Category Archives: Ayurvedic Essential Oils

Ayurvedic Essential Oils

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Citronellyl formate

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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

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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

Terpinolene

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Terpinolene which is otherwise known as δ-terpinene is an organic compound present in the essential oils of apple, hemp, lilac, cumin, tea tree, lemon, sage, marjoram, rosemary, pine and cypress. It is one of the isomers of terpinene.

It is a monoterpene with the chemical formula C10H16. It is also referred by various other names such as iso-terpinene, 1, 4, 8 – terpadiene, etc.

Attributes of Terpinolene:

Terpinolene is colorless clear liquid which is characterised by fresh pleasant woody aroma. It owns fresh pine citrus flavor. Terpinolene present in hemp attribute to the aroma of the plant.

The therapeutic attributes of Terpinolene includes antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, antioxidant and sedative properties.

Antimicrobial activity:

Terpinolene show antibacterial and antifungal activities against strains of various bacteria and fungi. A study titled “Essential Oil Composition and Antimicrobial ActivityofDiplotaenia damavandica” was carried out to investigate the antibacterial and antifungal activity of the essential oil obtained from the root, seeds and leaves of Diplotaenia damavandica and their constituents.

It was found that Terpinolene which is one of the main components of the essential oil obtained from the leaves exhibit high antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Further, it was also active against fungi namely Aspergillus Niger, Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Anticancer and Antioxidant effect:

Terpinolene exhibit antioxidant and anticancer activities. In 2013, a study titled “Anticancer and antioxidant properties of terpinolene in rat brain cells.” the potential of terpinolene as an antioxidant and as an antiproliferative agent against brain tumor cells in rats was investigated.

When terpinolene was administered to rats with brain tumor, it was found that Terpinolene cause remarkable reduction in the proliferation of primary rat neurons and in N2a neuroblastoma cells.

Further, Terpinolene at concentrations above 50 mg L-1 increased Total oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity in Neurons and in N2a neuroblastoma cells. Terpinolene did not cause any destruction to the genetic materials of the cells in rat neurons and N2a neuroblastoma and so it was not genotoxic in both cell types.

Altogether, it was brought into light that Terpinolene exhibit antioxidant, antiproliferative and non-genotoxic abilities.

AKT or Protein Kinase B (PKB) is a kinase enzyme that plays a vital role in cellular processes, especially in cell proliferation. The activation of AKT is connected with many types of cancers as it increases cell proliferation and suppresses apoptosis.

According to the study “Terpinolene, a component of herbal sage, downregulates AKT1 expression in K562 cells” it was made clear that Terpinolene found in the oils of rosemary and clary sage exhibited potential activity against cancer by hindering the cell proliferation through reduction of the protein expression of AKT1 in leukemia K562 cells.

Sedative property:

Terpinolene is characterised by its sedative property. A study “Sedative effects of vapor inhalation of the essential oil of Microtoena patchoulii and its related compounds” published in 2011 in Journal of natural medicines was focused on the sedative effects produced in rats by inhaling the vapors of the essential oil of Microtoena patchoulii and its constituents, namely Terpinolene, 1-octen-3-ol, patchouli alcohol and methyl salicylate.

It was discovered that the essential oil reduced the locomotor activity of the rats and the same was observed when Terpinolene, 1-octen-3-ol, patchouli alcohol was administered individually through inhalation to the rats. Further, terpinolene also increased the sleeping time in rats by suppressing the central nervous system.

In another research article titled “The sedative effect of inhaled terpinolene in mice and its structure-activity relationships.” it was revealed that Terpinolene when inhaled by rats that have olfactory impairment (adisorder in sensing the smell) produced sedative effects after its absorption through the nasal cavity.

Heart Disease:

Terpinolene together with vitamin A and vitamin E prevent the oxidation of bad cholesterol Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and thus it is helpful in the treatment of Heart diseases. This is evident from the study “The monoterpene terpinolene from the oil of Pinus mugo L. in concert with alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene effectively prevents oxidation of LDL.”

Reference Links:

  1. Essential Oil Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Diplotaenia damavandica
  2. Anticancer and antioxidant properties of terpinolene in rat brain cells
  3. Terpinolene, a component of herbal sage, downregulates AKT1 expression in K562 cells
  4. Sedative effects of vapor inhalation of the essential oil of Microtoena patchoulii and its related compounds
  5. The sedative effect of inhaled terpinolene in mice and its structure-activity relationships
  6. The monoterpene terpinolene from the oil of Pinus mugo L. in concert with alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene effectively prevents oxidation of LDL.