Category Archives: Ayurvedic Essential Oils

Ayurvedic Essential Oils

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Cedrene

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Being a sesquiterpene, Cedrene is a highly fragranced constituent that is extracted from the essential oils of Cedar. It is a polymeric terpene with the molecular formula C15H24. It is also identified by various names such as cedr-8-ene, di-epi-alpha cedrene and alpha-funerbene.

Attributes of Cedrene:

It is a light yellowish transparent oil with Cedar woody smell. It falls under the category of fragrance agents and is predominantly used in perfumery.

Therapeutic attributes of Cedrene:

Cedrene possess antimicrobial, antifungal and anticancer properties.

Anticancer properties:

Cedrene exhibit anticancer activities. According to a study titled, ‘The selective cytotoxic anti-cancer properties and proteomic analysis of Trigonella Foenum-Graecum’, it was established that fenugreek contain several compounds such as gingerol, zingerone, vanillin, eugenol and Cedrene with anticancer properties and so it exhibit anticancer activities against a group of cancerous cells that included T-cell lymphoma.

According to a study named ‘Trypanocidal and anti-leukemic effects of the essential oils of Hagenia abyssinica, Leonotis ocymifolia, Moringa stenopetala, and their main individual constituents’, it is stated that cedrene exhibited powerful trypanocidal activities when the essential oils and their individual components are studied for their structure and activity relationships between trypanosomes and human leukemia cells.

Antiseptic property:

It is stated in ‘The Indian Oil and Soap Journal, Volume 30, Issue 5-Page No-134’ that Cedrene present in J,macropoda and J.communis possess mild antiseptic properties.

Anti-fungal and antimicrobial properties:

In the research article,’Fungicidal activities of certain methanolic plant extracts against tomato phytopathogenic fungi’, it has been stated that Cedrene present in Z.officinale plays a vital role in inhibiting the growth of phytopathogenic fungi and it is determined as one of the most effective anti-microbial agent in Z.officinale extract. Thus, Cedrene possess anti-fungal and anti-microbial activities.

Reference Links:

  1. Cedrene by Wikipedia
  2. Fungicidal activities of certain methanolic plant extracts against tomato phytopathogenic fungi published in the African Journal of Microbiology Research
  3. The selective cytotoxic anti-cancer properties and proteomic analysis of Trigonella Foenum-Graecum

gamma-Eudesmol

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Gamma-eudesmol is a sesquiterpene present mainly in the wood oil of the plant species Callitris collumellaris, Callitris intratropica, Callitris glaucophyla, which are found in Australia.

It is also present in the essential oil of Juniperus virginiana, Cajuput oil, Eucalyptus oil, Guava fruit oil etc.,

The molecular formula for gamma-eudesmol is C15H26O. It is also known by various other names such as (+)-gamma-eudesmol, Uncineol, Machilol, Selinenol and so on.

Attributes of Gamma-eudesmol:

Gamma-eudesmol owns a medium waxy smell.

Therapeutic attributes of gamma-eudesmol:

The primary curative properties of gamma-eudesmol are as follows:

Cytotoxicity:

The study titled ‘Eudesmol isomers induce caspase-mediated apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells’ was conducted to investigate the cytotoxic effect of eudesmol isomers, namely alpha-eudesmol, beta-eudesmol and gamma-eudesmol against cancerous cells in liver.

It was found that the three eudesmol isomers exhibited potential cytotoxic activity against cancerous cells in liver by reducing the proliferation and causing the death of tumor cells by caspase-mediated apoptosis.

According to the study ‘In vitro and in vivo antitumor effects of the essential oil from the leaves of Guatteria friesiana’,  it was found that the antitumor effects exhibited by the essential oil from the leaves of Guatteria friesiana is contributed by the eudesmol isomers, alpha-eudesmol, beta-eudesmol and gamma-eudesmol. Further, they also show signs of significant cytotoxic activity against tumor cells.

Reference Links:

  1. Gamma-eudesmol by PubChem
  2. Eudesmol isomers induce caspase-mediated apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells
  3. In vitro and in vivo antitumor effects of the essential oil from the leaves of Guatteria friesiana

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