Pulegone is a naturally occurring organic compound obtained from the essential oils of a variety of plants such as Nepeta cataria (catnip), Mentha piperita, and pennyroyal. It is classified as a monoterpenoid, which means that it is an oxidized derivative of a terpene, a large class of naturally occurring C<sub>10</sub> hydrocarbons.
Pulegone is a colorless oil with a pleasant odor similar to pennyroyal, peppermint, and camphor. It is used in flavoring agents, in perfumery, and in aromatherapy.
Pulegone comprises 75% of the oil pressed from pennyroyal, which is cultivated for that purpose. Hydrogenation of pulegone gives menthone. Pulegone is also a precursor to menthofuran, another flavorant.
The enzyme (+)-pulegone reductase from peppermint catalyses a reduction reaction which gives a mixture of (âÂÂ)-menthone and (+)-isomenthone:
It uses nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) as its cofactor.
It was reported that the chemical is toxic to rats if a large quantity is consumed.
Pulegone is also an insecticide â the most powerful of three insecticides naturally occurring in many mint species.
As of October 2018, the FDA withdrew authorization for the use of pulegone as a synthetic flavoring substance for use in food, but that naturally occurring pulegone can continue to be used.