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Cantharidin

Cantharidin is a chemical derived from the green blister beetle used for wart treatment.

Chemical Formula: C₁₀H₁₂O₄

Layman's explanation: Cantharidin is a colorless and odorless crystalline solid that melts at 218 C and is slightly soluble in acetone, chloroform, alcohol, and water. It is found in hemolymph (the blood of insects) and gonads of the blister beetle and is thought to protect the beetles from predation. Cantharidin is used in veterinary medicine (e.g., for breeding purposes in domestic livestock) and in a variety of products including hair tonics, anti-inflammatories and for the removal of warts. When taken orally it is poisonous and can be fatal. Cantharidin was first isolated by Robiquet, a French chemist in 1810. It has an important role in the ecology of different kinds of insects that use or produce it as a defense ability to preserve their eggs from predators. It is believed that cantharidin is produced by the male insect and transfered to the female during mating. The female will cover its eggs with this compound in a defense purpose. The complete mechanism of the biosynthesis is not known at the moment.

Keywords: Hemolymph, veterinary medicine, insect defense

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