Trans-nerolidol (also written trans-nerolidol, or (E)-nerolidol; CAS 40716-66-3) is one of two geometric isomers of nerolidol, the other being cis-nerolidol. It belongs to the sesquiterpene alcohol class , fifteen-carbon terpene structures built from three isoprene units , and carries a single acyclic chain with a terminal double bond and a tertiary hydroxyl group. Its molecular formula is C₁₅H₂₆O, with a molecular weight of approximately 222.37 g/mol. The trans configuration refers to the geometry around the central double bond, which distinguishes it from the cis form in both physical properties and biological activity profiles observed in laboratory settings.
In nature, trans-nerolidol appears in the essential oils of neroli (Citrus aurantium var. amara), lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus), ginger (Zingiber officinale), jasmine (Jasminum spp.), and several Cannabis sativa chemotypes, where it is typically a minor constituent relative to monoterpenes such as myrcene or limonene. It has also been detected in the resin of certain Amazonian tree species and in the floral volatiles of Camellia sinensis (tea). The compound is commercially extracted via steam distillation or synthesised for use in perfumery and flavour industries, where it imparts a delicate, long-lasting woody-floral character.
Preclinical research , conducted primarily in cell cultures and rodent models; has examined trans-nerolidol's interaction with biological membranes, its physicochemical behaviour as a potential permeation enhancer, and various pharmacological parameters. These studies are early-stage and have not been replicated in robust human clinical trials; no conclusions about human therapeutic benefit can be drawn from them. Researchers have noted its lipophilic character (logP ≈ 4.5) as relevant to its membrane-partitioning behaviour, a property studied in the context of transdermal delivery science rather than standalone therapeutic application.
From a regulatory standpoint in Australia, trans-nerolidol as an isolated aromatic ingredient is not itself a scheduled substance under the Poisons Standard (the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons). When present within a cannabis-derived product, however, the scheduling of the parent product governs its legal status, and all applicable Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) requirements apply. Formulators incorporating nerolidol into listed or registered goods must satisfy TGA ingredient assessment requirements.
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