Sassafras oils, Chinese

Chinese sassafras oils are oils or fractions of oils, rich in safrole, that are obtained from different species of the camphor tree (see Camphor Oils) [772]. 

Safrole, which is both toxic and carcinogenic, occurs in sassafras oil up to 90%. There are two commercially important sassafras oils the Brazilian oil is obtained from the trunk wood of Ocotea pretiosa and the Chinese oil is obtained from Cinnamomum camphora by steam distillation of wood chips. Safrole from... 

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and state/local law enforcement authorities throughout the United States have noted an alarming trend involving illicit MDMA production. MDMA (Ecstasy) is a major drug problem in the United States. All businesses engaged in the sale of safrole and essential oils rich in safrole, such as, sassafras oil, brown camphor oil or camphor oil 1.070, also referred to as Chinese sassafras oil, should be aware of the use of these products by clandestine MDMA laboratory operators. 

The entire plant of the Chinese drug Toko gave 14 per cent of oil, with a sassafras-like odour, specific gravity 1.0788, [a]D +5° 3, saponification value 0. A terpene-like body, eugenol, and safrole were detected. 

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