Zingiberene is a monocyclic sesquiterpene that is the predominant constituent of the oil of ginger (Zingiber officinale),[1] from which it gets its name. It can contribute up to 30% of the essential oils in ginger rhizomes. This is the compound that gives ginger its distinct flavoring.
Biosynthesis
Zingiberene is formed in the isoprenoid pathway from farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP). FPP undergoes a rearrangement to give nerolidyl diphosphate. After the removal of pyrophosphate, the ring closes leaving a carbocation on the tertiary carbon attached to the ring. A 1,3-hydride shift then takes place to give a more stable allylic carbocation. The final step in the formation of zingiberene is the removal of the cyclic allylic proton and consequent formation of a double bond. Zingiberene synthase is the enzyme responsible for catalyzing the reaction forming zingiberene as well as other mono- and sesquiterpenes.[2]
See also
- Gingerol
- sequiphellandrene
References
- ^ a b Herout, Vlastimil; Benesova, Vera; Pliva, Josef (1953). "Terpenes. XLI. Sesquiterpenes of ginger oil". Collection of Czechoslovak Chemical Communications. 18: 297–300. doi:10.1135/cccc19530248.
- ^ K. Rani (1999). "Cyclisation of farnesyl pyrophosphate into sesquiterpenoids in ginger rhizomes ("Zingiber officinale")". Fitoterapia. 70 (6): 568–574. doi:10.1016/S0367-326X(99)00090-8.
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