Apiole (1-allyl-2,5-dimethoxy-3,4-methylenedioxybenzene) is a phenylpropene, also known as apiol, parsley apiol or parsley camphor, found in the essential oils of celery leaf and all parts of parsley. Apiole and various preparations of parsley have been used for many years to procure the illegal abortion in Italy. Post-abortive vaginal bleeding, sometimes profuse, is a feature of these cases. A cumulative effect is apparent, parsley apiole being taken daily for between two and eight days before either death or abortion ensued. The lowest daily dose of apiole which induced abortion was 0.9 g taken for eight consecutive days. Parsley apiole is toxic in humans; the lowest total dose of apiole causing death is 4.2 g (2.1 g/day for 2 days) the lowest fatal daily dose is 770 mg, which was taken for 14 days; the lowest single fatal dose is 8 g.