Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Humulene
open-in-new
<h2 id="occurrence">Occurrence</h2> <p>Humulene is one of the components of the <a href="/facts/Essential_oil/cq8V5ocP">essential oil</a> from the flowering cone of the hops plant, <i><a href="/facts/Humulus_lupulus/Qaceb20f">Humulus lupulus</a></i>, from which it derives its name. The concentration of humulene varies among different varieties of the plant but can be up to 40% of the essential oil.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> Humulene and its reaction products in the brewing process of beer gives many beers their “hoppy” aroma. <a href="/facts/Noble_hop/mBRf6xGx">Noble hop</a> varieties have been found to have higher levels of humulene, while other bitter hop varieties contain low levels.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a>[<i>unreliable source?</i>] Multiple <a href="/facts/Epoxide/PLxRI7r1">epoxides</a> of humulene are produced in the brewing process. In a scientific study involving <a href="/facts/Gas_chromatography%25E2%2580%2593mass_spectrometry/Gm3eCCoQ">gas chromatography–mass spectrometry</a> analysis of samples and a trained sensory panel, it was found that the hydrolysis products of humulene epoxide II specifically produces a “hoppy” aroma in beer.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> α-Humulene has been found in many aromatic plants on all continents, often together with its isomer β-caryophyllene. Proven α-humulene emitters into the atmosphere are pine trees,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> orange orchards,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> <a href="/facts/Iva_frutescens/eIAmCNb6">marsh elders</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> tobacco,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> and sunflower fields.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> α-Humulene is contained in the essential oils of aromatic plants such as <i><a href="/facts/Salvia_officinalis/FLHh11qp">Salvia officinalis</a></i> (common sage, culinary sage),<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> <i><a href="/facts/Lindera_strychnifolia/X62QrUGf">Lindera strychnifolia</a></i> Uyaku or Japanese spicebush, <a href="/facts/Ginseng/XgDhsab5">ginseng</a> species,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> up to 29.9% of the essential oils of <i><a href="/facts/Mentha_spicata/Mu7ckF0l">Mentha spicata</a></i>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> the <a href="/facts/Ginger/ljRLQ4Nd">ginger</a> family (Zingiberaceae),<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> 10% of the leaf oil of <i>Litsea mushaensis</i>, a Chinese laurel tree,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a> 4% of the leaf extract of <i>Cordia verbenacea</i>, a bush in coastal tropical South America (erva baleeira), but with 25% <i>trans</i>-caryophyllene<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> and is one of the chemical compounds that contribute to the taste of the spice <i>Persicaria odorata</i> or <a href="/facts/Vietnamese_coriander/NKXDWB24">Vietnamese coriander</a> and the characteristic aroma of <i><a href="/facts/Cannabis/gjdsgtoh">Cannabis</a></i>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="preparation-and-synthesis">Preparation and synthesis</h2> <p>Humulene is one of many sesquiterpenoids that are derived from <a href="/facts/Farnesyl_diphosphate/Ar8Mex9S">farnesyl diphosphate</a> (FPP). The formation of humulene from FPP is catalyzed by sesquiterpene synthesis enzymes.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> </p><p>This biosynthesis can be mimicked in the laboratory by preparing allylic stannane from farnesol, termed Corey synthesis. There are diverse ways to synthesize humulene in the laboratory, involving differing closures of the C-C bond in the macrocycle. The McMurry synthesis uses a titanium-catalyzed carbonyl coupling reaction; the Takahashi synthesis uses intramolecular alkylation of an allyl halide by a protected cyanohydrin anion; the Suginome synthesis utilizes a geranyl fragment; and the de Groot synthesis synthesizes humulene from a crude distillate of eucalyptus oil.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a> Humulene can also be synthesized using a combination of four-component assembly and palladium-mediated cyclization, outlined below. This synthesis is noteworthy for the simplicity of the C−C bond constructions and cyclization steps, which it is believed will prove advantageous in the synthesis of related polyterpenoids.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a> </p> <p>To understand humulene's regioselectivity, the fact that one of the two triply substituted C═C double bonds is significantly more reactive, its conformational space was explored computationally and four different conformations were identified.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="research">Research</h2> <p>In laboratory studies, humulene is being studied for potential <a href="/facts/Anti-inflammatory/W27poSUd">anti-inflammatory</a> effects.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23"><sup>23</sup></a> </p><p>In 2015 researchers in Brazil identified α-humulene as an active contributor to the <a href="/facts/Insect_repellent/a5wpJeTr">insect repellent</a> properties of <a href="/facts/Commiphora/eGQPusjw"><i>Commiphora leptophloeos</i></a> leaf oil, specifically against “the yellow fever mosquito,” <i><a href="/facts/Aedes_aegypti/Y143uAaE">Aedes aegypti</a></i>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24"><sup>24</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25"><sup>25</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="atmospheric-chemistry">Atmospheric chemistry</h2> <p>α-Humulene is a biogenic <a href="/facts/Volatile_organic_compound/BFMlKwgt">volatile organic compound</a>, emitted by numerous plants (see occurrence) with a relatively high potential for secondary organic aerosol formation in the atmosphere. It quickly reacts with ozone in sunlight (photooxidation) to form oxygenated products. α-Humulene has a very high reaction rate coefficient (1.17 × 10−14 cm3 molecule−1 s−1) compared to most monoterpenes. Since it contains three double bonds, first-, second- and third-generation products are possible that can each condense to form secondary organic aerosol. At typical tropospheric ozone mixing ratios of 30 ppb the lifetime of α-humulene is about 2 min, while the first- and second-generation products have average lifetimes of 1 h and 12.5 h, respectively.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26"><sup>26</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="further-reading">Further reading</h2> <ul><li>Milker, Sofia; Sydow, Anne; Torres-Monroy, Ingrid; Jach, Guido; Faust, Frederik; Kranz, Lea; Tkatschuk, Ljubov; Holtmann, Dirk (2021-04-12). <a href="https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/bit.27788">"Gram-scale production of the sesquiterpene α-humulene with Cupriavidus necator"</a>. <i><a href="/facts/Biotechnology_and_Bioengineering/dPAoFwRJ">Biotechnology and Bioengineering</a></i>. 118 (7): 2694. <a href="/facts/Doi_(identifier)/muM9Etpq">doi</a>:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fbit.27788">10.1002/bit.27788</a>.</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Glenn Tinseth, "Hop Aroma and Flavor", January/February 1993, Brewing Techniques. <http://realbeer.com/hops/aroma.html> Accessed July 21, 2010 <a href="http://realbeer.com/hops/aroma.html" target="_blank">http://realbeer.com/hops/aroma.html</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Katsiotis, S. T.; Langezaal, C. R.; Scheffe, J. J. C. (1989). "Analysis of the Volatile Compounds from Cones of Ten Humulus lupulus Cultivars". Planta Med. 55 (7): 634. doi:10.1055/s-2006-962205. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2011-04-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031107/http://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Humulene#Humulene" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031107/http://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Humulene#Humulene</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Yange, Xiaogen; Lederer, Cindy; McDaniel, Mina; Deinzer, Max. (1993). "Evaluation of hydrolysis products of humulene epoxides II and III". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 41 (8): 1300–1304. doi:10.1021/jf00032a026. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Peackock, Val; Deinzer, Max (1981). "Chemistry of hop aroma in beer". Journal of the American Society of Brewing Chemists. 39. Archived from the original on 2013-12-30. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131230232825/http://www.asbcnet.org/journal/abstracts/backissues/39-39.htm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20131230232825/http://www.asbcnet.org/journal/abstracts/backissues/39-39.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>D. Helmig; J. Ortega; T. Duhl; D. Tanner; A. Guenther; P. Harley; C. Wiedinmyer; J. Milford; T. Sakulyanontvittaya (2007). "Sesquiterpene emissions from pine trees--identifications, emission rates and flux estimates for the contiguous United States". Environ. Sci. Technol. 41 (5): 1545–1553. Bibcode:2007EnST...41.1545H. doi:10.1021/es0618907. PMID 17396639. S2CID 20810373. <a href="https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9264b24t" target="_blank">https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9264b24t</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>P. Ciccioli; E. Brancaleoni; M. Frattoni; V. Di Palo; R. Valentini; G. Tirone; G. Seufert; N. Bertin; U. Hansen; O. Csiky; R. Lenz; M. Sharma (1999). "Emission of reactive terpene compounds from orange orchards and their removal by within-canopy processes". J. Geophys. Res. 104 (D7): 8077–8094. Bibcode:1999JGR...104.8077C. doi:10.1029/1998JD100026. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1029%2F1998JD100026" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1029%2F1998JD100026</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>D. Degenhardt; D. Lincoln, J. (2006). "Volatile Emissions from an Odorous Plant in Response to Herbivory and Methyl Jasmonate Exposure". Chem. Ecol. 32 (4): 725–743. doi:10.1007/s10886-006-9030-2. PMID 16718568. S2CID 6017606. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>C. De Moraes; M. Mescher; J. Tumlinson (2001). "Caterpillar-induced nocturnal plant volatiles repel conspecific females". Nature. 410 (6828): 577–580. Bibcode:2001Natur.410..577D. doi:10.1038/35069058. PMID 11279494. S2CID 4408480. <a href="/wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>G. Schuh; A. Heiden; T. Hoffmann; J. Kahl; P. Rockel; J. Rudolph; J. Wildt (1997). "Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds from Sunflower and Beech: Dependence on Temperature and Light Intensity". J. Atmos. Chem. 27 (3): 291–318. Bibcode:1997JAtC...27..291S. doi:10.1023/A:1005850710257. S2CID 94314856. <a href="/wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Bouajaj, S; Benyamna, A; Bouamama, H; Romane, A; Falconieri, D; Piras, A; Marongiu, B (2013). "Antibacterial, allelopathic and antioxidant activities of essential oil of Salvia officinalis L. growing wild in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco". Nat Prod Res. 27 (18): 1673–6. doi:10.1080/14786419.2012.751600. PMID 23240623. S2CID 29522122. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Cho, IH; Lee, HJ; Kim, YS (Aug 2012). "Differences in the volatile compositions of ginseng species (Panax sp.)". J Agric Food Chem. 60 (31): 7616–22. doi:10.1021/jf301835v. PMID 22804575. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Chauhan, SS; Prakash, O; Padalia, RC; Vivekanand, Pant AK; Mathela, CS (2011). "Chemical diversity in Mentha spicata: antioxidant and potato sprout inhibition activity of its essential oils". Nat Prod Commun. 6 (9): 1373–8. PMID 21941918. <a href="/wiki/PMID_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/PMID_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Suthisut, D; Fields, PG; Chandrapatya, A (2011). "Contact toxicity, feeding reduction, and repellency of essential oils from three plants from the ginger family (Zingiberaceae) and their major components against Sitophilus zeamais and Tribolium castaneum". J Econ Entomol. 104 (4): 1445–54. doi:10.1603/ec11050. PMID 21882715. S2CID 45872520. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Ho, CL; Wang, EI; Tseng, YH; Liao, PC; Lin, CN; Chou, JC; Su, YC (2010). "Composition and antimicrobial activity of the leaf and twig oils of Litsea mushaensis and L. linii from Taiwan". Nat Prod Commun. 5 (11): 1823–8. PMID 21213991. <a href="/wiki/PMID_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/PMID_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>de Carvalho, Jr.; Rodrigues, R.F.; Sawaya, A.C.; Marques, M.O.; Shimizu, M.T. (2004). "Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Cordia verbenacea D.C". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 95 (2–3): 297–301. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2004.07.028. PMID 15507352. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>Hillig, Karl W (October 2004). "A chemotaxonomic analysis of terpenoid variation in Cannabis". Biochemical Systematics and Ecology. 32 (10): 875–891. doi:10.1016/j.bse.2004.04.004. ISSN 0305-1978. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>Moss, G.P., "Humulene derived sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis." International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Enzyme Nomenclature. Accessed April 10, 2011. http://www.enzyme-database.org/reaction/terp/humul.html <a href="http://www.enzyme-database.org/reaction/terp/humul.html" target="_blank">http://www.enzyme-database.org/reaction/terp/humul.html</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>Goldsmith, David. "The total synthesis of natural products". Canada: John Wiley & Sons. 1997 pp 129-133 <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>Hu, Tao & Corey, E.J. (2002). "Short Syntheses of (±)-δ-Araneosene and Humulene Utilizing a Combination of Four-Component Assembly and Palladium-Mediated Cyclization". Organic Letters. 4 (14): 2441–2443. doi:10.1021/ol026205p. PMID 12098267.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) <a href="/wiki/E._J._Corey" target="_blank">/wiki/E._J._Corey</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:21"><p>Neuenschwander, U; et al. (2012). "Origin of Regioselectivity in α-Humulene Functionalization". J. Org. Chem. 77 (6): 2865–2869. doi:10.1021/jo3000942. PMID 22332847. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:22"><p>Passosa, G.F.; Fernandesa, ES.; et al. (2007). "Anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties of the essential oil and active compounds from Cordia verbenacea". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 110 (2): 323–333. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2006.09.032. PMID 17084568. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:23"><p>Fernandes E.S.; Passos G.F.; Medeiros R.; da Cunha F.M.; Ferreira J.; Campos M.M.; Pianowski L.F.; Calixto J.B. (2007). "Anti-inflammatory effects of compounds alpha-humulene and (−)-trans-caryophyllene isolated from the essential oil of Cordia verbenacea". European Journal of Pharmacology. 569 (3): 228–236. doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2007.04.059. PMID 17559833. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:24"><p>Janelle Lassalle (2020-09-19). "Humulene". The Cannigma. Retrieved 2021-01-27. <a href="https://cannigma.com/plant/terpenes/humulene/" target="_blank">https://cannigma.com/plant/terpenes/humulene/</a> <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:25"><p>Santos da Silva, R.C.; Milet-Pinheiro, P.; Bezerra da Silva, P.C.; Gomes da Silva, A.; Vanusa da Silva, M.; Amaral Ferraz Navarro, D.M.; da Silva, N.H.; et al. (2015-12-19). Boudko, Dmitri (ed.). "(E)-Caryophyllene and α-Humulene: Aedes aegypti Oviposition Deterrents Elucidated by Gas Chromatography-Electrophysiological Assay of Commiphora leptophloeos Leaf Oil". PLOS ONE. 10 (12): e0144586. Bibcode:2015PLoSO..1044586D. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0144586. PMC 4674132. PMID 26650757. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4674132" target="_blank">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4674132</a> <a href="#fnref:25" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:26"><p>Beck, M.; Winterhalter, R.; Herrmanna, F.; Moortgat, G. K. (2011). "The gas-phase ozonolysis of α-humulene". Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 13 (23): 10970–11001. Bibcode:2011PCCP...1310970B. doi:10.1039/c0cp02379e. PMID 21461420. <a href="/wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:26" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>