MOLECULE

Borneol

Borneol, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as bicyclic monoterpenoids. These are monoterpenoids containing exactly 2 rings, which are fused to each other. 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. 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. Borneol is a secondary alcohol and there are two enantiomers of borneol, d-(+)-borneol and l-(–)-borneol, which can be found in nature. Borneol is a component of many essential oils and it is a natural insect repellent. Additionally, borneol is one of many terpenoids that are known to occur in cannabis plants (PMID: 6991645). Borneol can be found in several species of Heterotheca, Artemisia, Callicarpa, Dipterocarpaceae, Blumea balsamifera and Kaempferia galanga (https://doi.org/10.1002/ffj.2730070506).