Carvone
Carvone is a member of the terpenoid family, which is a class of naturally occurring organic chemicals. It is a monoterpene and is found in many essential oils, most notably in caraway and spearmint oils. Carvone is a chiral molecule and thus exists in two enantiomers: R-(+)-carvone and S-(-)-carvone.
Chemical Properties[edit | edit source]
Carvone is a colorless to pale yellow liquid with a characteristic odor of spearmint. It is slightly soluble in water but highly soluble in common organic solvents. It is a monoterpene and is classified as a ketone. The two enantiomers of carvone have different odors: R-(+)-carvone smells like spearmint while S-(-)-carvone smells like caraway.
Natural Occurrence[edit | edit source]
Carvone is found in a number of essential oils, but most commonly in the oil of caraway and spearmint. The R-(+)-carvone isomer is the principal constituent of caraway oil, while S-(-)-carvone is the main component of spearmint oil.
Uses[edit | edit source]
Carvone has a wide range of uses. It is used in the food and beverage industry as a flavoring agent. It is also used in the pharmaceutical industry for its antimicrobial properties. In addition, carvone is used in the perfume industry for its pleasant odor.
Health Effects[edit | edit source]
Carvone is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA. However, it can cause skin irritation in some individuals. Ingestion of large amounts can cause gastrointestinal upset.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD