(−)-Caryophyllene oxide or β-caryophyllene oxide (BCPO) is a natural plant compound, bicyclic sesquiterpene, and oxidation derivative of β-caryophyllene (BCP). It has a strong wooden odor. BCPO is commonly found in many food and spice plants and essential oils, such as basil, salvia, and Syzygium cordatum. It is widely used as a cosmetic and food additive.
Application
(−)-Caryophyllene oxide has been used:
as an antimicrobial agent to study its effects against Gram-positive, Gram-negative and yeast strains
as a commercial standard to perform quantification analysis of constitutes from Marchantia polymorpha extracts using gas chromatography with flame-ionization detection (GC-FID)
as a reference standard to analyze the enantiomeric ratios of Achillea ligustica essential oil constituents using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
β-caryophyllene oxide is a potent anti-cancer agent which also exerts antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties.It is a strong inhibitor of drug-metabolizing enzyme cytochromes P4503A (CYP3A) activities both in rat and human hepatic microsomes. BCPO also exerts analgesic, antifungal, antibacterial, and genoprotective activities.