Eucalyptol: A Main and Valuable Compound in Some Essential Oils
Eucalyptol, also known as 1,8-cineole, is classified as a monoterpenoid group with the bicyclic ether structure (Figure 2) and has the molecular formula C10H18O.
Figure 2. Molecular structure of eucalyptol
Several previous reports have revealed that eucalyptol has been chemically synthesized for a long time (Adams and Belley, 1986). Naturally, eucalyptol is the principal component in the essential oils of various Eucalyptus species and is also present in some other aromatic plants, such as rosemary, camphor, and sage. Mączka et al. (2021) summarized the potential sources of eucalyptol with eucalyptol content exceeding 60%. Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (95.1%), along with other Eucalyptus species, namely Eucalyptus kochii subsp. borealis (97.3%), Eucalyptus kochii subsp. plenissima (96.6% and 92.3%), and Eucalyptus horistes (90.2%), are the main sources of eucalyptol.
PT Mitra Ayu Adipratama produces various essential oils with varying eucalyptol content. Eucalyptus globulus (67.8%) (Figure 3) has the highest eucalyptol content compared to Lavandula angustifolia ct. 1,8-cineole (58.3%), Melaleuca quinquenervia (45.7%), Rosmarinus officinalis (21.3%), and is followed by Melaleuca viridiflora (14.7%). For more information on essential oil constituents and inquiries, please contact us at info@ptmitraayu.com or send us a message here.
Eucalyptol is applied as a flavoring agent in the food and beverage industry due to its properties, such as a cooling, refreshing taste, and its ability to provide a soothing, menthol-like sensation. Additionally, eucalyptol is a popular component in aromatherapy due to its invigorating and decongestant effects, along with a specific aroma of fresh, minty, and slightly spicy notes with hints of camphor. For aromatherapy, eucalyptol is used in essential oil diffusers and vaporizers.
Juergens (2014) and Seol and Kim (2016) reported the health benefits of eucalyptol as a treatment option for symptoms of the common cold, respiratory infections, pancreatitis, colitis, and pain relief. A review by Hoch et al. (2023) has revealed the health advantages of eucalyptol, as demonstrated in clinical trials involving patients with respiratory disorders, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, bronchitis, and rhinosinusitis. Therefore, several medicinal products containing eucalyptol are approved for treating these disorders (Juergens et al., 2003; Mączka et al., 2021).
Studies on the biological activities have shown that eucalyptol exerts anti-inflammatory effects (Yin et al., 2020), antimicrobial properties (Mączka et al., 2021), as well as antioxidant and anticancer activities (Hoch et al., 2023). These therapeutic and aromatherapy applications, as well as its use as a flavoring agent, make eucalyptol a highly valuable compound.
For any questions, please contact us at info@ptmitraayu.com or send us a message here.
References:
Adams, J., and Belley, M. (1986). Formation of reactive tricyclic intermediates via the intramolecular cyclopropanation of dihydropyrans. Synthesis of eucalyptol. Tetrahedron Letters, 27: 2075–2078.
Hoch, C.C., Petry, J., Griesbaum, L., Weiser, T., Werner, K., Ploch, M., Verschoor, A., Multhoff, G., Dezfouli, A.B., and Wollenberg, B. (2023). 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol): A versatile phytochemical with therapeutic applications across multiple diseases. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 167: 115467.
Juergens, U.R. (2014). Anti-inflammatory properties of the monoterpene 1,8-cineole: Current evidence for co-medication in inflammatory airway diseases. Drug Research, 64: 638–646.
Juergens, U.R., Dethlefsen, U., Steinkamp, G., Gillissen, A., Repges, R., and Vetter, H. (2003). Anti-inflammatory activity of 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) in bronchial asthma: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Respiratory Medicine, 97: 250–256.
Mączka, W., Duda-Madej, A., Gόrny, A., Grabarczyk, M., and Wińska, K. (2021). Can eucalyptol replace antibiotics? Molecules, 26: 4933.
Seol, G.H. and Kim, K.Y. (2016). Eucalyptol and its role in chronic diseases. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 929: 389–398.
Yin, C., Liu, B., Wang, P., Li, X., Li, Y., Zheng, X., Tai, Y., Wang, C., and Liu, B. (2020). Eucalyptol alleviates inflammation and pain responses in a mouse model of gout arthritis. British Journal of Pharmacology, 177: 2042–2057.
