Baby Safety / Compounds / Solanine (α-solanine)

Is Solanine (α-solanine) safe for babies and kids?

High risk for kids

Infants are highly susceptible to Solanine (α-solanine) due to lower body weight, immature detoxification pathways, and dietary exposure through contaminated grains or breast milk.

What is solanine (α-solanine)?

The IUPAC name is (2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-2-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-5-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2-[[(1S,2S,7S,10R,11S,14S,15R,16S,17R,20S,23S)-10,14,16,20-tetramethyl-22-azahexacyclo[12.10.0.02,11.05,10.015,23.017,22]tetracos-4-en-7-yl]oxy]-4-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-6-methyloxane-3,4,5-triol.

Also known as: (2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-2-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-5-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2-[[(1S,2S,7S,10R,11S,14S,15R,16S,17R,20S,23S)-10,14,16,20-tetramethyl-22-azahexacyclo[12.10.0.02,11.05,10.015,23.017,22]tetracos-4-en-7-yl]oxy]-4-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-6-methyloxane-3,4,5-triol, alpha-Solanine, RefChem:111392, DTXCID601527922.

IUPAC name
(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-2-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-5-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2-[[(1S,2S,7S,10R,11S,14S,15R,16S,17R,20S,23S)-10,14,16,20-tetramethyl-22-azahexacyclo[12.10.0.02,11.05,10.015,23.017,22]tetracos-4-en-7-yl]oxy]-4-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-6-methyloxane-3,4,5-triol
CAS number
20562-02-1
Molecular formula
C45H73NO15
Molecular weight
868.1 g/mol
SMILES
CC1CCC2C(C3C(N2C1)CC4C3(CCC5C4CC=C6C5(CCC(C6)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)CO)O)OC8C(C(C(C(O8)CO)O)O)O)OC9C(C(C(C(O9)C)O)O)O)C)C)C
PubChem CID
9549171

Risk for babies

High risk

Infants are highly susceptible to Solanine (α-solanine) due to lower body weight, immature detoxification pathways, and dietary exposure through contaminated grains or breast milk.

Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.

What to do: Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Solanine (α-solanine), potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Solanine (α-solanine).

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC—Not classifiedIARC has not classified solanine

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter solanine (α-solanine)

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Solanine (α-solanine):

  • Avoidance (no chemical substitute)
    Trade-offs: Direct chemical substitution requires verification that the replacement does not introduce new hazards (regrettable substitution). Conduct full hazard assessment of proposed alternative before adoption.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is solanine (α-solanine) safe for kids?

Infants are highly susceptible to Solanine (α-solanine) due to lower body weight, immature detoxification pathways, and dietary exposure through contaminated grains or breast milk.

What products contain solanine (α-solanine)?

Solanine (α-solanine) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

What should I do if my child is exposed to solanine (α-solanine)?

Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

See Solanine (α-solanine) in the baby app

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Sources (2)
  1. US FDA: Solanine and Chaconine — Potato Glycoalkaloids, Dietary Exposure Assessment, and 200 mg/kg Threshold Review (2012) (2012) — regulatory
  2. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Potato (Solanum tuberosum) — Solanine and Chaconine Toxicity in Dogs and Cats, Clinical Signs, and Case Series (2018) — veterinary

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →