(-)-alpha-Copaene

α-Copaene is a sesquiterpene found in a variety of plants, including Cannabis, that has antiproliferative and antioxidant properties. It inhibits proliferation of primary rat neurons and N2a rat neuroblastoma cells in a concentration-dependent manner and cultured human lymphocytes when used at concentrations greater than 100 mg/L. α-Copaene (25 mg/L) increases total antioxidant capacity in primary rat neurons and N2a neuroblastoma cells, as well as cultured human lymphocytes, when used at concentrations of 50 and 100 mg/L.

α-Copaene is a tricyclicsesquiterpenesand can be extracted from the oil of S. aethiopis. It also exhibit anti-plasmodial activity againstP. falciparum in culture.

ChEBI: A sesquiterpene that is tricyclo[4.4.0.02,7]dec-3-ene bearing an isopropyl substituent at position 8 and two methyl substituents at positions 1 and 3 (the 1S,6S,7S,8S- iastereomer).

Purify it by distillation, preferably under vacuum. [Heathcock J Am Chem Soc 88 4110 1966, Heathcock et al. J Am Chem Soc 89 4133 1967, Corey & Watt J Am Chem Soc 95 2303 1973, Beilstein 5 IV 1189.]

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