eetle, Mylabridae.
While the cantharides concoction has been known for centuries, it wasn't until 1810 that cantharidin was first isolated by Robiquet (7:592). The compound, cantharidin (C10 H12 O4, or hexahydro 3,7 dimethyl 4,7,epoxyisobenzofuran 1,3,dione), is the volatile terpene anhydride of a simple aromatic acid, cantharic acid (11:444).
Cantharic acid is soluble only in fats, ether, and alcohol. However, in the presence of alkali, the acid does form soluble salts. The precise chemical reactions required for the synthesis of cantharidin are complicated. Its chemical structure suggests an isoprenoid origin (3:1019). Basically, the compound consists of two rings one benzene and one furan with attached oxygen atoms and methyl groups. All of the compound's bonds are single except for the double bonds to two of its oxygen atoms (3:1019).
Cantharidin crystals are colorless, odorless, and glistening. They can be identified by x ray diffraction, melting point analyses, and cantharidin's ability to cause a skin react
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