Pogostemon patchoulol from

Croteau, R., S. L. Munck, C. C. Akoh, H. J. Fisk, and D. M. Satterwhite, Biosynthesis of the sesquiterpene patchoulol from famesyl pyrophosphate in leaf extracts of Pogostemon cablin (patchouli) Mechanistic considerations. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 256, 56-68 (1987). 

One year later, Schalk [89] described a process for cloning sesquiterpene synthases from patchouli plants Pogostemon cablin) and the enzyme-catalysed terpenoid production. Various sesquiterpenes can be obtained by this method, for instance patchoulol and other germacrene-type sesquiterpenes. 

Definition Volatile oil derived from Pogostemon cablin, main constituent is patchoulol Properties YIsh. to brownish oil intense odor sol. in alcohol insol. in water dens. 0.97-0.98 kg/l (15 C)... 

A cyclase from Pogostemon cablin (syn. P. patchouli and P. heyneanus) leaves is capable of converting famesyl pyrophosphate to (- )-patchoulol (14, Fig. 21.7). Cell-free... 

Patchouli oil is distilled from the fermented leaves of Pogostemon cablin. Its main constituent is patchouli alcohol [5986-55-0] (257), also known as patchoulol. However, this and the other major components have relatively little odor and the characteristic scent arises from some of the minor compounds present. Vetiver oil is distilled from the roots of the tropical grass Vetivera zizanoides. It contains a very large number of sesquiterpenoids, a-vetivone (258), (3-vetivone (259), and khusimol (260) accounting for 35% but, as with patchouli, it is a number of minor components that are responsible for its valuable odor. Details of patchouli and vetiver chemistry can be found in Chapter 7 of the book by Sell (323). 

Munck, S.L. and Croteau, R. (1990) Purification and characterization of the sesquiterpene cyclase patchoulol synthase from Pogostemon cablin. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 282, 58-64. 

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