Patchoulol: Bioactive Properties, Synthase Catalytic Mechanisms, and Biosynthetic Progress ── a Review

Patchoulol, a tricyclic sesquiterpene alcohol, exhibits a wide range of biological activities and holds significant potential for applications in perfume, cosmetics, medicine, and other industries. Traditionally, phytoextraction has been the predominant method for producing patchoulol. However, the inherent limitations of natural plant resources, coupled with the low efficiency of this method, restrict its further development. With the advancements in synthetic biology and metabolic engineering, biosynthesis has emerged as a promising strategy for the large-scale production of patchoulol. This review introduces the biological properties of patchoulol. We also summarize the existing hypotheses on the cyclization mechanism of patchoulol synthase and the research advances concerning patchoulol biosynthesis. Finally, the potential application prospects of patchoulol and the feasible strategies to improve biosynthetic production are discussed, which provides a foundation for future research.