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Updated: May 5, 2026
Transient Expression in Nicotiana Benthamiana Leaves for Triterpene Production at a Preparative Scale
Published on: August 16, 2018
Just how insoluble are monoterpenes?
J D Weidenhamer1, F A Macias, N H Fischer
1Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, 70803, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Abstract:
Prior generalizations about the ecological roles of monoterpenes may be misleading if based on the presumed insolubility of monoterpenes in water. We determined the aqueous solubility of 31 biologically active monoterpenes by gas chromatography. While hydrocarbons were of low solubility (< 35 ppm), oxygenated monoterpenes exhibited solubilities one or two orders of magnitude higher, with ranges of 155-6990 ppm for ketones and of 183-1360 ppm for alcohols. Many monoterpenes are phytotoxic in concentrations under 100 ppm, well below the saturated aqueous concentrations of oxygenated monoterpenes. Therefore, even dilute, unsaturated solutions of monoterpenes, occurring naturally in plant tissues and soil solutions, may act as potent biological inhibitors.
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