Abelmoschus moschatus

Liu IM, Tzeng TF, Liou SS, Lan TW. (2007) Improvement of insulin sensitivity in obese Zucker rats by myricetin extracted from Abelmoschus moschatus. Planta Med 73 1054-1060. 

Properties Volatile oil from seeds of Abelmoschus moschatus Moench, syn. Hibsiscus Abelmoschus L. (Fam. Malvaceae). Amber liquid odor of ambretto-lide. Sol in fixed oils insol in glycerin, propylene glycol. 

Ambrette seed oil is obtained by steam distillation of the dried, crushed seeds of Abelmoschus moschatus Medik. (Hibiscus abelmoschus L., Malvaceae), a flowering shrub growing in tropical areas. Due to its content of long-chain fatty acids, the crude product is a waxy mass and, therefore, also called Ambrette beurre. Removal of the fatty acids with alkali gives a clear yellow to amber liquid with the strong, musky odor of ambrettolide. 

Occurs in the plant Abelmoschus moschatus and the Dufour s gland of bees. Used in the perfume industry. Has a strong musk-like odour. Oil. Bpi 154-156°. 

Sesquiterpenic alcohols Examples of sesquiterpenic alicyclic alcohols (8-24) are farnesol and nerolidol (also known as peruviol). Both alcohols, smelling of flowers, are components of many essential oils used in perfumery. Of the four possible geometric isomers, the (2 ,6B)-isomer of farnesol, is the most common in nature and occurs, for example, in basil oil and ambrette (Abelmoschus moschatus Malvaceae) seed oil. The (2Z,6 )-isomer occurs in the petit grain oil bigarade, which is derived from the bitter orange tree leaves (Citrus aurantiumvai. amara, Rutaceae). Farnesol is a natural pesticide for mites and a pheromone for several species of insects. Nerolidol with a double bond at C-6 occurs in the form of (Z)- and ( )-isomers, each of which can exist as an enantiomeric pair (chiral carbon C-3). The individual enantiomers and their mixtures are found in many essential oils. For example, the essential oil known as cabreuva oil that is used in perfumery is obtained from the bark of the South American tree Myrocarpus frondosus (Fabaceae) and contains the (-F)-(E)-isomer of nerolidol (3S,6 )-nerolidol. 

Source Abelmoschus moschatus Medik. L. (syn. Hibiscus abelmoschus L.) (Family Malvaceae). 

B. Singh, The structure and development of Abelmoschus moschatus medic, seed, Phytomorphology 17 282 (1968). 

Muscone (35) and civetone (36) are the most important odour components of musk and civet respectively. Ambrettolide (37) is a plant product, occurring in the seeds of the ambrette plant (Abel-moschus moschatus Moench, syn. Hibiscus abelmoschus) which is cultivated in Madagascar, the Seychelles, Colombia and Equador. 

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