Cis-3-Hexen-1-ol (Leaf Alcohol) Occurs in the Green Parts of Almost All Plants

 


Cis-3-Hexen-1-ol (leaf alcohol) is a colorless liquid with an intense odor of freshly cut green grass and leaves. Cis-3-Hexen-1-ol occurs in the green parts of almost all plants in small amounts, such as mint, strawberry, tea. Cis-3-Hexen-1-ol plays an important role in synthetic perfumes, and the importance lies in the specific natural fragrance of leaf alcohol.

Leaves of the Aloe Vera plant are the source of this interesting substance. After the plant leaves are mechanically separated, the powder can be extracted by making use of a process called silica separation. During this process, the colorless, odorless, and bitter-tasting leaf material is collected. Cis-3-Hexen-1-ol (leaf alcohol) has a mild alcoholic smell and flavor, but it has no taste or odor of its own. In low concentrations, cis-3-Hexen-1-ol happens to be quite similar to the flavor of freshly cut grass in its natural state.

When compared to cis-3-hexenol, which is the major ingredient in this substance, leaf alcohol is considerably less toxic and does not cause serious health problems in humans when consumed in moderate doses. Moreover, there are absolutely no odor and coloring to it; therefore, it does not add any sort of 'life' to food. Cis-3-Hexen-1-ol is completely colorless, meaning that no colors can be assigned to it in terms of smell. This is the reason why this substance can be used as a substitute for coloring. This type of alcohol can be used for cooking or baking purposes.

Although many people have found green odor to be unpleasant, some find that the taste of the alcohol, combined with the fragrance of the herb, produces a refreshing, herb-laced sensation in their mouth. Cis-3-Hexen-1-ol is made from the extract of the leaves of the Aloe Vera plant. The Aloe Vera plant contains a wide range of chemical properties. The most important of these chemical properties is the ability to produce green odor. Cis-3-Hexen-1-ol was identified as a volatile emission product from agricultural and natural plant types found in Central Valley California (United States).

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