ABSTRACT
American pennyroyal contains up to 2 percent of a volatile oil, and European pennyroyal up to 1 percent of an even more disagreeablesmelling volatile oil.2 Both oils consist of 85 to 92 percent pulegone and are therefore quite toxic, causing severe liver damage even in relatively small amounts. Two tablespoonfuls of pennyroyal oil caused the death of an eighteen-year-old expectant mother despite intensive hospital treatment initiated just two hours after she took it.3
