Page last updated: 2024-12-06

geosmin

Description Research Excerpts Clinical Trials Roles Classes Pathways Study Profile Bioassays Related Drugs Related Conditions Protein Interactions Research Growth Market Indicators

Description

Geosmin is a natural organic compound that has an earthy, musty odor. It is produced by a variety of bacteria, including some species of Streptomyces and cyanobacteria. The biosynthesis of geosmin has been studied extensively and is known to involve the cyclization of a precursor molecule, geraniol. Geosmin is a common contaminant of water and soil, and it is the primary cause of the earthy taste and odor of drinking water. It is also responsible for the characteristic odor of beets and other root vegetables. Geosmin is thought to play a role in the survival of bacteria by deterring predators, and it may also act as a signaling molecule. The presence of geosmin in water can be a concern for public health, as it can cause taste and odor problems in drinking water. The study of geosmin is important for understanding the role of bacteria in the environment, as well as for developing methods to control the formation of geosmin in water and food. '

geosmin: earthy smelling cpd from sediment in Lake Biwa; structure [Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), National Library of Medicine, extracted Dec-2023]

(-)-geosmin : The (-)-stereoisomer of geosmin, having 4S,4aS,8aR configuration. [Chemical Entities of Biological Interest (ChEBI), Hastings J, Owen G, Dekker A, Ennis M, Kale N, Muthukrishnan V, Turner S, Swainston N, Mendes P, Steinbeck C. (2016). ChEBI in 2016: Improved services and an expanding collection of metabolites. Nucleic Acids Res]

Cross-References

ID SourceID
PubMed CID29746
CHEMBL ID2374043
CHEBI ID46702
SCHEMBL ID50009
MeSH IDM0041389

Synonyms (35)

Synonym
4a-alpha-(2h)-naphthol, octahydro-4-alpha,8a-beta-dimethyl-
einecs 243-239-8
4a(2h)-naphthalenol, octahydro-4,8a-dimethyl-, (4s-(4-alpha,4a-alpha,8a-beta))-
4a(2h)-naphthalenol, octahydro-4,8a-dimethyl-,(4.alpha.,4a.alpha.,8a.beta.)-
4a(2h)-naphthalenol, octahydro-4,8a-dimethyl-, [4s-(4.alpha.,4a.alpha.,8a.beta.)]-
19700-21-1
trans-1,10-dimethyl-trans-9-decalol
(-)-geosmin
geosmin
CHEBI:46702 ,
octahydro-4alpha,8abeta-dimethyl-4aalpha(2h)-naphthol
(4s,4as,8ar)-4,8a-dimethyloctahydronaphthalen-4a(2h)-ol
trans-1,10-dimethyl-trans-decalol
(4s-(4alpha,4aalpha,8abeta))-octahydro-4,8a-dimethyl-4a(2h)-naphthol
NCGC00165950-01
4,8alpha-dimethyl-octahydro-naphthalen-4alpha-ol
(4s,4as,8ar)-4,8a-dimethyl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydronaphthalen-4a-ol
unii-myw912wxj4
myw912wxj4 ,
1,10-dimethyl-9-decalol
geosmin [mi]
(4s,4as,8ar)-octahydro-4,8a-dimethyl-4a(2h)-naphthalenol
4,8a-dimethyloctahydronaphthalen-4a(2h)-ol
fema no. 4682
SCHEMBL50009
4a-.alpha.-(2h)-naphthol, octahydro-4-.alpha.,8a-.beta.-dimethyl-
4,8a-dimethyloctahydro-4a(2h)-naphthalenol #
JLPUXFOGCDVKGO-TUAOUCFPSA-N
CHEMBL2374043
(+/-)-geosmin 10 microg/ml in methanol
(+/-)-geosmin 100 microg/ml in methanol
Q420233
(4s,4as,8ar)-4,8a-dimethyl-decahydronaphthalen-4a-ol
DTXSID801024112
39 - geosmin and mib

Research Excerpts

Overview

Geosmin is a secondary metabolite that can be produced by many species of cyanobacteria and Actinomycetes. It is responsible for earthy tastes and odors in potable water supplies. Geosmin impairs aesthetic quality in drinking water.

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
"Geosmin is a major concern in the management of water sources worldwide. "( Prediction of Geosmin at Different Depths of Lake Using Machine Learning Techniques.
Bae, MJ; Byun, JH; Cho, IH; Kim, BH; Kim, HK; Kwon, YS, 2021
)
2.42
"Geosmin is an odorant produced by bacteria in moist soil. "( Geosmin suppresses defensive behaviour and elicits unusual neural responses in honey bees.
Cabirol, A; Deivarajan Suresh, M; Haase, A; Nouvian, M; Nowotny, T; Scarano, F; Tiraboschi, E, 2023
)
3.8
"Geosmin is an earthy-muddy smelling compound produced in aquatic ecosystems by microorganisms including cyanobacteria. "( Identification of geosmin biosynthetic gene in geosmin-producing colonial cyanobacteria Coelosphaerium sp. and isolation of geosmin non-producing Coelosphaerium sp. from brackish Lake Shinji in Japan.
Esumi, T; Godo, T; Hayashi, S; Kamiya, H; Nojiri, Y; Ohtani, S; Saki, Y, 2019
)
2.29
"Geosmin is a secondary metabolite that can be produced by many species of cyanobacteria and Actinomycetes. "( Enhancing the biofiltration of geosmin by seeding sand filter columns with a consortium of geosmin-degrading bacteria.
Ho, L; Hoefel, D; McDowall, B; Newcombe, G; Saint, CP, 2009
)
2.08
"Geosmin is a secondary metabolite responsible for earthy tastes and odors in potable water supplies. "( Isolation and characterization of the gene associated with geosmin production in cyanobacteria.
Cane, DE; Giglio, S; Jiang, J; Monis, PT; Saint, CP, 2008
)
2.03
"Geosmin is a naturally occurring taste and odor compound that impairs aesthetic quality in drinking water."( Branched pore kinetic model analysis of geosmin adsorption on super-powdered activated carbon.
Ando, N; Matsui, Y; Matsushita, T; Ohno, K; Sasaki, H, 2009
)
1.34
"Geosmin is a volatile fungal metabolite with an earthy aroma produced in grape products from rotten grapes. "( Microextraction and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry for improved analysis of geosmin and other fungal "off" volatiles in grape juice.
Lima, N; Morales-Valle, H; Oliveira, JM; Paterson, RR; Silva, LC; Venâncio, A, 2010
)
2.03

Effects

Geosmin has often been associated with off-flavor problems in drinking water. It has a biological origin, and the analysis of rotten grape microflora has been done on two grape varieties.

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
"Geosmin has a biological origin, and the analysis of rotten grape microflora has been done on two grape varieties (Semillon, Cabernet Sauvignon) from six parcels of the Bordeaux region over 3 years (1999, 2000, 2001)."( Characterization of Penicillium species isolated from grape berries by their internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) sequences and by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of geosmin production.
Darriet, P; Dubourdieu, D; Garcia, C; La Guerche, S; Labarère, J, 2004
)
1.24
"Geosmin has been commonly detected both in various aquatic environments and biota, but its exact toxicological mechanisms to organisms need further experimentation. "( Geosmin disrupts energy metabolism and locomotor behavior of zebrafish in early life stages.
Li, D; Li, G; Peng, C; Qin, H; Wang, J; Wang, Y; Wang, Z; Zhou, W, 2023
)
3.8
"Geosmin has often been associated with off-flavor problems in drinking water with Anabaena sp. "( Establishment of quantitative PCR methods for the quantification of geosmin-producing potential and Anabaena sp. in freshwater systems.
An, W; Burch, M; Gaget, V; Giglio, S; Su, M; Yang, M, 2013
)
2.07
"Geosmin has a biological origin, and the analysis of rotten grape microflora has been done on two grape varieties (Semillon, Cabernet Sauvignon) from six parcels of the Bordeaux region over 3 years (1999, 2000, 2001)."( Characterization of Penicillium species isolated from grape berries by their internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) sequences and by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of geosmin production.
Darriet, P; Dubourdieu, D; Garcia, C; La Guerche, S; Labarère, J, 2004
)
1.24

Actions

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
"Geosmin is the major cause of the common earthy off-flavor in light-aroma type Chinese liquor and, thus, highly detrimental to the aromatic quality. "( Determination of the microbial origin of geosmin in Chinese liquor.
Du, H; Xu, Y, 2012
)
2.09

Toxicity

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
" The compound was not toxic for Plectus cirratus (nematoda)."( Sesquiterpenes of the geosmin-producing cyanobacterium Calothrix PCC 7507 and their toxicity to invertebrates.
Becher, PG; Höckelmann, C; Jüttner, F; von Reuss, SH,
)
0.45

Dosage Studied

The amount of geosmin adsorbed was greater for Filtrasorb 400 and the bagasse-based carbon at low carbon concentrations than for the pecan shell carbons. Geosmin Adsorption was similar in all carbons at higher carbon dosages.

ExcerptRelevanceReference
" A carbon dosage study done in a model system showed the amount of geosmin adsorbed to be greater for Filtrasorb 400 and the bagasse-based carbon at low carbon concentrations than for the pecan shell carbons, but geosmin adsorption was similar in all carbons at higher carbon dosages."( Physical and chemical properties of selected agricultural byproduct-based activated carbons and their ability to adsorb geosmin.
Losso, JN; Marshall, WE; Ng, C; Rao, RM, 2002
)
0.76
" For any given PAC dosage in a jar-test, removal efficiencies of 2-MIB and geosmin were increased in proportion to PAC dosage and were independent of their initial concentration in raw water for the tested PAC dosages."( Treatment of taste and odor material by oxidation and adsorption.
Baek, KH; Jung, SW; Yu, MJ, 2004
)
0.55
" The results of the model applications showed that in particular the simplified equivalent background compound model is a useful tool to determine the PAC dosage required to reduce the T&O compounds below the threshold concentration."( Adsorption of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol onto powdered activated carbon at non-equilibrium conditions: influence of NOM and process modelling.
Börnick, H; Engel, C; Worch, E; Zoschke, K, 2011
)
0.73
"Co-removal of oscillatoria algae and its potential odorous metabolite dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS) in simulated algae-laden alkaline source water by potassium ferrate (K2FeO4) was investigated in contrast to potassium permanganate (KMnO4) pre-oxidation followed by polyferric chloride (PFC) under varying conditions, including pH, initial oxidant dosage and turbidity."( [Simultaneous removal of algae and its odorous metabolite dimethyl trisulfide in water by potassium ferrate].
Hu, SF; Li, QS; Ma, XY; Wang, HY; Zhang, ZH, 2013
)
0.39
" Two oxidant dosage strategies were compared in terms of the organic removal performance: a simultaneous dosing strategy (SiDS) and a successive dosing strategy (SuDS)."( Microcystis aeruginosa-laden water treatment using enhanced coagulation by persulfate/Fe(II), ozone and permanganate: Comparison of the simultaneous and successive oxidant dosing strategy.
Chen, W; Cheng, X; Li, G; Liang, H; Liu, B; Qu, F; Van der Bruggen, B; Wang, T; Yu, H, 2017
)
0.46
" Hence, sludge should be treated within 4 d and excess PAFC dosing should be avoided."( Worse than cell lysis: The resilience of Oscillatoria sp. during sludge storage in drinking water treatment.
Jin, Y; Li, H; Ma, C; Pei, H; Sun, J; Xu, H, 2018
)
0.48
[information is derived through text-mining from research data collected from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]

Drug Classes (1)

ClassDescription
geosmin
[compound class information is derived from Chemical Entities of Biological Interest (ChEBI), Hastings J, Owen G, Dekker A, Ennis M, Kale N, Muthukrishnan V, Turner S, Swainston N, Mendes P, Steinbeck C. (2016). ChEBI in 2016: Improved services and an expanding collection of metabolites. Nucleic Acids Res]

Pathways (1)

PathwayProteinsCompounds
geosmin biosynthesis07
geosmin biosynthesis18

Protein Targets (2)

Potency Measurements

ProteinTaxonomyMeasurementAverage (µ)Min (ref.)Avg (ref.)Max (ref.)Bioassay(s)
Chain A, MAJOR APURINIC/APYRIMIDINIC ENDONUCLEASEHomo sapiens (human)Potency0.39810.003245.467312,589.2998AID2517
Chain A, Ferritin light chainEquus caballus (horse)Potency8.91255.623417.292931.6228AID485281
[prepared from compound, protein, and bioassay information from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]

Research

Studies (283)

TimeframeStudies, This Drug (%)All Drugs %
pre-19905 (1.77)18.7374
1990's12 (4.24)18.2507
2000's99 (34.98)29.6817
2010's121 (42.76)24.3611
2020's46 (16.25)2.80
[information is prepared from research data collected from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]

Market Indicators

Research Demand Index: 79.86

According to the monthly volume, diversity, and competition of internet searches for this compound, as well the volume and growth of publications, there is estimated to be very strong demand-to-supply ratio for research on this compound.

MetricThis Compound (vs All)
Research Demand Index79.86 (24.57)
Research Supply Index5.66 (2.92)
Research Growth Index5.49 (4.65)
Search Engine Demand Index138.51 (26.88)
Search Engine Supply Index2.00 (0.95)

This Compound (79.86)

All Compounds (24.57)

Study Types

Publication TypeThis drug (%)All Drugs (%)
Trials0 (0.00%)5.53%
Reviews17 (5.96%)6.00%
Case Studies0 (0.00%)4.05%
Observational0 (0.00%)0.25%
Other268 (94.04%)84.16%
[information is prepared from research data collected from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]