Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026

08:18
Non-Aqueous Isolation and Enrichment of Glandular Capitate Stalked and Sessile Trichomes from Cannabis sativa
Published on: May 12, 2023
Two new sesquiterpenes from Acorus calamus
Weiwei Dong1, Minjie Li, Dajian Yang
1Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, P. R. China.
Planta Medica
|April 27, 2010
Summary
Two novel sesquiterpenes were isolated from Acorus calamus L. rhizome. Their structures were elucidated using spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography, with configurations confirmed by optical rotation and theoretical calculations.
Area of Science:
- Natural Product Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Phytochemistry
Background:
- Acorus calamus L. is a plant known for its medicinal properties.
- Sesquiterpenes are a class of naturally occurring compounds with diverse biological activities.
- Isolation and structural elucidation of novel compounds from natural sources are crucial for drug discovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize novel sesquiterpenes from the rhizome of Acorus calamus L.
- To determine the structures and absolute configurations of the isolated compounds.
- To contribute to the understanding of the chemical constituents of Acorus calamus L.
Main Methods:
- Extraction of Acorus calamus L. rhizome using ethanol.
- Isolation of compounds using chromatographic techniques.
- Structure elucidation using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.
- Determination of absolute configurations via experimental optical rotation and theoretical calculations (B3LYP/6-311+G (d)).
Main Results:
- Isolation of a novel cadinane sesquiterpene, (1R,4R,6S,10R)-1-hydroxy-7(11)-cadinen-5,8-dione (1).
- Isolation of a new sesquiterpene, (2R,6R,7S,9S)-1(10),4-cadinadiene-2,9-diol (2).
- Complete structural and absolute configuration determination for both compounds.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully identified two new sesquiterpenes from Acorus calamus L.
- The findings expand the knowledge of sesquiterpenes in medicinal plants.
- The elucidated structures provide a basis for further investigation into the biological activities of these novel compounds.
Related Concept Videos
C4 Pathway and CAM
Most plants use the C3 pathway for carbon fixation. However, some plants, such as sugar cane, corn, and cacti that grow in hot conditions, use alternative pathways to fix carbon and conserve energy loss due to photorespiration. Photorespiration is the process that occurs when the oxygen concentration is high. Under such conditions, the rubisco enzyme in the Calvin cycle binds O2 instead of CO2, which halts photosynthesis and consumes energy.
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss
Though evaporation from plant leaves drives transpiration, it also results in loss of water. Because water is critical for photosynthetic reactions and other cellular processes, evolutionary pressures on plants in different environments have driven the acquisition of adaptations that reduce water loss.