Alphacadinene

Alphacadinene is a bicyclic sesquiterpene hydrocarbon. It is found in the essential oils of various plants, including various species of *Juniperus* and *Artemisia*. Its chemical formula is C15H24. Alphacadinene is a colorless liquid at room temperature. It is characterized by a specific arrangement of carbon atoms forming two fused rings. The exact positions of double bonds within this structure define its isomeric form. It is one of several isomers of cadinene, with alpha-cadinene being one of the more commonly identified variants. Its presence contributes to the overall aroma profile of the plants from which it is derived. Research has explored its potential biological activities, including antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, though further investigation is often required to confirm these effects. It can be isolated from plant sources through steam distillation or other extraction methods. Alphacadinene serves as a marker compound in the analysis of essential oil composition for quality control and chemotaxonomic studies of plant species.