Baikiain

Baikiain is an organic compound with the molecular formula C₆H₉NO₂. Chemically, it is classified as a tetrahydropyridine substituted with a carboxylic acid. Because it contains both this carboxylic acid and an adjacent amine group, it is also an alpha-amino acid. Baikiain is one of the two enantiomers of the chiral compound 4,5-didehydropipecolic acid.

Sources

Baikiain has been found in diverse natural sources including dates, African teak (Baikiaea plurijuga) wood, and the red algae Serraticardia maxima.

Several laboratory syntheses of baikiain and its racemic form have been reported.

Effects

Baikiain is hypothesized to be the causative agent of illnesses resulting from consumption of food products containing tara flour.

References

1. C6H9NO2
2. Tara spinosa
3. Baikiaea plurijuga
4. Ralph Raphael