MOLECULE

Viridiflorene

Viridiflorene also known as leden, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as 5,10-cycloaromadendrane sesquiterpenoids. These are aromadendrane sesquiterpenoids that arise from the C5-C10 cyclization of the aromadendrane 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-erythritol-phosphate (MEP) pathway in the cytosol (PMID: 7640522). 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. Viridiflorene is a hydrophobic, neutral molecule that is insoluble in water. It exists as a clear, colorless oil. Viridiflorene can be found in a number of plant foods and spices such as allspice, sweet basil, sweet marjoram, eucalyptus, common oregano, sage, thyme and rosemary, which makes viridiflorene a potential biomarker for the consumption of these food products. Viridiflorene is one of more than 140 terpenoids found in cannabis plants (PMID: 6991645).