MOLECULE

beta-Curcumene

Beta-curcumene belongs to the class of organic compounds known as sesquiterpenoids. These are terpenes that contain 15 carbon atoms and are comprised of three isoprene units. The biosynthesis of sesquiterpenes is known to occur mainly through the mevalonic acid pathway (MVA; PMID:17467679), in the cytosol. However, in plants, recent studies have found evidence of pathway crosstalk with the methyl-eritritol-phosphate (MEP) pathway in the cytoplasm (PMID:23746261). Farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) is a key intermediate in the biosynthesis of cyclic sesquiterpenes. FPP undergoes several cyclization reactions to yield a diverse number of cyclic arrangements. Beta-curcumene is possibly neutral. Beta-curcumene has been detected in several plant species, as well as in Cannabis sativa (PMID: 6991645). It occurs in java ginger, turmeric, cedrala wood oil and sandal wood oil ( http://www.thegoodscentscompany.com/data/rw1701351.html#tooccur ).