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Ayurvedic Essential Oils

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Sabinene

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Sabinene is a bicyclic unsaturated terpenoid with the molecular formula C10H16. It is also known by other names like 4(10)-Thujene; Sabenene; Sabinen; etc.

It is usually present in the essential oils of plants such as Black pepper, Holm oak, Norway spruce, Nutmeg, Clausena anisata and Laurus nobilis. It is also obtained from Tea tree oil in little concentration. It is also a key ingredient of Carrot seed oil.

Attributes of Sabinene:

It has a woody and spicy smell.

Being a constituent of the black pepper, Sabinene is the reason behind the hotness and spicy element of black pepper.

Sabinene is one of the constituents of carrot that adds the key flavor to carrots. Sabinene also seems to be one of the significant components present in carrots that contribute to green, earthy, carrot top flavour with relatively high odor activity values.

Sabinene also showed strong radical-scavenging activity, which enables the essential oil containing sabinene to be antioxidant in nature.

It also serves as an additive in perfumes.

Therapeutic uses of Sabinene:

The most predominant remedial values of Sabinene are:

As an anti-inflammatory agent:

Sabinene also exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and antifungal properties.

According to a study titled “Anti-fungal, anti-oxidant ad anti-inflammatory activities of Oenanthe crocata L.essential oil”, it has been found that sabinene exhibited a strong anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharides and interferon gamma triggered macrophages.

It is also used to treat inflammation on the skin. It is also used for the treatment of dermatophytosis and other inflammatory conditions.

According to a study, ‘Antifungal, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Oenanthe crocata L. essential oil’, it was stated that sabinene present in the essential oil Oenanthe crocata is responsible for its anti-inflammatory attribute.

Sabinene in this essential oil extremely exhibited anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting the pro-inflammatory cytokines, namely tumour necrosis factor alpha and interlukin.

As anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent:

Sabinene also possess anti-bacterial properties and has been witnessed by various studies. According to the study titled, “The Essential Oil Constituents of Zorniadiphylla (L.) Pers, and Anti-Inflammatory and Antimicrobial Activities of the Oil”, it had been stated that sabinene showed a strong anti-microbial activity against Salmonella typhi, which causes food poisoning. Sabinene also proved to contain anti-fungal potency.

Sabinene exhibits strong to moderate anti-bacterial activity against gram positive bacteria and anti-fungal activity against pathogenic fungi.

Sabinene present in tea tree oil is an anti-bacterial and an antiseptic, anti-helicobacter, anti-ulcer. Sabinene is also used in perfumery and as a flavoring agent.

Reference Links:   

Sabinene by Wikipedia

Antifungal, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Oenanthe crocata L. essential oil, published in the Food and Chemical Toxicology Journal

Antimicrobial activity of the essential oil and different fractions of Juniperus communis L. and a comparison with some commercial antibiotics.

The Essential Oil Constituents of Zorniadiphylla (L.) Pers, and Anti-Inflammatory and Antimicrobial Activities of the Oil, by the Phytochemistry and Phytopharmacology Division, Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, India

(E)- Cinnamaldehyde

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Cinnamaldehyde is a pale yellow gelatinous liquid and an organic compound, which is responsible for the taste and smell of the cinnamon spice. Its molecular formula is C9H8O or C6H5CH=CHCHO.

It is also identified by various names such as 3- beta-phenylacrolein, (E)-Cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic aldehyde. The essential oil in the bark of the cinnamon trees contains almost 98% of Cinnamaldehyde.

Attributes of Cinnamaldehyde:

Cinnamaldehyde is responsible for rendering the taste, rich flavor and aroma in the most renowned Cinnamon spice.

Therapeutic uses of Cinnamaldehyde:

Many of the health benefits of Cinnamon and its effect on metabolism is due to the presence of Cinnamaldehyde in it. It helps to fight against tooth decay and bad breath and so the herb of Cinnamon is used for enhancing oral health. The antifungal and antibacterial property of Cinnamaldehyde helps to reduce infections.

Cinnamaldehyde restricts the harmful blood platelet clotting, which would otherwise result in insufficient blood flow. This is accomplished by preventing the production of arachidonic acid that is responsible for anti-inflammatory responses from the cell membranes.

As an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent:                           

Cinnamaldehyde exhibit anti-microbial activity. The antimicrobial nature of Cinnamaldehyde was proved by the study conducted at the University of Illinois, Chicago.  It had been found that Cinnamaldehyde prevents above 50% of the bacterial growth in the oral cavity. It is especially effective for preventing the growth of bacteria and other pathogens in the tongue.

According to a study titled “Antimicrobial Activities of Cinnamon Oil and Cinnamaldehyde from the Chinese Medicinal Herb Cinnamomum cassia Blume” published in The American Journal of Chinese medicine, Cinnamaldehyde effectively inhibits the growth of various segregates of bacteria including gram positive and gram negative bacteria, fungi including yeasts, filamentos molds and dermatophytes. Thus Cinnamaldehyde possess anti-bacterial and antifungal properties.

Anti-diabetic property:

Since the primordial times, Cinnamon has been used to treat diabetes in China and in India. The anti-diabetic nature of Cinnamon is due to the presence of cinnamaldehyde.  According to a study conducted on the streptozotocin(STZ) induced male diabetic wistar rats, it had been found that by administering Cinnamaldehyde at different doses, it had considerably reduced the plasma glucose level and simultaneously increased the plasma insulin level.

Further, oral administration of Cinnamaldehyde markedly reduced glycosylated haemoglobin, serum total cholesterol and triglycerides and increased the hepatic glycogen and HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol. Thus, Cinnamaldehyde exhibits hypoglycemic and hypolipidaemic effects in STZ induced diabetic rats.

As a flavoring agent:

Cinnamaldehyde is mainly added to foods and medicines to enhance its quality in terms of aroma and taste. It is used as a flavoring agent in liquid refreshments, ice-creams, chewing gums and candy. It is also used in perfumes to recreate the magic of fruity and interesting fragrance ranges.

Insecticide and Mosquito repellent:

Cinnamaldehyde is an effective animal repellent, which is used to repel animals like cats and dogs. It is also used as an efficient insecticide for mosquitoes. It had been found that about half of Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae are killed by an amount of 29 ppm of cinnamaldehyde in 24 hours.

Cinnamaldehyde is also used as a fungicide. It is also used to prevent corrosion in steel and other ferrous alloys in corrosive fluids like hydrochloric acid.

Reference Links:

Cinnamaldehyde by Wikipedia

Cinnamaldehyde – A potential antidiabetic agent by Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, India

Antimicrobial Activities of Cinnamon Oil and Cinnamaldehyde from the Chinese Medicinal Herb Cinnamomum cassia Blume published in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine

Citronellal

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Citronellal is a lemon- fragranced aldehyde that is acquired from the Citronella oil. Its molecular formula is C10H18O and it is also referred by other names such as rhodinol, b-citronellal, citronella and 3,7-Dimethyl 6-octenal. It is a monoterpenoid that imparts the lemon smell in Citronella oil.

It is purely extracted from the distilled oils of the plants Cymbopogon, lemon-scented gum and lemon-scented tea tree. It is mainly obtained by the steam distillation of the fresh leaves of Cymbopogon nardus Linn.

It is also one of the main constituents present in the essential oils of citronella grass, citrus, lemon, roses, grapes, tomatoes, nutmeg and lemon eucalyptus. It constitutes 80% of the essential oil in Kaffir lime leaves and it imparts the characteristic lime odor to these leaves.

Attributes of Citronellal:

Citronellal is a colorless to a pale yellow fragrant liquid. It has strong lemon citronella smell. It is responsible for the characteristic lemon smell in the essential oils constituting it. So it is mainly used in flavoring and in perfumery to render the typical lemon-grass like aroma.

Trusted mosquito repellent:

Citronellal is an effective mosquito repellent because of its intense lemon aroma. It is effective against mosquitoes at short distances. When it is combined with β-cyclodextrin , it provides 1.5 hour protection against mosquitoes.

Therapeutic uses of Citronellal:

Citronellal serves as an anti-microbial, antiviral and an anti-cancer agent. Citronellal contributes to the tranquilizing effect in the oils of Lavender, Valerian, Calamus and Melissa and is a vital part of Aromatherapy.

As an anti-microbial agent:

Citronellal possesses anti-microbial property and it helps to check bacterial infections. According to the study,” Antimicrobial agents from plants: antibacterial activity of plant volatile oils”, it was found that Citronellal was active against B. subtilis, Cl. sporogenes, Fl. suaveolens, M. luteus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa when the essential oils of nutmeg, geranium, black pepper, oregano and thyme are tested against 25 different genera of bacteria.

When citronellal is tested for its antimicrobial activity against five food borne pathogens- Escherichia coli, E.coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenases and Vibrio vulnifucas, Citronellal showed anti-bacterial activity against a food borne pathogen Vibrio vulnifucas.

Citronellal present in Eucalyptus citriodora attributes to the anti-bacterial activity of the oil.

Anti-cancer agent:

According to a research carried out by German researchers, it had been found that terpenes, especially (-) -Citronellal inhibits the growth of cancerous cells by increasing the concentration of calcium in the cells. Thus Citronellal is one of the terpenes that exhibit anti-cancer activities.

As an anti-fungal agent:

It has strong anti-fungal activity. In the research article, “Antifungal Activity and Molecular Orbital Energies of Aldehyde Compounds from Oils of Higher Plants”, it is stated that the anti-fungal activity of the aldehydes is mainly due to its reaction with SH compounds and their potential to form charge transfer complexes with electron donors.

According to a study titled “Chemical Composition and Antifungal Activity of Essential Oil from Cymbopogon nardus (Citronella Grass)”, it was found that citronellal constituted in Cymbopogon nardus totally reduced the growth of all the tested fungal strains.

Reference Links:

Citronellal by Wikipedia

The Mosquito Repellent Citronellal Directly Potentiates Drosophila TRPA1, Facilitating Feeding Suppression.

Antibacterial activity of some essential oil components against five food borne pathogens

Chemical Composition and Antifungal Activity of Essential Oil from Cymbopogon nardus (Citronella Grass)