α-(-)-Bisabolol
IUPAC name	(R)-6-methyl-2-((R)-4-methylcyclohex-3-enyl)hept-5-en-2-ol
Other names	Levomenol
Identifiers
CAS number	23089-26-1, (–) 23178-88-3 (+) 515-69-5 (±)
SMILES	C/C(C)=C/CC[C@](O)(C)[C@@]1([H])CC=C(C)CC1
Properties
Molecular formula	C15H26O
Molar mass	222.37 g/mol
Density	0.92 g/cm3
Boiling point	153 °C at 12 mmHg
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Bisabolol, or more formally α-(-)-bisabolol or also known as levomenol ^[1], is a natural monocyclic sesquiterpene alcohol. It is a colorless viscous oil that is the primary constituent of the essential oil from German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and Myoporum grassifolium^[2]. It is almost insoluble in water and glycerin, but well soluble in ethanol. The enantiomer, α-(+)-bisabolol, is also found naturally but is rare. Synthetic bisabolol is usually a racemic mixture of the two, α-(±)-bisabolol.

Bisabolol has a weak sweet floral aroma and is used in various fragrances. It has also been used for hundreds of years in cosmetics because of its perceived skin healing properties. Bisabolol is known to have anti-irritant, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.

A structurally related compound known as β-bisabolol (CAS registry number [15352-77-9]) differs only in the position of the tertiary alcohol functional group.

β-Bisabolol

[edit] References

1. ^ Rohstoff-Lexikon Bisabolol
2. ^ Bisabolol (in english)