Elemicin is a phenylpropene, a natural organic compound, and is a constituent of several plant species' essential oils.
Natural occurrence
Elemicin is a constituent of the
oleoresin and the essential oil of
Canarium luzonicum (also referred to as elemi). Elemicin is named after this tree. One study found it to compose 2.4% of the fresh essential oil.
[
] Elemicin is also present in the oils of the spices
nutmeg and mace, with it composing 2.4% and 10.5% of those oils respectively.
Structurally, elemicin is similar to
myristicin, differing only by myristicin's methyl group that joins the two oxygen atoms that make up its dioxymethy moiety, with both constituents being found in nutmeg and mace.
Isolation
Elemicin was first isolated from elemi oil using vacuum distillation. Specifically, the substance was collected between 162-165 °C at a reduced pressure of 10
torr.
Preparation
Elemicin has been synthesized from
syringol and
allyl bromide using Williamson ether synthesis and Claisen rearrangement.
The electrophilic aromatic substitution entering the
para-position was made possible by secondary Cope rearrangement.
This is due to syringol's allyl
aromatic ether being blocked by ethers in both
ortho-positions. When blocked the allyl group migrates to the
para-position, in this case with yields above 85%.
Uses
Elemicin has been used to synthesize the proto-
alkaloid mescaline.
Pharmacology
Raw nutmeg causes
anticholinergic-like effects, which are attributed to elemicin and
myristicin.
[
] Elemicin inhibits Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase 1 (SCD1) by metabolic activation. Elemicin is one of the main components in aromatic food and has antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiviral activities. Elemicin possesses genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. Excess consumption of raw nutmeg results in delirium and disorientation.
Elemicin's psychoactivity is still a point of research, however some research suggests it may act like an agonist of the 5-HT2A receptors, similar to many psychedelics.[ Evaluation of 5-HT2A Receptor Agonistic Property of Elemicin] However, this is controversial as the psychoactive effects of elemicin and plants it is found in, such as nutmeg, seem to cause more deliriant-like effects than psychedelic ones.
See also
