MOLECULE

Cuminol

Cuminol or Cuminyl alcohol, also known as p-cumin-7-ol or 4-Isopropylbenzyl alcohol, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as aromatic monoterpenoids. These are monoterpenoids containing at least one aromatic ring. Monoterpenoids are terpenes that contain 10 carbon atoms and are comprised of two isoprene units. The biosynthesis of monoterpenes is known to occur mainly through the methyl-eritritol-phosphate (MEP) pathway in the plastids (PMID: 7640522). Geranyl diphosphate (GPP) is a key intermediate in the biosynthesis of cyclic monoterpenes. GPP undergoes several cyclization reactions to yield a diverse number of cyclic arrangements. Cuminol is an extremely weak basic (essentially neutral) compound (based on its pKa). Cuminol is an alcohol derivative of p-Cymene. It exists as a clear, colorless liquid that is poorly soluble in water. Cuminol can be used as a food additive or as a cosmetic fragrance. It has a cumin, caraway or spicy, herbal aroma and a similar spicy, herbal or peppery taste. Cuminol is found naturally in a number of plants, spices and foods including cumin seed and cumin oils, caraway eucalyptus oils, thyme, sunflowers, tuermeric, guava fruit and other spices and essential oils. Cumin, a widely used spice, is known to have anti-diabetic properties and two of its phytochemicals: cuminol and cuminaldehyde appear to be among the most active components. Cuminol is a potent insulinotrophic molecule that can enhance insulin secretion by up to 4-fold (in rat islet cells) (PMID: 23507295). It also exhibits strong beta-cell protective action (PMID: 23507295). Cuminol is one of the terpenoids that present only in traces in cannabis plants (PMID: 6991645). There are more than 140 known terpenes in cannabis and the combination of these terepenoids produces the skunky, fruity odor characteristic of C. savita.