Lipoxygenase Pathway Compounds

Lipoxygenase (LOX) pathway compounds are secondary metabolites produced when plant tissues are damaged or stressed, generated through enzymatic oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. In cannabis, this biochemical cascade produces volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including six-carbon aldehydes and alcohols commonly described as "green" or "leafy" notes in aroma profiles. Breeders and researchers studying cannabis terpene diversity have identified LOX activity as a contributor to fresh, herbaceous, or grassy sensory characteristics in certain cultivars. The pathway operates independently of the major terpene synthase systems, making it biochemically distinct from monoterpene and sesquiterpene production. Understanding LOX-derived volatiles is relevant to comprehensive cannabis chemotype classification and flavor/aroma diversity documentation.

Breeders working with aroma phenotyping and fresh-plant volatile profiles increasingly recognize LOX pathway expression as a selectable trait affecting post-harvest flavor development and curing dynamics. Cultivars with elevated LOX activity may display different volatile stability during drying and storage compared to terpene-dominant chemotypes.