Tag: Sanguinarine

According to the National Institutes of Health, toxic Argemone oil is a frequent and dangerous contaminant, often added to mustard oil for economic gain. This adulteration has historically caused severe health crises, such as the large epidemic dropsy outbreak in New Delhi in 1998. Understanding which toxin is in mustard oil adulteration is crucial for consumer safety.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the seeds of the *Argemone mexicana* plant contain toxic principles known as sanguinarine and dihydrosanguinarine. These harmful alkaloids are responsible for severe health issues, particularly when argemone oil is used to adulterate edible oils like mustard oil.