Advances in Biosynthesis and Pharmacological Effects of Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl Essential Oil

Abstract

Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl essential oil (CCEO) is a volatile oil with aroma and is extracted from various tissues of Cinnamomum camphora. It is traditionally used as a spice, preservative, as an anti-inflammatory and for sterilization. Terpenoids are the main active components in CCEO. Based on currently available research, considerable effort is still needed to study the biosynthesis and regulation of terpenoids in CCEO. In this review, the research progress related to terpenoid biosynthesis and bioactivity in CCEO in recent years is summarized, with the data compiled and presented mainly from online resources such as PubMed, Scopus and CNKI in China up to May 2022. The research advances related to key enzymes in the terpenoid biosynthesis pathway are mainly discussed. Previous studies have isolated some genes encoding key enzymes involved in terpenoid biosynthesis; however, among these genes, only a few TPS genes have been verified to catalyze the production of terpenoid synthases at the protein level. Most genes encoding key enzymes have been cloned and isolated, but no transgenic experiments have been carried out to verify gene function. In-depth study of the biosynthesis of terpenoids in CCEO may contribute to a better understanding of the differential accumulation of terpenoids in different types of C. camphora and provide reference for improving terpenoid content in CCEO.

Transcriptome analysis revealed the role of moderate exogenous methyl jasmonate treatments in enhancing the metabolic pathway of L-borneol in the Blumea balsamifera

“…Several earlier studies found a strong link between the DXR gene's activity and the amount of essential oil in C. camphora (Hou et al, 2020). This suggests that the upregulated DXR gene expression in C. camphora could lead to an increase in terpenoid content (Du et al, 2022). Wang et al (2023) indicated that the OfDXR gene is very important for making terpenoid compounds and that overexpressing it in Arabidopsis plants during the main or full blooming stage led to a rise in the total amount of terpenoid compounds.…”

Composition and Antioxidative and Antibacterial Activities of the Essential Oil from Farfugium japonicum

“…As for the MEP pathway, 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase (DXS) and 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reduction of the isomeras (DXR) are the major rate-limiting enzymes [ 21 ].…”

“… MEP and MVA pathway of terpenoids biosynthesis in plants (DXP, deoxyxylulose-5-phosphate; CDP-ME, 4-CDP-2-C-methyl-D-erythritol; CDP-MEP, CDP-ME 2-phosphate; MEcPP, 3-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybutane-1,3-cyclic bisphosphate; HMBPP, (E)-4-Hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate; HMG-CoA, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA; MVP, 5-phosphomevalonate; MVPP, 5-diphosphomevalonate) (Adapted with permission from Ref. [ 21 ]. 2022, Du, Y.; Zhou, H.).…”

Comparative chemical profiling of leaf essential oils from Cinnamomum kanehirae and related species using steam distillation and solvent extraction: Implications for plant-based classification

“…The terpenoid compounds OM and OS are indicative of C. kanehirae and C. camphora , respectively. These compounds are derived from two biosynthetic pathways, the MVA and MEP pathways (reviewed and summarized in Appendix 8 ) [ 2 , [48] , [49] , [50] ]. Camphor, found in the camphor type of C. camphora , is derived from GPP (geranyl diphosphate) through a cyclization reaction to form (+)-bornyl-d-phosphate and then converted to camphor.…”