Category Archives: Ayurvedic Essential Oils

Ayurvedic Essential Oils

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Isomenthone

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Isomenthone is an organic compound present in the essential oils of Bergamot, Corn mint, Geranium, Lemongrass, Mangrove bark, Peppermint, Agathosma crenulata, Pennyroyal and Petitgrain.

The chemical formula for isomenthone is C10H18O. It is also known by the other names such as L-Isomenthone, cis-Menthone, (-)-Isomenthone, (1) – Isomenthone and so on.

Attributes of Isomenthone:

Isomenthone is a colorless liquid, which is clear in nature. It has a cool and mentholic minty aroma.

Therapeutic attributes of Isomenthone:

The major remedial values of Isomenthone are:

Antioxidant activity:

According to the study ‘Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of three Mentha species essential oils’, it was found that menthone and Isomenthone present in Mentha longifolis L. and Mentha piperita potentially exhibit free radical scavenging activity.

In another study ‘In-vitro Antioxidant Activity and GC/MS Studies on the Leaves of Mentha piperita (Lamiaceae) from Morocco’, it was brought into light that Isomenthone present in the essential oil of Mentha piperita exhibit potential free radical scavenging activity and it is one of the constituents that contribute to the antioxidant activity of the oil.

In the book, “Herbs and Natural Supplements, Volume 2, An evidence-Based Guide” it is mentioned that Peppermint and its constituents, Menthone and Isomenthone exhibit antioxidant activity.

Antiviral effect:

Isomenthone possess antiviral effect against Herpes Simplex type-1(HSV-1), which is evident from the study ‘Antimicrobial and antiviral effects of essential oils from selected Umbelliferae and Labiatae plants and individual essential oil components’.

This study is focused on the antibacterial and antiviral activity exhibited by the essential oils from selected plants of Umbelliferae and Labiatae family and their constituents.

Isomenthone was one of the constituents present in the essential oils of the plants under study and it was tested for its antiviral effect against Herpes Simplex type-1 virus. It was found that Isomenthone exhibited antiviral activity against Herpes simplex type-1 virus with the values of cytopathogenic effect ranging between .8 and 0.025 μg mL-1.

Protection of human dermal fibroblasts:

Dermal fibroblasts are the cells present in the dermis layer of the skin and its function is to generate connective tissue and aid in fast recovery of the skin during injury. A study titled ‘Isomenthone protects human dermal fibroblasts from TNF-α-induced death possibly by preventing activation of JNK and p38 MAPK’ was carried out to evaluate the protective effects of Isomenthone against tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and its role in human dermal fibroblasts.

It was found that Isomenthone protects dermal fibroblasts by suppressing the TNF-α mediated reduction in cell viability and reduced the increase in apoptosis and also hindered JNK and p38 MAPK pathways.

Reference Links:

  1. Isomenthone by PubChem
  2. Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of three Mentha species essential oils
  3. In-vitro Antioxidant Activity and GC/MSStudies on the Leaves of Mentha piperita (Lamiaceae) from Morocco
  4. Antimicrobial and antiviral effects of essential oils from selected Umbelliferae and Labiatae plants and individual essential oil components
  5. Isomenthone protects human dermal fibroblasts from TNF-α-induced death possibly by preventing activation of JNK and p38 MAPK

Myristicin

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Myristicin is an organic compound present in the essential oil of Nutmeg, Mace, Parsley, Black pepper, Carrots and Dill. It constitutes about 4-8% of the essential oil of Nutmeg.

The chemical formula for Myristicin is C11H12O3. It is also known by other names such as methoxysafrole and Myristicine.

Attributes of Myristicin:

It is a colorless transparent liquid with a spicy smell.

The therapeutic attributes of Myristicin includes hepatoprotective, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cytotoxicity and anti-proliferation of cancerous cells, psychoactive and anti-cholinergic effects.

Hepatoprotective effect:

Myristicin found in Nutmeg offers protection to the liver. This attribute of Myristicin was focused in the study titled “Hepatoprotective effect of myristicin from nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) on lipopolysaccharide/d-galactosamine-induced liver injury.”

This study was carried out on rats suffering from liver injury caused by Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and d-galactosamine. It was found that Nutmeg exhibited significant protection to the liver and its main constituent, Myristicin showed remarkable hepatoprotective activity by inhibiting the release of TNF-alpha from macrophage.

Antimicrobial activity:

Myristicin shows antibacterial activity. In the study ‘Antibacterial principles from Myristica fragrans seeds’, the antibacterial effect of the constituents of the essential oil of nutmeg, namely myristicin, trimyristicin and Myristic acid were evaluated. It was determined that trimyristicin, Myristic acid and Myristicin exhibited remarkable antibacterial activity against selected gram positive and gram negative bacteria.

In the research article ‘Chemistry, antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt)’, it was mentioned that Myristicin is one of the important constituents of nutmeg that is responsible for the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of nutmeg.

Anti-inflammatory effect:

Myristicin is characterized by its anti-inflammatory properties. This attribute of Myristicin was discussed in detail in the study “Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Myristicin on RAW 264.7 Macrophages Stimulated with Polyinosinic-Polycytidylic Acid.”

This study revealed the anti-inflammatory effect of Myristicin which is accomplished by the inhibition of Nitric oxide, cytokines, chemokines and growth factors in dsRNA – stimulated macrophages through the calcium pathway.

Antioxidant:

A study titled “Evaluation of antioxidant activity of parsley (Petroselinum crispum) essential oil and identification of its antioxidant constituents” was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant potential of the essential oil of parsley and its constituents. It was brought into light that the essential oil of parsley showed antioxidant effect and its main constituent Myristicin presented a reasonable antioxidant effect.

Cytotoxic:

Myristicin exhibit cytotoxicity and apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cell line. Neuroblastoma is a type of cancer occurring outside the cranium of the brain. In the research article “Myristicin-induced neurotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells”, the cytotoxic and apoptotic activities of Myristicin on Neuroblastoma cells in humans were evaluated. It was unveiled that Myristicin was cytotoxic to Neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells by stimulating the apoptotic mechanism in the cells.

Rhabdomyosarrcoma (RD) is a type of soft tissue cancer in childhood and in teenage years. Myristicin from nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) is cytotoxic to Rhabdomyosarrcoma cell line which is focused in the study ‘Cytogenetic study of the pure myristicin from nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) on habdomyosarrcoma cell line (in vitro).”

Further, in another study labelled ‘Antimicrobial and anti-proliferative activity of Athamanta sicula L. (Apiaceae)”, it was demonstrated that Myristicin present in the essential oil of the herb Athamanta sicula L. displayed anti-proliferative activity against human cancer cells in blood, lungs and breast namely blood cancer cells K-562, lung cancer cells NCI-H460 and breast cancer cells MCF-7.

Psychoactive:

Myristicin is considered to be one of the psychoactive component of nutmeg that alters the functioning of the brain bringing changes in attitude, insight and consciousness. This is evident from the study “Toxicity of Nutmeg (Myristicin): A Review”.

In another article “Myristica fragrans: An exploration of the Narcotic Spice”,it is stated that the psychoactive effect of myristicin is because of its metabolism into 3-methoxy 4, 5-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MMDA), which is a psychoactive compound.

Anti-cholinergic effect:

Myristicin in nutmeg was found to possess anticholinergic effect by constraining the psychological action of neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the central and in the peripheral nervous system. This attribute of Myristicin was stated in the study “Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Myristicin on RAW 264.7 Macrophages Stimulated with Polyinosinic-Polycytidylic Acid.”

Reference Links:

  1. Myristicin by Wikipedia
  2. Hepatoprotective effect of myristicin from nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) on lipopolysaccharide/d-galactosamine-induced liver injury.
  3. Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Myristicin on RAW 264.7 Macrophages Stimulated with Polyinosinic-Polycytidylic Acid.
  4. Myristicin-induced neurotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells
  5. Cytogenetic study of the pure myristicin from nutmeg (myristica fragrans) on habdomyosarrcoma cell line (in vitro).
  6. Toxicity of Nutmeg (Myristicin): A Review

Geranyl formate

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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