MOLECULE

Cis-gamma-Bisabolene

Cis-gamma-Bisabolene is an isomer of Bisabolene. Three isomers are known, α-, β-, and γ-bisabolene, which differ by the positions of the double bonds. Bisabolenes are a group of closely related natural chemical compounds which are classified as sesquiterpenes. 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), in the cytosol. However, recent studies have found evidence of pathway crosstalk with the methyl-eritritol-phosphate (MEP) pathway in the plastid (PMID: 19932496, 17710406) 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. Bisabolenes are present in the essential oils of German chamomile (PMID: 22096322), and of a wide variety of other plants including cubeb, lemon, oregano, and Cannabis sativa (PMID: 6991645, 26657499). Cis-gamma-Bisabolene is also a constituent of cannabis smoke and is volatilized during the combustion of cannabis (https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-947-9_2). Various derivates of bisabolol also function as pheromones in different insects (PMID: 31659569). Bisabolenes are produced by several fungi, though their biological role in that group of organisms remains unclear (doi:10.3390/f11030290).