2008/04/18 by Dirk W. Lachenmeier, David Nathan-Maister, Theodore A. Breaux +3 · 1 citation
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics · Chemistry · #Natural Compound Pharmacology Studies #Plant-based Medicinal Research #Ziziphus Jujuba Studies and Applications #Vintage #Copper #Methanol #Antimony #Composition (language) #Chemistry #Environmental chemistry #Organic chemistry #Art #Literature
paper · pdf · doi:10.1021/jf703568f
openalex publication_date 2008/04/18 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Thirteen samples of authentic absinthe dating from the preban era (i.e., prior to 1915) were analyzed for parameters that were hypothesized as contributing to the toxicity of the spirit, including naturally occurring herbal essences (thujone, pinocamphone, fenchone), methanol, higher alcohols, copper, and antimony. The total thujone content of preban absinthe was found to range between 0.5 and 48.3 mg/L, with an average concentration of 25.4 +/- 20.3 mg/L and a median concentration of 33.3 mg/L. The authors conclude that the thujone concentration of preban absinthe was generally overestimated in the past. The analysis of postban (1915-1988) and modern commercial absinthes (2003-2006) showed that the encompassed thujone ranges of all absinthes are quite similar, disproving the supposition that a fundamental difference exists between preban and modern absinthes manufactured according to historical recipes. Analyses of pinocamphone, fenchone, base spirits, copper, and antimony were inconspicuous. All things considered, nothing besides ethanol was found in the absinthes that was able to explain the syndrome "absinthism".