CONSTITUENT REPORT
beta-Thujone
beta-Thujone is the beta diastereomer of thujone, a monoterpene ketone found in sage, wormwood, thuja, and related oils already cataloged in AromaForge. Its evidence base is safety- and neuropharmacology-heavy rather than wellness-oriented: live sources support occurrence in thujone-rich oils, animal and receptor-linked neuroactivity concerns, and regulatory exposure guidance that usually treats alpha- and beta-thujone together. For AromaForge, beta-thujone is best described as a safety-relevant chemotype constituent with experimental neuroactivity evidence and clear limits on consumer-facing claims.
Chemical identity and composition
PubChem lists beta-Thujone as C10H16O with InChIKey USMNOWBWPHYOEA-XKSSXDPKSA-N and the IUPAC name (1S,4S,5R)-4-methyl-1-propan-2-ylbicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-3-one. In the local archive it appears in sage (5.33%), sage dalmatian (3.0-8.5%), dalmatian sage (6.4-17.7%), cedar leaf thuja Canada (7.9-9.9%), and wormwood common (0.1-64.6%, mean 8.73%). Trade and archive sources also use CAS 1125-12-8 for thujone material, but the live PubChem beta-thujone record supports CAS 471-15-8 for the beta isomer specifically.
Aroma and practical use
- Use the recorded sharp, herbal, camphoraceous, minty, herbaceous, sage-like, thujone-like descriptors to explore a blend's scent character; perceived strength also depends on the other ingredients.
- Compare the recorded goal signals with the intended purpose, while keeping model assumptions separate from observed study outcomes.
- Read the route, preparation and experimental context before using a study finding to choose an oil.
Reported benefits and effects
Findings retain their study context. An animal or laboratory result describes that experiment.
A 2014 Brain Research study reported that central beta-Thujone produced anxiogenic-like effects in neonatal chicks similar to alpha-thujone at higher tested doses, while the authors suggested a mechanism that may differ partly from alpha-thujone's GABAA-linked pattern.
A 2014 Brain Research study reported that central beta-Thujone produced anxiogenic-like effects in neonatal chicks similar to alpha-thujone at higher tested doses, while the authors suggested a mechanism that may differ partly from alpha-thujone's GABAA-linked pattern.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
A 2012 toxicology review concluded that thujone neurotoxicity is the principal toxic outcome in acute and chronic studies and estimated allowable daily intakes from herbal preparations and diet on the order of 3-7 mg/day.
A 2012 toxicology review concluded that thujone neurotoxicity is the principal toxic outcome in acute and chronic studies and estimated allowable daily intakes from herbal preparations and diet on the order of 3-7 mg/day.
The source assessment applies to its specified exposure and preparation; this entry is not an unrestricted-use clearance.
NTP studies on alpha,beta-thujone reported seizure findings in rodents and discussed carcinogenicity signals in long-term gavage studies, reinforcing that thujone-rich materials require exposure control.
NTP studies on alpha,beta-thujone reported seizure findings in rodents and discussed carcinogenicity signals in long-term gavage studies, reinforcing that thujone-rich materials require exposure control.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
How it contributes to goal calculations
Model markers guide the formulation score. They are separate from the source findings above.
Use concerns and concentration limits
Sensitization concernNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
Phototoxicity concernNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
Oxidation concernNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
Penetration enhancementNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
A recorded constituent reference, not a recommended oil dilution. Product category, source applicability and all contributing oils must be checked before use.
unverified reference · No source provenance attachedEMA's public statement on herbal medicinal products containing thujone treats thujone as a constituent requiring explicit exposure control and daily-intake awareness.
The source assessment applies to its specified exposure and preparation; this entry is not an unrestricted-use clearance.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
The main safety concern in the located literature is dose-related neurotoxicity, including excitation and convulsant risk, and this concern applies especially to thujone-rich oils.
The source assessment applies to its specified exposure and preparation; this entry is not an unrestricted-use clearance.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
Because archive oil files and trade sources use more than one CAS number for beta-thujone or thujone mixtures, identity and restriction language should stay explicit about whether a source refers to the beta isomer alone or mixed alpha,beta-thujone.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
Constituents it may interact with
These are research candidates recorded in the interaction matrix. They do not add a proven-amplification bonus to the score.
cis-ThujoneAmplification candidate
Candidate in the research matrix. A coefficient alone does not establish amplification at the dose, route or goal of your blend; no proven amplification is inferred from this row.
animal · effect
No source citation attached.
Read cis-Thujone report →cis-ThujoneAmplification candidate
Candidate in the research matrix. A coefficient alone does not establish amplification at the dose, route or goal of your blend; no proven amplification is inferred from this row.
toxicology · effect
No source citation attached.
Read cis-Thujone report →How the effects were investigated
gaba a related neuropharmacology
The best-supported mechanism context for beta-Thujone is thujone-class interference with GABAA signaling, which helps explain dose-related excitation and convulsant risk even though beta-specific receptor evidence is less complete than for alpha-thujone.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
possible non gaba targets
A beta-thujone chick study suggested behavioral overlap with alpha-thujone but raised the possibility that beta-Thujone may also act through other neurotransmitter systems, including serotonergic pathways.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
What this report cannot establish
- A reported constituent percentage does not establish an effective human therapeutic dose or the amount absorbed into the body.
- The presence of a constituent does not guarantee a clinical benefit, rash treatment or sleep improvement from a custom blend.
- An unflagged concern or missing use limit does not establish safety for ingestion, inhalation, skin exposure or a particular person.
- A candidate constituent interaction does not establish that two oils amplify one another at the selected proportions.
- Constituent descriptors alone do not establish a precise top, heart or base lifetime in a finished blend.
Known data gaps (6)
- Much of the accessible thujone literature combines alpha- and beta-thujone rather than isolating beta-Thujone alone.
- Human dose-concentration-effect data for beta-Thujone specifically were not located in this pass.
- Archive oil records currently use inconsistent CAS numbers for beta-thujone-related material, so future normalization may be needed.
- The numeric dermal reference lacks source provenance; a verified flag alone is insufficient.
- Some findings do not record an explicit exposure route; consult the linked study before applying them to a use.
- Interaction candidates lack an attached source citation and remain unqualified.