Carveol Explained

Carveol is a natural unsaturated, monocyclic monoterpenoid alcohol that is a constituent of spearmint essential oil in the form of cis-(−)-carveol. It is a colorless fluid soluble in oils, but insoluble in water and has an odor and flavor that resemble those of spearmint and caraway. Consequently, it is used as a fragrance in cosmetics and as a flavor additive in the food industry.

It has been found to exhibit chemoprevention of mammary carcinogenesis (prevents breast cancer).^[1]

An alpha-trans-dihydroxy derivative, (1R,2R,6S)-3-methyl-6-(prop-1-en-2-yl)cyclohex-3-ene-1,2-diol, possesses potent antiparkinsonian activity in animal models.^[2]

Notes and References

1. 1638695 . 1992 . Crowell . PL . Kennan . WS . Haag . JD . Ahmad . S . Vedejs . E . Gould . MN . Chemoprevention of mammary carcinogenesis by hydroxylated derivatives of d-limonene . 13 . 7 . 1261–4 . Carcinogenesis . 10.1093/carcin/13.7.1261.
2. 10.1021/jm2001579 . Highly Potent Activity of (1R,2R,6S)-3-Methyl-6-(prop-1-en-2-yl)cyclohex-3-ene-1,2-diol in Animal Models of Parkinson's Disease . 2011 . Ardashov . Oleg V. . Pavlova . Alla V. . Il’Ina . Irina V. . Morozova . Ekaterina A. . Korchagina . Dina V. . Karpova . Elena V. . Volcho . Konstantin P. . Tolstikova . Tat’Yana G. . Salakhutdinov . Nariman F. . Journal of Medicinal Chemistry . 54 . 11 . 3866–3874 . 21534547 .