farnesol

farnesol

[′fär·nə‚sȯl]

(biochemistry)

C₁₅H₂₅OH A colorless liquid extracted from oils of plants such as citronella, neroli, cyclamen, and tuberose; it has a delicate floral odor, and is an intermediate step in the biological synthesis of cholesterol from mevalonic acid in vertebrates; used in perfumery.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.