Bisabolol

α-(−)-Bisabolol
Names
IUPAC name
6-methyl-2-(4-methylcyclohex-3-en-1-yl)hept-5-en-2-ol
Other names
Levomenol
Identifiers
5733954
23089-26-1
ChEMBL ChEMBL1096927
ChemSpider 390796
Jmol-3D images Image
PubChem 10586
UNII 24WE03BX2T
Properties
Molecular formula
C15H26O
Molar mass 222.37 g·mol−1
Density 0.92 g cm−3
Boiling point 153 °C (307 °F; 426 K) at 12 mmHg
Except where noted otherwise, data is given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Bisabolol, or more formally α-(−)-bisabolol or also known as levomenol,[1] is a natural monocyclic sesquiterpene alcohol. It is a colorless viscous oil that is the primary constituent of the essential oil from German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and Myoporum crassifolium.[2] It is almost insoluble in water and glycerin, but very soluble in ethanol. The enantiomer, α-(+)-bisabolol, is also found naturally but is rare. Synthetic bisabolol is usually a racemic mixture of the two, α-(±)-bisabolol.

Bisabolol has a weak sweet floral aroma and is used in various fragrances. It has also been used for hundreds of years in cosmetics because of its perceived skin healing properties. Bisabolol is known to have anti-irritant, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Bisabolol is also demonstrated to enhance the percutaneous absorption of certain molecules.[3]

α-bisabolol has recently been shown to induce apoptosis in models of leukemia.[4]

A structurally related compound known as β-bisabolol (CAS registry number [15352-77-9]) differs only in the position of the tertiary alcohol functional group.

β-Bisabolol

References

  1. Rohstoff-Lexikon Bisabolol
  2. Bisabolol (in english)
  3. J Am Oil Chem Soc (2010) 87;1-7.
  4. Cavalieri, E; Rigo, A, Bonifacio, M, Carcereri de Prati, A, Guardalben, E, Bergamini, C, Fato, R, Pizzolo, G, Suzuki, H, Vinante, F (Apr 21, 2011). "Pro-apoptotic activity of α-bisabolol in preclinical models of primary human acute leukemia cells.". Journal of translational medicine 9: 45. doi:10.1186/1479-5876-9-45. PMC 3112094. PMID 21510902.