Elemicin

Elemicin is a phenylpropene, a natural organic compound, and is a constituent of several plant species' essential oils.^[1][2]

Elemicin

Clinical data
Dependence liability	None
Addiction liability	Low / None
Routes of administration	Oral
Legal status
Legal status	In general: uncontrolled
Identifiers
IUPAC name 1,2,3-Trimethoxy-5-(prop-2-en-1-yl)benzene
CAS Number	487-11-6 Y
PubChem CID	10248
ChemSpider	9830 Y
UNII	HSZ191AKAN
KEGG	C10451 Y
ChEMBL	ChEMBL458690 Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID60197586
ECHA InfoCard	100.006.954
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C12H16O3
Molar mass	208.257 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
SMILES C=CCC1=CC(OC)=C(OC)C(OC)=C1
InChI InChI=1S/C12H16O3/c1-5-6-9-7-10(13-2)12(15-4)11(8-9)14-3/h5,7-8H,1,6H2,2-4H3 Y Key:BPLQKQKXWHCZSS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
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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.^[1] 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.^[2] 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.^[3][4]

Preparation

Elemicin has been synthesized from syringol and allyl bromide using Williamson ether synthesis and Claisen rearrangement.^[5][6] The electrophilic aromatic substitution entering the para-position was made possible by secondary Cope rearrangement.^[7] 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%.^[8]

Uses

Elemicin has been used to synthesize the proto-alkaloid mescaline.^[9]

Pharmacology

Raw nutmeg causes anticholinergic-like effects, which are attributed to elemicin and myristicin.^[10][11] 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.^[12]

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.^[13] 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.^[14]

See also

• Nutmeg oil
• Myristicin
• Phenylpropanoid

References

1. Villanueva MA, Torres RC, Baser KH, Özek T, Kürkçüoglu M (1993). "The Composition of Manila Elemi Oil". Flavour and Fragrance Journal. 8: 35–37. doi:10.1002/ffj.2730080107.
2. Leela N (2008). Chemistry of Spices. Calicut, Kerala, India: Biddles Ltd. pp. 165–188 [170]. ISBN 9781845934057.
3. "Constituents of Essential Oils. Elemicin, a High-boiling Constituent of Elemi Oil, and the Displacement of Alkyloxygroups in the Benzene Nucleus by Hydrogen". Journal of the Chemical Society, Abstracts. 94 (A493): 557–558. 1908. doi:10.1039/CA9089400493.
4. Semmler F (1908). "Zur Kenntnis der Bestandteile der ätherischen Öle. (Über das Elemicin, einen hochsiedenden Bestandteil des Elemiöls, und über Ersetzung von Alkyloxy-gruppen am Benzolkern durch Wasserstoff.)". Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft. 41 (2): 1768–1775. doi:10.1002/cber.19080410240.
5. Mauthner F (1918). "Die Synthese des Elemicins und Isoelemicins". Justus Liebigs Annalen der Chemie. 414 (2): 250–255. doi:10.1002/jlac.19184140213.
6. "Synthesis of Elemicin and of isoElemicin". Journal of the Chemical Society, Abstracts. 114: i428. 1918. doi:10.1039/CA9181400421.
7. Thomas L (2005). Named Organic Reactions, 2nd Edition. Wolfsburg, Germany: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. pp. 58–60 [59]. ISBN 978-0470010402.
8. Adams R (1944). "The Claisen Rearrangement". Organic Reactions. Vol. II. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. pp. 2–44 [44]. doi:10.1002/0471264180.or002.01. ISBN 978-0471264187.
9. Hahn G, Wassmuth H (1934). "Über β-[Oxyphenyl]-äthylamine und ihre Umwandlungen, I. Mitteil.: Synthese des Mezcalins". Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft (A and B Series). 67 (4): 696–708. doi:10.1002/cber.19340670430.
10. McKenna A, Nordt SP, Ryan J (August 2004). "Acute nutmeg poisoning". European Journal of Emergency Medicine. 11 (4): 240–241. doi:10.1097/01.mej.0000127649.69328.a5. PMID 15249817. S2CID 21133983.
11. Shulgin AT, Sargent T, Naranjo C (December 1967). "The chemistry and psychopharmacology of nutmeg and of several related phenylisopropylamines". Psychopharmacology Bulletin. 4 (3): 13. PMID 5615546. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2014-04-20. Retrieved 2015-09-02.
12. "elemicin", The Free Dictionary, retrieved 2022-10-28
13. Evaluation of 5-HT2A Receptor Agonistic Property of Elemicin
14. Kelly BD, Gavin BE, Clarke M, Lane A, Larkin C (March 2003). "Nutmeg and psychosis". Schizophrenia Research. 60 (1): 95–96. doi:10.1016/s0920-9964(02)00204-9. PMID 12505144. S2CID 7540364.