α-Asarone is a phytochemical compound with neuroprotective, anti-oxidative, anticonvulsive and cognitive enhancing action, isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Acorus tatarinowii. Numerous clinical studies in China had indicated the effectiveness of α-asarone against respiratory disorders and epilepsy. Asarone tablets have been clinically used as bronchial asthma and bronchitis prescription drug in China. Unfortunately, toxic and genotoxic studies of a-asarone have indicated that this compound may pose a risk to human health, including embryotoxicity and maternal toxicity in rats, hepatotoxicity in rat-cultivated hepatocytes, and in vivo and in vitro genotoxic damage in mammalian cells.