Category Archives: Ayurvedic Essential Oils

Ayurvedic Essential Oils

Free 4oz Essential & Fragrance Oils

Geranyl formate

Posted on by

Geranyl formate is found in the essential oils of Geranium, Rose, Lemon, Orange and Clary sage.

Geranyl formate is an ester with the chemical formula C11H18O2. The alternative names of Geranyl formate are Geranyl methanoate; Geraniol Formate; Formic acid; geraniol ester and so on. It is insoluble in water but it mixes well with ether, ketone and fixed oils.

Attributes of Geranyl formate:

Geranyl formate is a colorless to slightly yellow liquid. It is characterised by a fresh green aroma that is closer to the aroma of rose.

Flavor and fragrance ingredient:

It is used for its green flavor in flavor and fragrance compounds. Geranyl formate is used in the flavors of lemon, red apple, water melon, peach, pear and green beans.

Therapeutic attributes of Geranyl formate:

Antifungal activity:

Geranyl formate exhibit antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. This attribute was focused in the study titled “Antifungal Activity of Rose-Scented Geranium (Pelargonium Species) Essential Oil and its Six Constituents”.

This study was carried out to evaluate the antifungal activity of the essential oil of Geranium and its main constituents, namely, citronellol, geraniol, isomenthone, geranyl formate and citronellyl formate.

It was found that all the constituents that are mentioned above showed antifungal activity against candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans, which are the causal organisms for diseases like candidiasis and cryptococcosis in human beings.

Hepatoprotective effect:

A study on “The hepatoprotective effects of dihydromyrcenol and geranyl formate in an experimental model of acute hepatic injury induced by the use of carbon tetrachloride” was carried out to evaluate the ability of dihydromyrcenol and geranyl formate to protect the liver from damage.

When Geranyl formate was administered at low doses to rats that have injuries in the liver caused by carbon tetrachloride, it exhibits partial hepatoprotective effect and at high doses, it never present any hepatoprotective effect.

Insecticide:

Geranyl formate acts as an effective insecticide against Stephanitis pyrioides and the larva of Aedes aegypti. This was evident in the study “Insecticidal and biting deterrent activity of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium spp.) essential oils and individual compounds against Stephanitis pyrioides and Aedes aegypti.”

Reference Links:

  1. Geranyl formate by PubChem
  2. Antifungal Activity of Rose-Scented Geranium (Pelargonium Species) Essential Oil and its Six Constituents
  3. The hepatoprotective effects of dihydromyrcenol and geranyl formate in an experimental model of acute hepatic injury induced by the use of carbon tetrachloride
  4. Insecticidal and biting deterrent activity of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium spp.) essential oils and individual compounds against Stephanitis pyrioides and Aedes aegypti

Citronellyl formate

Posted on by

Citronellyl formate is an organic compound present in the essential oils of Geranium, Rose, Basil, Lovage root, Mandarin and Kumquat peel oil.

It is an ester of formic acid with the molecular formula C11H20O2. Citronellyl formate is also known as citronellyl methanoate, citronellyle formiate, formic acid citronellyl ester and so on.

Attributes of Citronellyl formate:

Citronellyl formate is a colorless liquid, which is clear in nature. It owns a floral, sweet, green, citrus aroma and fruity flavor. It is a combination of fruity flavors of apple, peach and berry.

Flavoring and fragrance ingredient:

It is used for its flavor and fragrance in perfumery. It is used as a flavoring agent. Citronellyl formate and citronellyl acetate present in the Kumquat peel oil contribute to the characteristic smell of the oil. This is witnessed in the study named, ‘Characteristic odor components of kumquat (Fortunella japonica Swingle) peel oil.’

Antifungal activity:

A study titled ‘Antifungal Activity of Rose-Scented Geranium (Pelargonium Species) Essential Oil and its Six Constituents’ was carried out to determine the antifungal activity of the essential oil obtained from Pelargonium species and its main constituents.

It was found that Citronellyl formate which is one of the constituent of the essential oil of rose-scented geranium species possess antifungal activity against candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans, which causes candidiasis and cryptococcosis in humans.

In the study ‘Antimicrobial Activity of Geranium Oil against Clinical Strains of Staphylococcus aureus’, it was stated that Citronellyl formate is one of the main constituents that is accountable for the biological activity of the Geranium oil.

Antitumor activity:

Citronellyl formate exhibit marginal antitumor activity, which is evident from the study, ‘Studies on the chemical components and anti-tumour action of the volatile oils from Pelargonium graveoleus.’

Reference Links:

  1. Citronellyl formate by the Good Scents Company
  2. Antifungal Activity of Rose-Scented Geranium (Pelargonium Species) Essential Oil and its Six Constituents
  3. Studies on the chemical components and anti-tumor action of the volatile oils from Pelargonium graveoleus
  4. Characteristic odor components of kumquat (Fortunella japonica Swingle) peel oil.
  5. Antimicrobial Activity of Geranium Oil against Clinical Strains of Staphylococcus aureus

Elemicin

Posted on by

Elemicin is an important constituent of the essential oil of Canarium luzonium, which is also known as Elemi. It is also present in the essential oil of Nutmeg, Parsley, Gingergrass and Mace. It constitutes about 2.4% in essential oil of Nutmeg and about 10% in the essential oil of Mace. Elemicin is also a component of oleoresin.

It is a polypropylene with the chemical formula C12H16O3. Elemicin is also referred with other names such as elemicine, 3.4.5-trimethoxyallylbenzene, etc.

Attributes of Elemicin:

Elemicin is a colorless to slightly yellow liquid that is clear in nature. It owns a spicy floral aroma.

The key therapeutic attributes of Elemicin are antibacterial, antifungal, anti-allergic, anti-proliferative and anti-cholinergic. Let’s take a brief look at them.

Antibacterial activity:

According to the study ‘(E)-Methylisoeugenol and elemicin: antibacterial components of Daucus carota L. essential oil against Campylobacter jejuni’, it was concluded that Elemicin and (E)-Methylisoeugenol present in the essential oil of Daucus carota L. contributes to the antibacterial activity of the oil against Campylobacter jejuni.

Antifungal activity:

Elemicin together with isoelemicin obtained from the leaves of the plant Diplolophium Buchanani was found to exhibit antifungal activity against Cladosporium cucumerinum. This was evident from the study named ‘Search for new antifungal compounds from higher plants.’

Anti-allergic effect:

The anti-allergic property of elemicin was focused in the study, ‘Studies on anti-allergic components in the roots of Asiasarum sieboldi’ that states that Elemicin present in the roots of Asiasarum sieboldi hinders 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) from RBL-1 cells, which are the cancerous cells found in the basophil of the rats used in the study of allergy.

Anti-proliferative activity:

In the article ‘Daucus carota pentane-based fractions arrest the cell cycle and increase apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells’, it was stated that elemicin found in diethyl ether fraction of Daucus carota exhibited anti-proliferative activity and antitumor effect against various cancerous cells in human beings.

Anti-cholinergic effect:

Elemicin found in nutmeg was one of the prime constituents found to be responsible for the psychoactive and anti-cholinergic effect of Nutmeg and its essential oil. Just like Myristicin, it also shows anti-cholinergic effect by constraining acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter in the central and peripheral nervous system.

Reference Links:

  1. Elemicin by Wikipedia
  2. Elemicin by PubChem
  3. (E)-Methylisoeugenol and elemicin: antibacterial components of Daucus carota L. essential oil against Campylobacter jejuni.
  4. Search for new antifungal compounds from higher plants
  5. Studies on anti-allergic components in the roots of Asiasarum sieboldi.
  6. Daucus carota pentane-based fractions arrest the cell cycle and increase apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells