Pinene

From WikiMD's medical encyclopedia

Pinene is a bicyclic monoterpenoid chemical compound. There are two structural isomers of pinene found in nature: alpha-Pinene and beta-Pinene. As the name suggests, both forms are important constituents of pine resin; they are also found in the resins of many other conifers, and more widely in other plants. Both isomers are used by many insects in their chemical communication system. The two isomers of pinene constitute the major component of turpentine.

Chemistry

Pinene is one of the principal monoterpenes that is important physiologically in both plants and animals. It tends to react with other chemicals, forming a variety of other terpenes (like limonene) and other compounds.

Alpha-Pinene

Alpha-Pinene is the most widely encountered terpenoid in nature and is highly repellant to insects. Alpha-pinene appears in conifers and numerous other plants. It is found in oils such as eucalyptus oil and orange peel oil.

Beta-Pinene

Beta-Pinene is found in hops, cumin, nutmeg, and lime peel oil. It has a woody-green pine-like smell and is slightly less dense than water. Beta-pinene is used in fragrances and flavors for its spicy, woody notes.

Biological production

Pinene is produced by plants as a chemical defense against herbivores and a means of preventing fungal infection. It is released into the atmosphere in large quantities by vegetation and acts as a natural air purifier.

Uses

Pinene is used in medicine as an anti-inflammatory, expectorant, bronchodilator and local antiseptic. Alpha-pinene is a natural compound isolated from pine needle oil which has shown anti-cancer activity and has been used as an anti-cancer agent in Traditional Chinese Medicine for many years. It is also used as a base in perfumery and as a solvent in cleaning products.

See also

References



External links

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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD