Term and Significance

The tenn terpenes originates from turpentine lat. balsamum terebinthinae). Turpentine, the so-called resin of pine trees , is the viseous pleasantly smelling balsam which flows upon cutting or carving the bark and the new wood of several pine tree species (Pinaceae). Turpentine contains the resin acids and some hydrocarbons, which were originally referred to as terpenes. Traditionally, all natural compounds built up from isoprene subunits and for the most part originating from plants are denoted as terpenes (section 1.2). 

Conifer wood, balm trees, citrus fruits, coriander, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon grass, lilies, carnation, caraway, peppermint species, roses, rosemary, sage, thyme, violet and many other plants or parts of those (roots, rhizomes, stems, leaves, blossoms, fruits, seed) are well known to smell pleasantly, to taste spicy, or to exhibit specific pharmacological activities. Terpenes predominantly shape these properties. In order to enrich terpenes, the plants are carved, e.g. for the production of incense or myrrh from balm trees usually, however, terpenes are extracted or steam distilled, e.g. for the recovery of the precious oil of the blossoms of specific fragrant roses. These extracts and steam distillates, known as ethereal or essential oils ( essence absolue ) are used to create fine perfumes, to refine the flavor and the aroma of food and drinks and to produce medicines of plant origin (phytopharmaca). 

Many insects metabolize terpenes they have received with their plant food to growth hormones and pheromones. Pheromones are luring and signal compounds (sociohormones) that insects and other organisms excrete in order to communicate with others like them, e.g. to warn (alarm pheromones), to mark food resources and their location (trace pheromones), as well of assembly places (aggregation pheromones) and to attract sexual partners for copulation (sexual pheromones). Harmless to the environment, pheromones may replace conventional insecticides to trap harmful and damaging insects such as bark beetles. 

Copyright 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH Co. KGaA, Weinheim ISBN 3-527-31786-4 

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Bosch, A. et al. (2000). Long-term and significant correction of brain lesions in adult mucopolysaccharidosis type VII mice using recombinant AAV vectors. Mol. Ther. 1(1), 63-70. 

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