Quebrachitol is a naturally occurring optically active cyclitol, a cyclic polyol.
It can be found in Allophylus edulis[1] and in the serum left after the coagulation of the Hevea brasiliensis latex in the operation of rubber tapping.
[2] It is also found in Cannabis sativa,[3] in Paullinia pinnata and in seabuckthorn.
It shows a sweetening property half of that of sucrose but induces colic or diarrhoea at concentration used to render the food palatable.
[5] Quebrachitol is a versatile building block in the construction of naturally occurring bioactive materials.