Cantharidin - Wikipedia

Cantharidin is an odorless, colorless fatty substance of the terpenoid class, which is secreted by many species of blister beetles. [a] Its main current use in pharmacology is treating molluscum contagiosum and warts topically. [2]It is a burn agent and poisonous in large doses, and has been historically used as aphrodisiacs (Spanish fly).In its natural form, cantharidin is secreted by the ...

[A Potentially Fatal Aphrodisiac: Cantharidin Poisoning]

Cantharidin is a toxin extracted from coleoptera beetles, commonly known as 'Spanish fly'. Traditionally it was used as an aphrodisiac, a vesicant or as an abortifacient. Intoxication by this substance has been widely reported, generally associated with gastrointestinal complications, such as digestive hemorrhage, and genitourinary disorders ...

Cantharidin: Uses and Precautions - DermNet

Cantharidin is a substance derived from the blister beetle Cantharis vesicatoria. It is most commonly used to remove warts in Western medicine, however it has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine for a number of conditions. ... Cantharidin is also known as Spanish Fly and its beetle juice sold as an aphrodisiac. The reality is that it is ...

Multiorgan dysfunction syndrome due to high-dose cantharidin poisoning ...

It can produce a colorless and odor-free substance, cantharidin, which is lipophilic and soluble in acetone, oil, ether, and chloroform but is insoluble in water. Cantharidin is used to treat rabies, skin rash, infection, or even cancer[2-4]. It is also thought to act as an aphrodisiac. However, cantharidin is also a potent toxin.

Blister Beetles: Do Not Touch! - Poison Control

Blister beetles excrete a toxic blistering agent called cantharidin, which can cause irritation and blistering when it comes in contact with the eyes, skin, mouth, throat, or digestive tract. The irritation and blisters that form can be painful but usually are not life-threatening. ... The purported aphrodisiac properties were due to its ...

Why Spanish Fly only works on men. And is deadly. - Gizmodo

Cantharidin makes spanish fly metaphorically apt as an aphrodisiac, as well as practically possible. Cantharidin is why meloid beetles are also called blister beetles. It can blister skin, and is ...

Poisoning from "Spanish fly" (cantharidin) - ScienceDirect

The aphrodisiac legend stems from cantharidin's ability to cause vascular congestion and inflammation of the genitourinary tract, a sensation that may be interpreted as enhanced sexuality by some. Cantharidin's numerous toxic effects have caused it to fall into disuse for most legitimate medical purposes. Many of these effects are directly ...

Insects as Aphrodisiacs - SpringerLink

Insects were used in various ways, including entomophagy, external applications of insect preparations, and as symbolic charms. Spanish fly, or the chemical cantharidin produced by meloids, is the most famous insect aphrodisiac, yet many insect species (or their products) in several orders have been used as sexual aids.