ALPHA-PHELLANDRENE

Chemical properties

α-Phellandrene has a pleasant, fresh, citrus, peppery odor with a discrete mint note. This compound is also reported as having a minty, herbaceous odor.

Occurrence

The d-form has been reported found in the essential oils of bitter fennel, Ceylon cinnamon leaves, star anise, Curcuma longa and other essential oils; the l-form has been reported found in various eucalyptus oils, orange peel oil, angelica, Lantana camara and other oils. Reported found in over 100 foods and beverages including apricot, many citrus peel oils and juices, black currants, papaya, raspberry, strawberry, carrot, celery leaves and seed, bell pepper, tomato, cinnamon, cumin seed, ginger, Mentha oils, nutmeg, pepper, mace, parsley, thyme, Gruyere cheese, cured pork, hop oil, beer, tea, pecan, passion fruit, sweet and wild marjoram, mango, parsnip, cardamom, coriander seed, gin, litchi, dill herb and seed, lovage leaf and seed, caraway, juniper berry, laurel, bitter and sweet fennel, myrtle leaf and berry, sage, nectarine, pimento leaf and berry and mastic gum leaf oil.

The Uses of ALPHA-PHELLANDRENE

α-Phellandrene is an essential oil component, found to have bactericidal activity.

Definition

ChEBI: One of a pair of phellandrene cyclic monoterpene double-bond isomers in which both double bonds are endocyclic (cf. alpha-phellandrene, where one of them is exocyclic).

Aroma threshold values

Detection: 40 to 200 ppb

Taste threshold values

Taste characteristics at 20 ppm: terpenic, citrus-lime with a fresh green note.

General Description

α-Phellandrene is monoterpene reported to be one of the aroma compounds of black (Piper nigrum) and white ‘‘Ashanti pepper′′ (Piper guineense). It also occurs in the leaves of basil.

Safety Profile

Mdly toxic by ingestion. A severe human skin irritant. Incompatible with air. Flammable liquid when exposed to heat, sparks, or flame. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes.

Synthesis

The l-form by isolation from Eucalyptus numerosa and similar oils; also from the manufacture of synthetic menthol.