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Essential oils are composed of terpenes, some of which have properties related to healing. Bursera schlechtendalii essential oil (BSEO) is used to heal superficial wounds. However, there have been no studies verifying this property. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the healing activity of BSEO in a murine model and to propose the roles of its chemical components in this process. Healing activity was evaluated by an incision model, histological analysis was performed, and tensile strength and antibacterial activity were measured. The chemical composition of BSEO was determined by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and the mechanisms of action of each chemical component during the phases of the healing process were proposed. In addition, acute dermal toxicity was evaluated. BSEO showed better wound closure at the macroscopic, histological, and tensile strength levels compared to controls and had an antibacterial effect. The major compound in BSEO was α-phellandrene. However, most of the monoterpenes identified in BSEO were in agreement with information found in the literature, so the possibility of synergy between the chemical components and their different targets in the healing process was schematically proposed. BSEO was shown to be safe in the dermal toxicity evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production and use of terpene-based fuels represents a renewable source of energy in the transportation sector, especially in the aviation sector. The literature on the conversion of terpenes into valuable compounds is not new but has been based on the production of products for cosmetics and pharmaceutics. Several established chemical routes are also a way to develop drop-in fuels. The present work explores all the main chemical processes that can transform terpenes into more valuable fuels or additives, focusing on the use of heterogeneous catalysis, catalyst type, operating conditions, and reaction performance. α-pinene is the most studied catalyst, since it is the main component of turpentine. Isomerization is the most frequently applied chemical pathway used to enhance fuel properties, and a wide group of heterogeneous catalysts have been reported, with sulphonic acid resin catalysts, transition metals, alumina, and silicates being the most used. This work also explores the current production and commercialization of terpenes, as well as the challenges for their use as fuels at a commercial scale. The future challenge is to discover new catalysts or to improve the performance of the current products and reduce production costs. The feasibility of the production and commercialization of terpene-derived fuels is also linked to oil prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parthenium hysterophorus possesses certain allelochemicals responsible for their medicinal effects. The presence of oils, polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenes, pseudoguaianolides, and histamines in P. hysterophorus has been shown to exhibit medicinal properties. However, the systematic biomedical properties of this plant are still unexplored. The extracts of leaves, stem, and flower of P. hysterophorus, both at low and high temperatures (equivalent to boiling points of different solvents) were prepared. The extracts prepared in hexane, ethylacetate, methanol, and water were analyzed spectrophotometrically and colorimetrically and resolved on TLC for the presence of phytochemicals. The analyses of the free radical quenching potential of plant extracts were done by DPPH assay. The total antioxidant capacity was determined by phosphomolybdate assay and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay was used to determine the reduction potential of the extracts. The spectrophotometric and qualitative analysis of plant extracts demonstrated the presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, carbohydrates, and cardiac glycosides. The occurrence of more than one Rf values for extracts determined by TLC indicated the presence of more than one phytochemical compound. The P. hysterophorus extracts contained strong antioxidant activity. These extracts exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus epidermis, Salmonela typhi, Neisseria gonococci or gonococci, Citrobacter, and Shigella flexineri. The evaluation of the antimicrobial potential of P. hysterophorus extracts was done by the disc diffusion method. These extracts also showed significant inhibition against HIV-1 RT activity. The anti-HIV-1 RT activity was done using Roche Kit. The P. hysterophorus extracts displayed the presence of many phytochemicals with strong antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-HIV-1 RT properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper describes a total synthesis of racemic β-chamigrene (1), a sesquiterpene with a spiro[5.5]undecane carbon framework. Compared with previously reported β-chamigrene syntheses, we were able to reduce the total number of reaction steps, which also resulted in a significant improvement of the overall yield. The commercially available ketone 6-methylhept-5-en-2-one was transformed by known simple procedures into 3,3-dimethyl-2-methylenecyclohexanone. This reacted with isoprene by a Diels-Alder reaction to give a spiro ketone. An olefination reaction on this compound gave the target molecule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Natural rubber can be used as a source isoprenoid-related compounds; • Biofragmentation can lead the formation of smaller and more defined products. • A wide range of molecular weights is obtained from chemical fragmentation approaches. • Cross-metathesis can introduce other chemical functions than aldehyde and keto groups. • Liquid-liquid extractions and precipitations are the most employed methods of purification. Natural rubber (NR) 1 1 NR: natural rubber is a biopolymer mainly composed of isoprene units linked to form double bonds with cis configuration. After the vulcanization process, NR is widely employed not only into fabrication of tyres, but also for many other products. Due to the forthcoming depletion of fossil fuel sources and to the growing tyre waste issue, NR is considered as a potential source of fine chemicals. Isoprene oligomers can be obtained either through bio- or chemical fragmentation processes. Although several microorganisms are able to fragment the rubber chains were isolated, the use of isolated enzymes proved to be more efficient regarding the number of compounds produced. Among the chemical methodologies for NR depolymerization, oxidative cleavages and cross metathesis are the most commonly used procedures to obtain isoprene oligomers. After enzymatically catalyzed fragmentations through oxidative cleavage possesses, the obtained oligomers have aldehyde and ketone end chain groups. A wide range of terminal groups can be obtained with metathesis reactions. We also point to the main procedures to recover isoprene oligomers and highlight some applications and perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to produce petroleum alternatives from biomass, a significant amount of research has been focused on oils from microalgae due to their origin, which would not affect food availability. Nanoporous hybrid catalysts composed of ns Al2O3 and zeolites have been proven to be very useful compared to traditional catalysts in hydrotreating (HT), hydrocracking (HC), and catalytic cracking (CC) of large molecules. To evaluate the reaction scheme and products from model isoprenoid compounds of microalgae oil, nanoporous hybrid catalyst technologies (CC: ns Al2O3/H-USY and ns Al2O3/H-GaAlMFI; HC: [Ni-Mo/γ-Al2O3]/ns Al2O3/H-beta) were studied. The major product from CC on ns Al2O3/H-USY was highly aromatic gasoline, while the product from HC was half-isoparaffinic/olefinic kerosene. Although more than 50wt% of the products from HT/CC on the USY catalyst was liquefied petroleum gas due to overcracking, the product from HT/CC on the MFI catalyst was high-octane-number gasoline. Delightfully, the product from HT/HC was kerosene and its average number was 11, with more than 80wt% being isoparaffinic. As a result, it was demonstrated that hydrotreating may convert isoprenoid oil from microalgae over nanoporous hybrid catalysts into a variety of products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Betulinic acid, a triterpenoid found in many plant species, has attracted attention due to its important physiological and pharmacological properties. In order to obtain betulinic acid, betulin was submitted to transformation with the selected microorganisms. Betulin biotransformation was carried out with the filamentous fungi Armillaria luteo-virens Sacc QH (ALVS), Aspergillus foetidus ZU-G1 (AF) and Aspergillus oryzae (AO) under seven kinds of transformation condition. As a result of transformation of betulin, A. luteo-virens Sacc QH was the best biocatalyst to produce betulinic acid under the designed conditions. Transformation caused by pre-cultured fungal mycelia, a process designated as G2, was favorable condition for betulin biotransformation as the productivity of betulinic acid was evaluated (>20%). M1 and M2 systems, where the betulin substrate was micro-emulsified in mixtures of Tween 80 and organic solvents, were potential substitutes for G2. The possible pathway of betulin transformation is postulated in this work. The use of fungi and transformation mode described in current work are viable procedures for producing betulinic acid, which is of most importance to replace chemical synthesis ways. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Electroepoxidation of synthetic alkenes (styrene, trans-stilbene and trans-β-methylstyrene) and of some natural terpenes (limonene, terpinolene, geraniol, α-terpinene, γ-terpinene and α-terpineol) mediated by sodium bromide was performed in MeCN:H2O (4:1) at platinum electrodes. The indirect electrochemical oxidation of the olefins led to the corresponding epoxides in yields ranging from 23% to 79%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A general preparation method of the all-(E)-polyprenols 12 has been developed from readily available geranyl sulfone by the chain-extension process utilizing the C5 unit 5 and the chain-termination process utilizing the C5 unit 10 together with the chemoselective reductive desulfonylation. The polyprenols 12 were converted to compounds 3 containing two consecutive prenyl sulfone moieties at the tail end, which underwent the controlled electrophilic cyclization only at the carbon-carbon double bonds that were remote from the flat and rigid benzenesulfonyl groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Turpentine, an important source of terpenes, is composed mainly of α- and β-pinene. It is possible to pyrolyze β-pinene to form myrcene, which is used as an intermediate for the production of various terpenic alcohols and chemical aromas, as well as vitamins A and E. In the current work we develop a theoretical equilibrium model of the main synthesis reactions that have been described in the literature plus postulated decomposition reactions. The model predicts that 93.5% yields of myrcene from β-pinene would be possible whereas the highest reported yield is 85%. In order to investigate the less than theoretical yields, we investigated the decomposition of myrcene experimentally. The various degradation products that appeared were consistent with a degradation mechanism involving breakage next to conjugated double bonds, producing an alkyl radical. Decomposition of myrcene by this route would form 1,3-butadiene (C4H6) and 4-methyl-1,3-pentadiene (C6H10), which then further decompose into various other products. These results contribute to a better understanding of the production of myrcene by pyrolysis of β-pinene and could form the basis for optimization of product yields. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]