Carvones biochemical

Noma, Y., 1976. Microbiological conversion of carvone. Biochemical reduction of terpenes, part VI. Ann. Res. Stud. Osaka Joshigakuen Junior College, 20 33-47. 

Concerning the carvone, it has a several applications including as fragrance and flavor, potato spout inhibitor, antimicrobial agent, building block and biochemical environmental indicator (de Carvalho and da Fonseca, 2006). 

Enantiomers show no difference in their reactions with achiral molecules, e.g., NaOH, HCl, and Brj. The situation is very different for reactions with chiral molecules or for reaetions in which chiral enzymes are involved. The typical biological process involves some chiral molecule undergoing reaction under the influence of a chiral enzyme. One enantiomer reacts rapidly while the other reacts at a much slower rate or does not react at all. The body can use one enantiomer efficiently but not the other. For example, o-glucose is utilized by the body but L-glucose cannot be utilized. L-Dopa is used to treat Parkinson s disease the o-enantiomer has no effect. Taste and odor also involve highly selective biochemical reactions. For example, (-)-carvone has the odor of caraway seeds while (-I- Fcarvone has the odor of spearmint. 

Noma, Y., 1977. Conversion of the analogues of carvone and dihydrocarvone by Pseudomonas ovalis, strain 6-1, Biochemical reduction of terpenes, part VII. 463-470. 

Noma, Y., 1979a. Conversion of (-)-carvone by Nocardia lurida A-0141 and Streptosporangium roseum IF03776. Biochemical reduction of terpenes, part VIII. 53 35-39. 

This has important consequences for biochemical processes, for interactions of chiral compounds with organisms built from homochiral building blocks. The homochirality of receptors, enzymes and other key parts of an organism leads to a high degree of chiral discrimination, the ability to differentiate between enantiomers. Illustrative examples include smell and taste for example, the terpenoid carvone in its (-)-form smells of mint whereas its enantiomer, the (+)-form, smells of caraway (6). The two enantiomers of a pharmaceutically active compound can display different effects as well, while one shows the desired effect, the other might be inactive or display different, possibly harmful activity (7, 8). 

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