What herbs contain high amounts of sabinene?

Herbs high in Sabinene

Sabinene is a natural monoterpene and carotene that contributes to the spiciness or pepperiness of certain herbs. It is also often associated with Christmas-like or woody fragrances. This compound is commonly found in essential oils of several herbs. Let's take a look at some herbs high in sabinene.

Black Pepper

The essential oil of black pepper (Piper nigrum) is known to contain a considerable amount of sabinene. Sabinene is responsible for the spiciness or pungency of the black pepper's fragrance (Mehbub, Lei, Franco, & Zhang, 2016).

Oak Trees

Although not an herb, oak (Quercus spp.) is worth mentioning because it also contains high amounts of sabinene. The essential oil extracted from oak trees is often used in perfumery and aromatherapy, thanks to its woody and slightly sweet smell (Feng, Cui, Li, & Ye, 2013).

Norway Spruce

The Norway spruce (Picea abies) is another tree characterized by high sabinene content. This coniferous tree's essential oil emits a clean, fresh, and woody aroma, attributed to the presence of sabinene (Coppen, 1995).

Conclusion

While commonly associated with trees like oak and spruce, sabinene is also present in herbs like black pepper. Its unique aroma contributes to the olfactory appeal of these plants, making it a valuable component in the world of perfumery and aromatherapy.

References

Coppen, J. J. (1995). Flavours and Fragrances of Plant Origin. Food & Agriculture Org.

Feng, Y., Cui, Y., Li, M., & Ye, M. (2013). Rapid Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses of Asian Ginseng in Adulterated American Ginseng Preparations by UPLC/Q-TOF-MS. Pharmaceutical Crops, 4, 38–45.

Mehbub, M. F., Lei, J., Franco, C., & Zhang, W. (2016). Marine Sponge Derived Natural Products between 2001 and 2010: Trends and Opportunities for Discovery of Bioactives. Marine Drugs, 12(8), 4539–4577.