(-)-patchoulol

(-)-Patchoulol is a natural sesquiterpene compound and the major active ingredient of patchouli essential oil extracted from the leaves of the Pogostemon cablin plant. It is a 1,10-ringclosure product of farnesyl diphosphate (FPP). Patchoulol has extensive commercial applications in the cosmetic, perfume, and fragrance industries due to its wooden earthy scent, and exhibits numerous potential therapeutic properties, including neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, analgesic, antioxidant, antiplatelet, antithrombotic, antidepressant, and antiemetic activities [287].

The biosynthesis of patchoulol in microbial platforms is achieved by overproducing the precursor farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) and expressing heterologous patchoulol synthase (PTS), the enzyme responsible for patchoulol generation [287].