Guaienes are a series of closely related natural chemical compounds that have been isolated from a variety of plant sources. The guaienes are
sesquiterpene
Sesquiterpenes are a class of terpenes that consist of three isoprene units and often have the molecular formula C15H24. Like monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes may be cyclic or contain rings, including many unique combinations. Biochemical modificatio ...
s with the molecular formula C
15H
24. α-Guaiene is the most common and was first isolated from
guaiac wood oil from ''
Bulnesia sarmientoi
''Bulnesia sarmientoi'' (recently reclassified as ''Gonopterodendron sarmientoi'') is a tree that inhabits a part of the Gran Chaco area in South America, around the Argentina-Bolivia-Paraguay border. Its wood is often traded as "Paraguay ''lig ...
''. The guaienes are used in the fragrance and flavoring industries to impart earthy, spicy aromas and tastes.
[Guaiene]
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
See also
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Guaiol
Guaiol or champacol is an organic compound, a sesquiterpenoid alcohol found in several plants, especially in the oil of guaiacum and cypress pine.The Merriam-Webster Dictionary. It is a crystalline solid that melts at 92 ° C.Wolfram Alpha ''Guai ...
References
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Sesquiterpenes