MOLECULE

trans-gamma-Bisabolene

Trans-gamma-Bisabolene or (E)-gamma-bisabolene is biochemically a sesquiterpenoid. 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. 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-Bisabolene is considered to be an isoprenoid lipid molecule, as such, Beta-Bisabolene is a very hydrophobic molecule, practically insoluble in water and relatively neutral. Bisabolene has three isomers (α-, β-, and γ-bisabolene) which differ by the positions of the double bonds. Bisabolenes are naturally occurring sesquiterpenoid found in the essential oils of bisabol, and of a wide variety of other plants including cubeb, lemon, oregano and found in trace amounts in cannabis plants (PMID: 6991645). Trans-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). Bisabolenes are also produced in different insects such as stink bugs, fruit flies and by several fungi (PMID: 11673844; PMID: 25957494).