Pentalenane sesquiterpenes
O
O
H
OH
Pentalenene
Pentalenic acid
Campherenane, a-santalane and
b-santalane sesquiterpenes
OH
α-Bergamotene
α-Santalene
Copaane sesquiterpenes
H
H
H
H
OH
3-Copaene
3-Copaen-2-ol
Gymnomitrane sesquiterpenes
OHC
3-Gymnomitrene
3-Gymnomitren-15-al
Botanical sources
Plants produce a variety of sesquiterpenes. The following table lists just a
few of these sources, and their major sesquiterpene components.
Source
Major sesquiterpenes
Common name
Botanical name (Family)
German chamomile
Matricaria recutita (Asteraceae) Àa-bisabolol and its derivatives
Feverfew
Tanacetum parthenium
Farnesene, germacrene D,
(Asteraceae)
parthenolide
Qinghao
Artemisia annua (Asteraceae)
Artemisinin and its derivatives
Holy thistle
Cnicus benedictus (Asteraceae) Cnicin
Cinnamon
Cinnamomum zeylanicum
b-caryophyllene
(Lauraceae)
Cloves
Syzygium aromaticum
b-caryophyllene
(Myrtaceae)
Hop
Humulus lupulus (Cannabaceae) Humulene
Wormseed
Artemisia cinia (Asteraceae)
a-santonin
Valerian
Valeriana officinalis
Valeranone
(Valerianaceae)
Juniper berries
Juniperus communis
a-cadinene
(Cupressaceae)
Curcuma or
Cucuma longa
Curcumenone, curcumabranol
turmeric
(Zingiberaceae)
A, curcumabranol B,
b-elemene, curzerenone
(Continued)
Major structural types
Specific examples
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CH6 NATURAL PRODUCT CHEMISTRY