The discovery of the simple structure of Bumblebee Medicine makes synthetic production viable

Abstract. Credit: Dr Pavla Perlíková
Researchers from the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague have successfully developed a method to chemically synthesize Callunene, a natural compound that protects the bumblebees from a deadly intestinal parasite. In a recent discovery, the team has also determined that the natural compound is a 50/50 mixture of its mirror image forms, which means that the synthetic version can be used directly to protect the colonies of vital pollinators.
The study, published in the Journal of Natural Productsaddresses the threat posed by the Crithidia Bombi parasite. This protozoar infects bumblebees, altering their ability to find flowers rich in nectar, which ultimately leads to famine, to reduce the physical form of the colonies and to death. The problem is particularly acute in the commercial operations of interior agriculture which are based on colonies of healthy pollinators. Not only because of agricultural efficiency, but also because parasites can be distributed from interior pollinators to wild colonies.
Nature provides a defense in the form of Callunene, a compound found in Heather’s nectar (Calluna Vulgaris). Bourdons who feed on the heather are prophylactically protected against Crithidia infection. However, the loss of Landes habitats and the difficulty of isolating the compound from natural sources have made this solution unsuccessfully on a large scale.
The UCT Prague team, led by Dr. Pavla Perlíková, overcome this challenge by developing a five -step synthesis to produce Callunene in the laboratory. More importantly, they have resolved a long -standing chemical mystery on the three -dimensional structure of the compound.
“We have seen a clear threat to our vital pollinators of parasites like Crithidia Bombi,” said Dr. Perlíková, principal researcher at UCT Prague. “Nature offered a solution to Callunene, but it was not practical because of its rarity. Our goal was to make this natural protection accessible.”
Using advanced analytical techniques, including nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (RMN), researchers have analyzed their synthetic callunene and the isolated compound of heather honey. They noted that natural callunene exists as a racemic mixture – an equal mixture of its “left -handed” and “right -handed” molecular forms (enantiomers).
“The most exciting part of this work was to resolve the Stereochemical Puzzle of Callunene,” said Dr. Perlíková. “Discover that Natural Callunene is a racemic mixture changed the situation.
This observation is important because it means that synthetic callunene does not require an additional, often complex and costly step, to separate the two enantiomers. The synthetic mixture can be used directly as additive to the food of pollinators, offering a way to protect them from parasitic infections. Research opens the door to other studies and the development of new prophylactic treatments to ensure the health of these essential insects.
More information:
Jiří Ferenczei et al, stereoanalysis of the natural antiparasite Callunene product and its synthetic intermediaries, Journal of Natural Products (2025). DOI: 10.1021 / ACS.JNATPROD.4C01424
Provided by the University of Chemistry and Technology Prague
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