3-Octanol

3-Octanol is an aliphatic alcohol occurring at low levels in mint, calamint and pennyroyal oils. Not to be confused with 1-octen-3-ol.

Skin. A 12 percent test on volunteers caused no irritation and no sensitization. Undiluted material produced moderate irritation on rabbit skin under 24-hour occlusion.

Acute toxicity. Acute oral LD50 in rats exceeded 5 g/kg. Acute dermal LD50 in rabbits exceeded 5 g/kg.

Subchronic toxicity. Groups of 10 male and 10 female rats were given 0, 25, 100 or 400 mg/kg 3-octanol by gavage for 90 days. Relative liver weights of high-dose males were significantly elevated. Bile duct proliferation increased in both sexes at the highest dose. Some kidney tissue degeneration occurred in males at 100 or 400 mg/kg. Rat NOAEL was 25 mg/kg.

Increased hepatotoxicity from gavage dosing has been seen with other essential oil constituents, and the toxicity apparent here may not reflect typical exposure through essential oils.