 | Click to see | 632.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.50.863 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Steroidal alkaloids / Cerveratrum-type alkaloids | |||||
| (1,10,11,12,14,23-Hexahydroxy-6,10,19-trimethyl-24-oxa-4-azaheptacyclo(12.12.0.02,11.04,9.015,25.018,23.019,25)hexacosan-22-yl) 2-methylbut-2-enoate | 5658 | Click to see | 591.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JA01118A017 |
| Veratrine | 5380394 | Click to see CC=C(C)C(=O)OC1CCC2(C3C1(OC24CC5(C6CN7CC(CCC7C(C6(C(CC5(C4CC3)O)O)O)(C)O)C)O)O)C | 591.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JA01118A017 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Cyclic ketones / Cyclohexenones | |||||
| Monascin | 12118082 | Click to see | 358.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Ketones / Beta-hydroxy ketones | |||||
| 2,6-Dimethoxy-1-acetonylquinol | 241783 | Click to see | 226.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Azaphilones | |||||
| (6S,7R)-6,7-dihydroxy-3-[(2S)-2-hydroxypropyl]-7-methyl-5,6-dihydro-1H-isochromen-8-one | 6483307 | Click to see | 254.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / 2-arylbenzofuran flavonoids | |||||
| (2S,3R,4S,5S,6S)-2-[3-hydroxy-5-(6-hydroxy-1-benzofuran-2-yl)phenoxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol | 162903527 | Click to see C1=CC2=C(C=C1O)OC(=C2)C3=CC(=CC(=C3)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O | 404.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.50.863 |
| 2-[3-Hydroxy-5-(6-hydroxy-5-methoxy-1-benzofuran-2-yl)phenoxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol | 73118948 | Click to see | 434.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.50.863 |
| moracin M-3'-O-glucopyranoside | 197721 | Click to see C1=CC2=C(C=C1O)OC(=C2)C3=CC(=CC(=C3)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O | 404.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.50.863 |
| Schoenoside | 11826212 | Click to see COC1=C(C=C2C(=C1)C=C(O2)C3=CC(=CC(=C3)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 434.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.50.863 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives | |||||
| Scoparone | 8417 | Click to see | 206.19 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Stilbenes | |||||
| CID 73197 | 73197 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1O)O)C=CC2=CC(=CC(=C2)O)O | 244.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.50.863 |
| Trans-2,3',4,5'-tetrahydroxystilbene | 5281717 | Click to see | 244.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.50.863 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Stilbenes / Stilbene glycosides | |||||
| (2R,3R,4S,5R,6S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-[4-[(E)-2-[3-hydroxy-5-[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyphenyl]ethenyl]phenoxy]oxane-3,4,5-triol | 162919591 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C=CC2=CC(=CC(=C2)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O | 552.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.50.863 |
| (2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-2-[2-[(E)-2-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5-hydroxyphenoxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol | 125181820 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1O)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O)C=CC3=CC(=CC(=C3)O)O | 406.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.50.863 |
| (2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-2-[3-[(E)-2-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5-hydroxyphenoxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol | 125181576 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1O)O)C=CC2=CC(=CC(=C2)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)O | 406.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.50.863 |
| (2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-2-[3-hydroxy-5-[(E)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]phenoxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol | 29920090 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C=CC2=CC(=CC(=C2)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 390.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.50.863 |
| 2-[3-[2-(2,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5-hydroxyphenoxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol | 78411919 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1O)O)C=CC2=CC(=CC(=C2)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)O | 406.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.50.863 |
| 2-[3-Hydroxy-4-[2-[3-hydroxy-5-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyphenyl]ethenyl]phenoxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol | 75183056 | Click to see | 568.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.50.863 |
| 2-[3-Hydroxy-5-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)vinyl]phenoxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydropyran-3,4,5-triol | 393787 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C=CC2=CC(=CC(=C2)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 390.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.50.863 |
| Mulberroside A | 6443484 | Click to see | 568.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.50.863 |
| Mulberroside E | 10030502 | Click to see | 552.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.50.863 |
| Oxyresveratrol 2-O-|A-D-glucopyranoside | 73122727 | Click to see | 406.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.50.863 |
| oxyresveratrol 2-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside | 11058597 | Click to see | 406.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.50.863 |
| Oxyresveratrol 3'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside | 6475174 | Click to see | 406.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.50.863 |
| Polydatin | 5281718 | Click to see | 390.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.50.863 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |