What’s causing that cooling sensation when you pop a piece of gum in your mouth? It’s a compound called cubebol, which is also found in products like aftershave.

The ring structure that forms cubebol is the center of recent research by Dr. Matthew Siebert and his team at Missouri State University. They have found that gum and anti-cancer drugs have some similarities.

“We know that there are several compounds containing this ring structure, including cubebol and isovelleral,” said Siebert, assistant professor of chemistry. “Isovelleral, however, has promise as a much more important compound. It has been found to exhibit cytotoxic effects. That may be enhanced by further modification, making this an attractive anti-cancer agent.”

Siebert recently published a paper on the subject of the plurality of pathways in gold in “Organometallics.”

For more information, contact Siebert at 417-836-5367.