Is chalcone safe to consume? A guide to risks and benefits

Chalcone is a type of flavonoid precursor found in many edible plants, including licorice, hops, and various fruits and vegetables. However, when considering isolated or synthetic forms, the question arises: is chalcone safe to consume?

Quick Summary

This article evaluates the safety profile of chalcone, differentiating between natural dietary intake and synthetic forms. It discusses the potential health benefits, potential risks, and the critical importance of dosage and source in determining overall safety for human consumption.

Key Points

• Natural vs. Synthetic: The safety profile of chalcone differs significantly depending on whether it is consumed in natural foods or in concentrated, synthetic forms.

• Dietary Safety: Chalcones present in everyday fruits, vegetables, and spices are generally considered safe as part of a balanced diet.

• Supplemental Risks: High-dose, synthetic chalcone supplements should be approached with caution due to limited long-term human safety data and documented toxicity in some animal studies.

• Potential Benefits: Chalcones offer various health benefits, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, based on preclinical and observational studies of dietary intake.

• Professional Guidance: Before starting any chalcone-based supplement, consult a healthcare provider to understand potential risks, side effects, and drug interactions.

• Source Matters: The biological activity and safety of a chalcone are highly dependent on its specific molecular structure, with synthetic modifications potentially leading to different effects than those from natural sources.

What is Chalcone?

Chalcones are natural organic compounds belonging to the flavonoid family, widely distributed across the plant kingdom. They function as metabolic intermediates in the biosynthesis of flavonoids and are characterized by a three-carbon $\alpha, \beta$-unsaturated carbonyl system that links two aromatic rings. In nature, these compounds are found in a variety of fruits, vegetables, teas, and spices, which have been part of human diets for centuries. Their presence contributes to the plant's defense mechanisms and color. Beyond dietary sources, chalcones can also be efficiently produced synthetically in laboratories, often for medicinal chemistry research to develop new drug candidates. This distinction between natural dietary chalcones and synthetic versions is crucial when assessing their safety for consumption.

Natural vs. Synthetic Chalcones: A Safety Distinction

The safety of chalcones is not a simple yes-or-no matter, but rather highly dependent on its source and form. Naturally occurring chalcones consumed through a regular diet, such as from tomatoes or licorice, are generally considered safe, with epidemiological studies suggesting that diets high in these compounds are not linked to negative health effects. These natural forms are ingested in low, often sub-therapeutic, concentrations alongside a matrix of other plant compounds. This differs significantly from ingesting high, concentrated doses of isolated or synthetic chalcones.

Synthetic chalcones, produced in a lab for research or potential drug development, are subject to different safety considerations. Safety data sheets for pure, synthesized chalcone list hazard warnings such as being "harmful if swallowed" and causing irritation upon contact. This does not mean that all chalcones are inherently dangerous, but it highlights that their safety is context-dependent. Some synthetic chalcone derivatives have shown toxicity in animal studies at specific doses and can cause damage to internal organs, emphasizing that generalizing the safety of all chalcones is misleading.

Potential Health Benefits of Chalcones

Decades of research have uncovered a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities associated with chalcones. These benefits are primarily based on preclinical (in vitro and animal) studies and include:

• Antioxidant Properties: Many chalcones possess powerful antioxidant capabilities, helping to neutralize free radicals and mitigate oxidative stress that contributes to chronic diseases.
• Anti-inflammatory Effects: Chalcones have demonstrated an ability to inhibit inflammatory responses, suggesting potential in managing conditions related to chronic inflammation.
• Antimicrobial Activity: Specific chalcone derivatives have shown efficacy against various pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
• Anticancer Potential: Several chalcones exhibit cytotoxic effects against various cancer cell lines by inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death), inhibiting cell proliferation, and interfering with cancer signaling pathways.
• Other Medicinal Uses: Chalcones have also been investigated for properties such as antidiabetic, neuroprotective, and anti-ulcer effects.

Potential Risks and Toxicity

Despite the promising therapeutic potential, the safety of consuming chalcone, especially in high doses, requires careful consideration. The main risks are associated with synthetic chalcones or isolated extracts, where the dosage and specific chemical modifications can introduce toxicity not present in natural, dietary sources. Potential risks include:

• Dosage-Dependent Toxicity: Preclinical studies have shown that high concentrations of certain chalcones can be toxic. For example, a subchronic toxicity study in mice found some synthetic chalcones caused internal organ damage and behavioral changes at higher doses, while others were relatively non-toxic.
• Formulation-Specific Risks: The presence of specific functional groups or structural modifications in synthetic chalcones can alter their biological activity and safety profile. The "harmful if swallowed" warning on chemical data sheets for synthesized chalcone reflects these potential dangers in a non-dietary context.
• Unknown Long-Term Effects: For high-dose, isolated chalcone supplements, long-term human safety data is limited. A comprehensive understanding of their toxicity and effects on the body is still being developed.
• Potential Drug Interactions: Chalcones can interact with various biological enzymes and signaling pathways, which could potentially interfere with prescription medications. Consulting a healthcare provider is essential before taking any chalcone-based supplement.

Comparison of Natural vs. Synthetic Chalcones

Feature	Natural Chalcones (in food)	Synthetic Chalcones (in supplements/research)
Source	Fruits, vegetables, herbs (e.g., licorice, hops, tomatoes)	Lab-produced chemicals, often with modified structures
Typical Dosage	Low, part of a normal diet	High, concentrated, isolated doses
Safety Profile	Generally regarded as safe (GRAS) based on long-term dietary consumption	Safety is highly variable; specific compounds can be toxic at certain concentrations
Benefits	Broad spectrum of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits from whole food synergy	Specific, targeted pharmacological actions for research and potential drug development
Regulation	Regulated as food ingredients.	Varies; some approved for specific clinical uses, others for research only.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the safety of consuming chalcone depends heavily on the context: whether it is part of a natural food-based diet or a concentrated, synthetic supplement. Consuming chalcones through a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, and herbs is widely considered safe and is associated with various health benefits. In contrast, the consumption of synthetic or isolated chalcone supplements, especially in high doses, carries potential risks and requires caution due to a lack of comprehensive human safety data and known toxicity of some variants. For anyone considering a chalcone supplement, it is paramount to consult a healthcare professional to discuss potential risks and benefits. This nuanced approach, differentiating between natural dietary intake and high-dose supplementation, is key to understanding whether chalcone is safe to consume.

Natural Sources of Chalcones

• Fruits: Apples and citrus fruits contain naringenin chalcone, a flavonoid precursor.
• Vegetables: Tomatoes, shallots, and potatoes are natural dietary sources of chalcones.
• Herbs and Spices: Licorice root is a well-known source of beneficial chalcones, including licochalcone A and isoliquiritigenin.
• Hops: The hops plant (Humulus lupulus), used in brewing, contains the potent chalcone xanthohumol.
• Medicinal Plants: Various species like Angelica keiskei and Psoralea corylifolia are rich in specific chalcones.

Read more about the pharmacological potential of natural chalcones from Frontiers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to get chalcones from my diet?

Yes, obtaining chalcones through your regular diet from natural sources like apples, tomatoes, and licorice is generally considered safe and is not associated with negative health effects.

Are all chalcone supplements safe?

No, the safety of chalcone supplements depends on the specific compound, its dosage, and overall formulation. Synthetic or isolated chalcones used in high-dose supplements have a less understood safety profile compared to dietary intake and some have shown toxicity in research settings.

What are the potential side effects of chalcones?

Potential side effects, especially from synthetic or high-dose supplements, can include visceral damage or other toxic effects, as shown in some animal studies. For natural dietary intake, side effects are not typically observed.

What is the difference between natural and synthetic chalcone?

Natural chalcone is a compound found within plants, consumed as part of a whole food diet. Synthetic chalcone is manufactured in a lab, can be chemically modified, and is often used in concentrated forms for research or potential drug development.

How does the dosage affect the safety of chalcone?

Dosage is a critical factor. Low concentrations from a normal diet are considered safe, while high, concentrated doses, often found in supplements, may lead to toxic effects.

Do I need to consult a doctor before taking a chalcone supplement?

Yes, consulting a healthcare professional is strongly recommended before starting any chalcone supplement. This is particularly important if you have underlying health conditions or are taking other medications, as chalcones can affect biological pathways.

Are there any chalcone-based drugs approved for human use?

Yes, some chalcone-based compounds have been developed and approved for clinical use in the past. Examples include metochalcone and sofalcone, used for conditions like choleretic effects and anti-ulcer activity, respectively.