α-Pinene

Posted on August 1, 2025 by AyurvedicOils

α-Pinene is a productive chemical constituent that’s seen in various species of coniferous trees especially the Pine. It’s also seen in Rosemary as well. α-pinene is more commonly seen in European pines; it is one of the two isomers of pine and an organic compound seen in the terpene class.

A mixture of α-pinene and α-isomer is seen in Eucalyptus oil and Orange peel oil. The chemical substance is also seen in Juniper berries and tea tree oil. The concentration and quantity of the chemical compound present in the oil depends on the temperature and availability of sunlight.

α-Pinene is seen in several essential oils and exhibits anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, and acts as a broad-spectrum antibiotic. It also functions as an acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor and as a bronchodilator as well.

In ancient times, drops of the resin were collected from the bark of the trees to treat ailments. The resin collected was mixed with wine, milk or water to treat respiratory illnesses especially the ones that lead to congestion of the airway. The mixture was used as an expectorant to create relief.

The mixture of the resin were also used internally and externally to treat parasitic infections. Mixed with bees wax or animal fat, alpha-pinene was used as an antimicrobial ointment or an analgesic balm.

In the 1600, the Dutch used Juniper berries to create an alcoholic tonic which is now commonly known as Gin. This was even used as a medical aid in the ancient times. The French distilled the chemical compound from the bark of Juniper trees to create a product to treat skin diseases like eczema.

The resins containing α-Pinene called melaleuca was also put to use in the Aborigine cultures of ancient Australia to treat open wounds and prevent further infection, and also to treat fungal infections of the feet as well.

Likewise several cultures around the world used α-Pinene as tinctures, in teas and in topical formulations. As of today, this chemical constituent is being used in mouthwashes, cough lozenges, cold and chest ointments.

Antibacterial cytotoxic activity of α-Pinene:

A study conducted on Rosmarinus officinalis L. Essential Oil which contains 1,8-cineole (27.23%), α-pinene (19.43%) and β-pinene (6.71%) as its major constituents; was performed to identify the cytotoxic and antibacterial activity of the oil. The results suggested that R. officinalis L. essential oil was extremely effective towards three different kinds of cancer cells and exhibited the highest antibacterial activity.

Antimicrobial properties of α-Pinene:

Several studies have been carried out to understand the antimicrobial activities of α-pinene. One of these studies was on Biological Activities of α-Pinene and β-Pinene Enantiomers. This study was to understand the effect of the chemical substances on bacterial and fungal cells.

The study proved that α-Pinene projected an incredible amount of microbicidal activity against all fungi and bacteria when treated with MICs that ranged from 117 to 4,150 µg/mL.

Anti-inflammatory effects of α-Pinene:

Studies have proved that α-pinene exhibits anti-inflammatory effects in human Chondrocytes; keeping this in mind a study was carried out to establish an understanding on α-pinene and its anti-osteoarthritic activity.

The results focused positive feedback on the effects of α-pinene as an anti-inflammatory, anti-catabolic and anti-osteoarthritic and should be studied further for its promising activity as an anti-osteoarthritic drug.

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Patchouli alcohol

Posted on August 1, 2025 by AyurvedicOils

Patchoulol or patchouli alcohol (C15H26O) is a sesquiterpene alcohol found in Patchouli. It also goes by the name, Patchouli camphor;(–)-patchoulol; (1R, 3R, 6S, 7S, 8S)-patchoulol, patchouli alcohol.

The (−)-optical isomer is one of the organic compound that imparts the scent of patchouli; it’s a colorless to pale yellow crystalline solid. Due to its pleasant fragrance, it is used as an important material in perfumery.

The oil has proven activity as anti microbial, inhibiting platelet activating factor (PAF), antiseptic, antiviral, sedative agents, and antifungal.

The organo nitrogen compounds of the oil functions with biological activities as a vasodilator, antiviral, antidepressants, antimicrobial, anti-schistosomal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antitumor, and anticonvulsant. The chemotherapy drug Taxol is also synthesized from this very oil.

Therapeutic uses of Patchouli alcohol:

Some studies reported the potential of patchouli oil for medicinal application. This compound is commonly associated to biological and physiological activity for disorders of the central nervous system and its capability to cooperate with receptors of the body.

The most prominent remedial attributes of Patchouli alcohol are:

Patchouli alcohol as an antioxidant:

A study on ‘Antioxidant Activities and Volatile Constituents of Various Essential Oils’ was carried out in the year 2007. During the process, thirteen essential oils were analyzed to determine their antioxidant activity using three different assay systems.

The main compounds seen in the oil which showed extensive antioxidant traits were, limonene (composition, 74.6%) in celery seed, benzyl acetate (22.9%) in jasmine, α-pinene (33.7%) in juniper berry, myristicin (44%) in parsley seed, patchouli alcohol (28.8%) in patchouli, citronellol (34.2%) found in rose, and germacrene (19.1%) seen in ylang−ylang.

Bacterostatic, antifungal & larvicidal activity of Patchouli alcohol:

In 2004 a study to check the larvicidal activity of the essential oil of Teucrium leucocladum Boiss was conducted. During this study, the chemical composition of the water-distilled essential oil and n-hexane–ether extract of Teucrium leucocladum Boiss were identified by GLC and GLC–MS techniques. As a result 72 compounds were identified.

The sesquiterpene alcohols, patchouli alcohol (31.24% and 29.66%) and α-cadinol (9.29% and 21.54%) were the main components in the oil.

On analyzing the resulting extracts to identify their antifungal and bacterostatic activities, it was proved that they showed broad and potent activity against Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Patchouli alcohol as an Anti-inflammatory:

‘Anti-inflammatory activity of patchouli alcohol in RAW264.7 and HT-29 cells’ study performed in the year 2013 states that “PA inhibits the production of inflammatory mediators.” During the study, it was analyzed and documented to check if the PA brings on a reduction in the production of inflammatory mediators through down regulation of the NF-κB and ERK pathway.”

The above mentioned results suggested that PA shows anti-inflammatory activities through suppressing ERK-mediated NF-κB pathway in mouse macrophage and human colorectal cancer cells.

Antibacterial activity of Patchouli oil:

A study on the antimicrobial tests of patchouli oil was carried out by using a technology called molecular docking and antimicrobial test done in vitro. In the study, five biological macromolecule enzymes, required by the bacteria in the process of biosynthesis were selected as the objective molecules.

“A group of antibiotics benzyl penicillin, sulfadiazine, trimethoprim, rifampicin and ciprofloxacin, commonly known as antibacterial drugs, were selected as reference compounds.” The 3 three-dimensional of the 5 reference compounds used and the 26 compounds from patchouli oil were analyzed using surflex-dock software.

Here patchouli oil and its two major compounds, pogostone, and (-)-patchouli alcohol which exceeded 60% in patchouli oil samples, were selected antibacterial agents. The conclusion: “Molecular docking technology and antimicrobial test in vitro proved that patchouli oil had strong antimicrobial effects.” Of which, pogostone and (-)-patchouli alcohol displayed effective antimicrobial activity.

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Camphor

Posted on July 30, 2025 by AyurvedicOils

Camphor has a chemical formula of C10H16O. It has a strong aromatic odor and is highly flammable. It is seen in trees related to the laurel family, such as Ocotea usambarensis. The dried leaves of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), which belong to the mint family contain a composition of up to 20% camphor.

It is a terpenoid with a white or transparent solid like appearance that has a waxy texture.

It’s also found in large evergreen trees of Sumatra, Indonesia and Borneo in Asia, kapur tree which is a tall timber tree from the same region, and the wood of the camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora).

Besides this, camphor can also be synthetically produced from the oil of turpentine. Another major resource of camphor spotted in Asia is the parent of African blue basil, which is also known as camphor basil.

Uses of Camphor:

Camphor is usually used for its scent; commonly used in India for the purpose of cooking and medicine, as an embalming fluid in religious ceremonies. Camphor can also be used as a plasticizer for nitrocellulose in explosives, fireworks and in certain explosive ammunition.

While looking through Arabic language cook books, and through the history of ancient and medieval Europe, we see that camphor is used for cooking both sweet and savory dishes as well.

As of today, most sweets of Asia use camphor as a flavoring agent. In India it’s known as kachha karpooram or “pachha karpoora” in the common tongue and is available in Indian grocery stores under the label of “edible camphor”. It’s also used as a pest deterrent and preservative.

Since its properties make it toxic to insects, it’s also used as a repellent. In India it’s commonly used as mothballs and kept to protect clothes in the cupboard. Ironically, camphor crystals are used to avoid damage to insect collections by other small insects.

Therapeutic Uses of Camphor:

Camphor as an essential oil has the properties of an antispasmodic, stimulant, anti-neuralgic, decongestant, sedative, anti-inflammatory, anesthetic, antiseptic, and nervous pacifier, disinfectant, and insecticide substance.

The property of camphor makes it easily absorbed through the skin; using this ability camphor is used as a local anesthetic and antimicrobial substance. It is also commonly used as a decongestant, and a cough suppressant; it’s used along with menthol in vapor-steam products, such as Vicks VapoRub.

Camphor was also used in ancient Sumatra to treat sprains, swellings, and inflammation. It also dates back to the 18th century, where camphor was used by Auenbrugger to treat mania. Camphor dissolved in alcohol was used in 1854-1855 to treat the cholera epidemics in Naples.

Camphor as an Anesthetic & Nervous Pacifier:

Camphor when applied to an area causes lack of sensation of the sensory nerves and reduces the severity of nervous disorders and convulsions, nervousness, epileptic attacks, and chronic anxiety; hence it acts as a good anesthetic and is very effective for local anesthesia.

A study on ‘The anaesthetic effect of camphor (Cinnamomum camphora)’ was conducted, where the aim of this study was to assess the use of camphor (Cinnamomum camphora), mint (Mentha arvensis), and clove (Syzygium aromaticum), essential oils as anesthetics on clown anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris).

The result proved that “all of the essential oils exhibited the biological activity of an anesthetic on the specimen A. ocellaris. The 27, 70 and 500 μL L−1 concentrations of clove, mint, and camphor oils promoted surgical anaesthesia after 310.5, 312.0, and 535.0 s (medians) respectively.”

Camphor in Treatment of Cancer, Diabetes & Alzheimer’s:

Camphor has been used traditionally for many years, on its own and in combination with other chemicals in the treatment for inflammation and irritation in body and skin, and for the relief of pain. It has been used for centuries, all around the globe in the treatment of a variety of symptoms such as inflammation, infection, congestion, pain, irritation, etc.

Several studies have proved that some of the components of Cinnamomum camphora achieve suppressive and anti-mutagenic results on a variety of human cancer cells without harming the healthy cells.

A study on ‘Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora), a traditional remedy with the history of treating several diseases’ focused on making use of camphor as a quick household medication to solve day to day minor problems; as well as looking into information about the new applications of this traditionally used, naturally occurring medication to treat or prevent some critical acute diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

Since Cinnamomum camphora has been very effective in treating and preventing some serious, life threatening diseases; Camphor and its components should be investigated further as a viable option in the treatment of different types of cancer.

Additionally, more studies on the application of camphor for patients with memory disorders and brain dysfunctions such as in autism and Alzheimer’s are needed.

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