MOLECULE

Gamma-Eudesmol

Gamma-Eudesmol, also known as machilol or selinenol, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as eudesmane, isoeudesmane or cycloeudesmane sesquiterpenoids. These are sesquiterpenoids with a structure based on the eudesmane skeleton. Sesquiterpenoids 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. Gamma-Eudesmol is one of the terpenes and noncannabinoid chemical constituents identified in cannabis sativa plants (0.01 -0.46 mg/g) (PMID: 6991645; DOI: 10.1089/can.2016.0017). It was also identified in agarwood oil (1.40% to 10.30% relative to total oil components), the essential oil of Salvia microphylla (baby sage, Graham's sage, or blackcurrant sage) leaves (7.64% relative to total oil components) (DOI: 10.1007/s11746-011-1938-1), the essential oil of Alphonsea tonkinensis (Annonaceae) (5.5% relative to total oil components), the essential oil of Amyris balsamifera (balsam torchwood) (12.3% relative to total oil components) (DOI: 10.1007/s10600-015-1281-0), and the essential oil of Camellia nitidissima (fortune's yellow camellia) (31.5% relative to total oil components) (DOI: 10.1007/s10600-015-1281-0).