Perspectives in Biology and Medicine

The derivatives of 1,2-dithiolane are scattered widely throughout the natural world where they are generally exploited for their biocidal properties. One of these, known as asparagusic acid (1,2-dithiolane-4-carboxylic acid), is present in the frequently consumed vegetable, asparagus, and though apparently innocuous toxicologically, it may be responsible for the distinctive urine odor produced after consuming this food. This review collects together, for the first time, historical observations associating asparagus ingestion with this unique odor-producing phenomenon and collates data implicating a 1,2-dithiolane structure as the major chemical precursor responsible.