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1-Octen-3-ol, also called mushroom alcohol, is a colorless liquid that occurs widely in nature. It is found in many mushrooms, where it may play a role as an antifeedant.

The Mushroom Itself

Agaricus bisporus, the cultivated mushroom, is a basidiomycete mushroom native to grasslands in Eurasia and North America. It is cultivated in more than 70 countries.

Where the Odour Comes From

Enzymes in the mushroom break down linoleic acid, and 1-octen-3-ol is one of the products. Mushrooms produce only the (R)-(-) isomer, and it is largely synthesised in the cap and gills. The enzymatic pathway that forms it is activated when mushroom tissue is wounded. 1-Octen-3-ol is generated by a wide range of both macroscopic and microscopic fungi and is nearly ubiquitous in both mushrooms and moulds. Among the volatiles of truffles are fatty acid-derived C8 alcohols and aldehydes with a characteristic fungal odor, such as 1-octen-3-ol and 2-octenal; the alcohol is derived from linoleic acid and produced by the mature white truffle T. borchii. Beyond mushrooms and truffles, it occurs in many other foodstuffs, notably giving the odour of Camembert cheese a mushroom note.

Chemistry

1-Octen-3-ol is a chiral secondary alcohol with the formula CH₂=CHCH(OH)(CH₂)₄CH₃. Because the molecule has a chiral carbon, it can exist as two optical isomers. Recent studies have indicated that the major volatile constituents of fresh button mushroom are eight-carbon volatiles, such as 1-octen-3-ol, 3-octanol, 2-octen-1-ol, 1-octanol and 3-octanone. 1-Octen-3-one, a related molecule, has an even lower odour threshold and a very strong smell of mushrooms. 1-Octen-3-one was identified as the main aroma component of cooked button mushroom. In a study of the aroma compounds of the porcini, Boletus edulis, 1-octen-3-one was the most prevalent chemical detected in raw mushrooms.

Mushroom Extract

White mushroom extract is produced from the stems and caps of Agaricus bisporus mushrooms. The finished product is a concentrated mushroom extract in a base of 98% MCT oil.

Other Occurrences and Uses

Octenol is responsible for the moldy odor of damp indoor environments. Octenol is used, sometimes in combination with carbon dioxide, to attract insects in order to kill them with certain electrical devices. In the United States, octenol is approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a food additive.