Aucubin is an iridoid glycoside. Iridoids are commonly found in plants and function as defensive compounds.Irioids decrease the growth rates of many generalist herbivores.
Aucubin, as other iridoids, is found in asterids such as Aucuba japonica (Cornaceae), Eucommia ulmoides (Eucommiaceae), Plantago asiatic, Plantago major, Plantago lanceolata (Plantaginaceae), Galium aparine (Rubiaceae) and others. These plants are used in traditional Chinese and folk medicine.
Agnuside is composed of aucubin and p-hydroxybenzoic acid.
Aucubin was found to protect against liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride or alpha-amanitin in mice and rats when 80 mg/kg was dosed intraperitoneally.