MOLECULE

gamma-Gurjunene

γ-Gurjunene, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as sesquiterpenoids. 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. γ-Gurjunene has been detected as a volatile component in cannabis plant samples ( PMID: 6991645, 26657499). It was also identified in the shoots and nutlets of Carya illinoinensis (Pecan) (6.69% - 11.3% relative to total volatile compounds) (PMID: 21604354), the essential oil of Baccharis L. species (1.1 – 23.6% relative to total volatile compounds) (DOI: 10.1007/s00606-005-0296-6), the essential oil of Hypericum montbretii Spach (6.1-11.6% relative to total oil content) (DOI: 10.15547/ast.2018.03.050), the essential oil of Psidium L. (Guava) (PMID: 31286378).