Jasmone - wiki

cis-jasmone chemical structure (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Jasmone is a natural organic compound extracted from the volatile portion of the oil from jasmine flowers. It is a colorless to pale yellow liquid that has the odor of jasmine. Jasmone can exist in two isomeric forms with differing geometry around the pentenyl double bond, cis-jasmone and trans-jasmone. The natural extract contains only the cis form, while synthetic material is often a mixture containing both forms, with the cis form predominating. Both forms have similar odors and chemical properties.

Jasmone is produced within plants by the metabolism of jasmonate, from linolenic acid by the octadecanoid pathway. It can act as either an attractant or a repellent for various insects. Commercially jasmone is used primarily in perfumes and cosmetics.

Jasmonate (JA) and its derivatives are lipid-based hormone signals that regulate a wide range of processes in plants, ranging from growth andphotosynthesis to reproductive development. In particular, JAs are critical for plant defense against herbivory and plant responses to poor environmental conditions and other kinds of abiotic and biotic challenges.Some JAs can also be released as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to permit communication between plants in anticipation of mutual dangers.

α-Linolenic acid (ALA) is an n−3 fatty acid, it is one of two essential fatty acids(EFAs), so called because they are necessary for health, and they cannot be produced within the human body. They must be acquired through diet. ALA is an omega-3 fatty acid found in seeds (chia, flaxseed, see also table below), nuts (notably walnuts), and many common vegetable oils

The octadecanoid pathway is a reasonably well-characterizedbiosynthetic pathway for the production of the phytohormone jasmonic acid (JA), an important hormone for induction of defense genes. JA is synthesized fromalpha-linolenic acid, which can be released from the plasma membrane by certain lipaseenzymes. For example, in the wound defense response,phospholipase C will cause the release of alpha-linolenic acid for JA synthesis.