Monatin, commonly known as arruva, is a naturally occurring, high intensity sweetener isolated from the plant Sclerochiton ilicifolius, found in the Transvaal region of South Africa. Monatin contains no carbohydrate or sugar, and nearly no food energy, unlike sucrose or other nutritive sweeteners.^[1]

Quick Facts Names, Identifiers ...

Monatin

Names
IUPAC name (4S)-4-Hydroxy-4-[(1H-indol-3-yl)methyl]-L-glutamic acid
Systematic IUPAC name (2S,4S)-4-Amino-2-hydroxy-2-[(1H-indol-3-yl)methyl]pentanedioic acid
Other names 2-Hydroxy-2-(indol-3-ylmethyl)-4-aminoglutaric acid (S)-4-Hydroxy-4-(1H-indol-3-ylmethyl)-L-glutamic acid
Identifiers
CAS Number	146142-94-1 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	8036546 N
PubChem CID	9860847
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID60432020
InChI InChI=1S/C14H16N2O5/c15-10(12(17)18)6-14(21,13(19)20)5-8-7-16-11-4-2-1-3-9(8)11/h1-4,7,10,16,21H,5-6,15H2,(H,17,18)(H,19,20)/t10-,14-/m0/s1 N Key: RMLYXMMBIZLGAQ-HZMBPMFUSA-N N InChI=1/C14H16N2O5/c15-10(12(17)18)6-14(21,13(19)20)5-8-7-16-11-4-2-1-3-9(8)11/h1-4,7,10,16,21H,5-6,15H2,(H,17,18)(H,19,20)/t10-,14-/m0/s1 Key: RMLYXMMBIZLGAQ-HZMBPMFUBZ
SMILES O[C@]([C@](O)=O)(C[C@H](N)C(O)=O)CC2=CNC1=CC=CC=C12
Properties
Chemical formula	C14H16N2O5
Molar mass	292.291 g·mol−1
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). N verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

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The name "monatin" is derived from the indigenous word for it, "molomo monate," which literally means "mouth nice."^[2]

Monatin is an indole derivative and, upon degradation, smells like feces.^[3]

It is 3000 times sweeter than sugar.^[4]

• Sugar substitute