2015

NPC Natural Product Communications Vol. 10

No. 6
Chemical Components of Four Essential Oils in Aromatherapy Recipe 1091 - 1092
Sarin Tadtonga, Narisa Kamkaenb,c,*, Rith Watthanachaiyingcharoena and Nijsiri Ruangrungsib
a
Faculty of Pharmacy, Srinakharinwirot University, Ongkarak district, Nakhon Nayok, 26120, Thailand
b
Faculty of Pharmacy, Rangsit University, Muang district, PathumThani 10200, Thailand
c
Faculty of Science and Technology, Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, Dusit, Bangkok 10300, Thailand

narisa.kamkaen@gmail.com

Received: September 4th, 2014; Accepted: February 14th, 2015

This study focused on characterization of the chemical components of an aromatherapy recipe. The formulation consisted of four blended essential oils;
rosemary oil, eucalyptus oil, pine oil and lime oil (volume ratio 6 : 2 : 1 : 1). The single and combination essential oils were identified by gas chromatography-
mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The analysis of GC-MS data revealed that several components exist in the mixture. The five most important components of the
blended essential oils were 1,8-cineole (35.6 %), α-pinene (11.1 %), limonene (9.6 %), camphor (8.4 %), and camphene (6.6 %). The main components of
rosemary oil were 1,8-cineole (37.3 %), α-pinene (19.3 %), camphor (14.7 %), camphene (8.8 %), and β-pinene (5.5 %); of eucalyptus oil 1,8-cineole (82.6 %)
followed by limonene (7.4 %), o-cymene (4.3 %), -terpinene (2.7 %), and α-pinene (1.5 %); of pine oil terpinolene (26.7 %), α-terpineol (20.50 %), 1-
terpineol (10.8 %), α-pinene (6.0 %), and -terpineol (5.3 %); and of lime oil limonene (62.9 %), -terpinene (11.5 %), α-terpineol (7.6 %), terpinolene (6.0
%), and α-terpinene (2.8 %). The present study provided a theoretical basis for the potential application of blended essential oils to be used as an aromatherapy
essential oil recipe. GC-MS serves as a suitable and reliable method for the quality control of the chemical markers.

Keywords: Aromatherapy recipe, Rosemary oil, Eucalyptus oil, Pine oil, Lime oil.

Rosemary oil is a colorless or pale yellow liquid with a strong, Table 1: Compounds of blended essential oil of aromatherapy recipe
fresh, minty-herbaceous scent and a woody-balsamic undertone. It RT Name Compound Kovat’s Index Area %
possesses cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic and cognition- 6.71 -Pinene 939 11.1
7.14 Camphene 954 6.6
enhancing properties [1]. Eucalyptus oil is a colorless, liquid that 8.01 β-Pinene 979 0.5
yellows on storage, with a somewhat harsh, camphoraceous odor, 8.43 Myrcene 990 1.1
and woody sweet undertone. It is used to treat pulmonary 9.29 1,4-Cineole 1014 1.1
9.63 o-Cymene 1026 2.2
tuberculosis, diabetes, asthma and also used as a disinfectant, 9.77 Limonene 1029 9.6
antioxidant agent, and antiseptic agent [2]. Lime oil is a pale yellow 9.87 1,8-Cineole 1031 35.6
or green liquid. It stimulates the central nervous system, enhances 10.91 γ-Terpinene 1059 3.1
12.07 Terpinolene 1088 4.9
the mood, lowers blood pressure, and has sedative, analgesic, anti-
12.52 Linalool 1096 0.5
inflammatory, antispasmodic, carminative, digestive, and diuretic 12.75 6-Camphenol 1113 0.2
effects [3]. Pine oil is a colorless or pale yellow liquid with strong, 13.08 exo-Fenchol 1121 0.8
dry-balsamic, turpentine-like aroma. It possesses antibacterial, 13.95 1-Terpineol 1133 0.8
14.35 Camphor 1146 8.4
antifungal, antiviral, antiseptic (pulmonary, urinary, hepatic), 14.88 Isoborneol 1160 0.5
antineuralgic, cholagogue, choleretic, diuretic, expectorant, and 15.28 Borneol 1169 1.3
hypertensive properties [4]. 16.31 -Terpineol 1188 3.7
16.60 γ-Terpineol 1199 0.5
The aromatherapy recipe was colorless and rich in refreshing aroma 20.35 Bornyl acetate 1288 0.6
25.92 E-Caryophyllene 1419 0.3
composed of rosemary oil as a middle note, and eucalyptus, pine, 30.03 -Cadinene 1523 0.3
and lime oils as top note in the volume ratio of 6:2:1:1. The five
major chemical components in the aromatherapy recipe were 1,8- Table 2: Compounds of essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis.
cineole (35.6%), α-pinene (11.1%), limonene (9.6%), camphor RT Name Compound Kovat’s Index Area %
(8.4%), and camphene (6.6%). as shown in Table 1. The main 6.71 -Pinene 939 19.3
compounds of rosemary oil were 1,8-cineole (37.3%), α-pinene 7.08 -Fenchene 951 1.2
7.14 Camphene 953 8.8
(19.3%), camphor (14.7%), camphene (8.8%), and β-pinene 8.01 β-Pinene 980 5.5
(5.5%), as shown in Table 2. The main compound of eucalyptus oil 8.43 Myrcene 991 1.1
was 1,8-cineole (82.6%) followed by limonene (7.4%), o-cymene 9.63 o-Cymene 1022 0.8
9.77 Sylvestrene/ Limonene 1027 1.8
(4.3%), -terpinene (2.7%), and α-pinene (1.5%). as shown in Table 9.87 1,8-Cineole 1033 37.3
3. The major constituents of pine oil included terpinolene (26.7%), 10.91 γ-Terpinene 1062 1.4
α-terpineol (20.5%), 1-terpineol (10.8%), α-pinene (6.0%), and - 12.07 Terpinolene 1088 0.5
12.53 β-Linalool 1098 1.6
terpineol (5.3%), as shown in Table 4. The major constituents of 14.35 Camphor 1143 14.7
lime oil included limonene (62.9%), -terpinene (11.5%), α- 14.89 Isoborneol 1156 0.4
terpineol (7.6%), terpinolene (6.0%), and α-terpinene (2.8%), as 15.26 Borneol 1165 1.1
16.33 -Terpineol 1189 3.0
shown in Table 5. 20.35 Bornyl acetate 1285 1.1
25.92 Z-Caryophyllene 1404 0.3
The most important chemical constituent of the blended essential oil
was 1,8-cineole, which was the main component of both rosemary Previous studies have shown that these monoterpenes and their
and eucalyptus oils. No chemical reaction occurred between these derivative compounds also exhibit several types of pharmacological
monoterpenes. properties, such as antinociception, antidepressant and sedative
1092 Natural Product Communications Vol. 10 (6) 2015 Tadtong et al.

Table 3: Compounds of essential oil of Eucalyptus globulus. resulting in more attentiveness, alertness and a cheerful mood state,
RT Name Compound Kovat’s Index Area % whereas there was a significant decrease in the power of alpha
6.68 -Pinene 939 1.5 waves over the bilateral mid-frontal regions. Another study found
7.98 β-Pinene 980 0.5
8.40 Myrcene 991 0.3
that cineole, a major component of citronella oil, increased beta
8.89 -Phellandrene 1005 0.4 wave and inhibited alpha and theta waves with an enhancement that
9.60 o-Cymene 1022 4.3 corresponded with the stimulating effect on brain function [5].
9.76 Sylvestrene/ Limonene 1024 7.4
9.87 1,8-Cineole 1033 82.6
This study could support the correlation of the chemical markers of
10.88 γ-Terpinene 1062 2.7
12.06 Terpinolene 1088 0.3 aromatherapy essential oils and the pharmacological properties.
Future study could concern the pharmacological effects of the
Table 4: Compounds of essential oil of Pinus sylvestris. aromatherapy recipe in controlled clinical trials both in healthy
RT Name Compound Kovat’s Index Area % volunteers and patients. The present study provided a theoretical
6.38 Tricyclene 926 0.4
basis for the potential application of blended essential oils to be
6.71 -Pinene 939 6.0
7.08 -Fenchene 952 0.6 used as an aromatherapy recipe. GC-MS had particularly served as
7.14 Camphene 954 3.1 a suitable and reliable method for the quality control of the
8.01 β-Pinene 980 0.1 chemical markers [6, 7a].
9.27 1,4-Cineole 1014 4.4
9.63 o-Cymene 1026 2.1
9.77 Sylvestrene/ Limonene 1029 3.1 Experimental
9.87 1,8-Cineole 1031 3.4
10.91 γ-Terpinene 1059 1.9 Essential oils, extraction method and preparation of blended
12.07 Terpinolene 1088 26.7 essential oils: Essential oils of eucalyptus, rosemary, pine and lime
13.08 endo-Fenchol 1116 3.4 were purchased from Thai-Chinese Flavour and Fragrance (TCFF),
13.93 1-Terpineol 1133 10.8
14.35 Camphor 1146 3.1
Ayutthaya, Thailand. Eucalyptus oil was obtained by steam
14.88 Isoborneol 1155 0.8 distillation of the branches and leaves of Eucalyptus globulus.
15.26 Borneol 1169 2.2 Rosemary oil was obtained by steam distillation of the flowering
15.73 Terpinen-4-ol 1177 1.0
tops of Rosmarinus officinalis. Lime oil was obtained by steam
16.31 -Terpineol 1188 20.5
16.60 γ-Terpineol 1199 5.3 distillation of the whole ripe crushed fruit of Citrus aurantifolia.
25.34 Longifolene 1407 0.6 Pine oil was obtained by steam distillation of needles, twigs and
cones from a variety of species of pine species, particularly Pinus
Table 5: Compounds of essential oil of Citrus aurantifolia.
sylvestris. The aromatherapy recipe was freshly prepared prior to
RT Name Compound Kovat’s Index Area %
use as described by Taorang et al [7b].
6.69 -Pinene 939 1.1
7.14 Camphene 954 0.5
8.01 β-Pinene 979 2.3 Instruments and methods: Finnigan Trace GC ultra Finnigan DSQ
8.43 Myrcene 990 0.7 Quadrupole detector BPX5 fused silica column (30 m x 0.25 mm,
8.92 -Phellandrene 1002 0.2
0.25 um film thickness) The injector temperature was 180C
9.34 -Terpinene 1017 2.8
9.63 o-Cymene 1026 2.0 Sample, 1 L (1:100 in methanol), was injected by splitter (1:100)
9.77 Sylvestrene / Limonene 1030 62.9 into a capillary column. The oven temperature was 60C for 1 min.,
10.91 γ-Terpinene 1059 11.5
12.07 Terpinolene 1088 6.0
then ramped to 240C at a rate of 3C/ min. Helium was used as
13.08 p-Menth-4(8)-en-9-ol 0.2 carrier gas (flow rate 1 mL/min). MS was performed by EI positive
13.95 allo-Ocimene 1132 0.3 mode at 70 eV ionization voltage. The constituents of the oil were
14.37 Camphor 1146 1.4
15.28 Borneol 1169 0.2
identified by matching their mass spectra and retention indices with
15.75 Terpinen-4-ol 1177 0.2 Adams EO Mass Spectral library and NIST05 Mass Spectral library
16.31 -Terpineol 1188 7.6 and the percentage composition was computed from GC peak areas
20.33 Bornyl acetate 1288 0.1
[8].
effects. According to the nervous system, arousal effects can be Acknowledgement -The authors would like to thank Suan Dusit
broadly divided into two major forms including a cortical arousal Rajabhat University for the research grant number 570004,
effect, which is demonstrated by alteration of brain wave activity Srinakharinwirot University for the facility support, and
and autonomic arousal effect. For example, massaging rosemary in Chulalongkorn University for the GC-MS analysis.
healthy volunteers could increase blood pressure and breathing rate
References
[1] Faixová Z, Faix S. (2008) Biological effect of Rosemary (Rosmarinus offinalis L.) essential oil (A review). Folia Veterinaria, 52, 135–139.
[2] Song A, Wang Y. Liu Y. (2009) Study on the chemical constituents of the essential oil of the leaves of Eucalyptus globulus Labill from China.
Asian Journal of Traditional Medicines, 4, 134-140.
[3] Namazi, M., Amir Ali Akbari, S., Mojab, F., Talebi, A., Alavi Majd, H., Jannesari, S. (2014) Aromatherapy with Citrus aurantium oil and anxiety
during the first stage of labor. Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, 16, e18371.
[4] Maciag A, Milaković D, Christensen HH, Antolović V, Kalemba D. (2007) Essential oil composition and plant-insect relations in Scots pine (Pinus
sylvestris L.). Food Chemistry and Biotechnology, 71, 71-95.
[5] Sayowan W, Siripornpanich V, Piriyapunyaporn T, Hongratanaworakit T, Kotchabhakdi N, Ruangrungsi R. (2012) The harmonizing effects of
citronella oil on mood states and brain activities. Journal of Health Research, 26, 69-75.
[6] Tadtong S, Watthanachaiyingcharoen R, Kamkaen N. (2014) Antimicrobial constituents and synergism effect of the essential oils from
Cymbopogon citratus and Alpinia galanga. Natural Product Communications, 9, 277-280.
[7] Marriot PJ, Shellie R, Cornwell C. (2001) Gas chromatographic technologies for the analysis of essential oils. Journal of Chromatography A,
936, 1–22; (b) Taorang B, Rawdlaurh P, Pumtong S, and Hongratanaworakit T. (2009) Formulation of essential oil preparation for relaxation.
Journal of Thai Traditional & Alternative Medicine, 7, 67
[8] Adams RP. (2007) Identification of Essential Oil Components by Gas Chromatography/ Mass Spectrometry, 4th Ed. Allured Publishing
Corporation, Carol Stream, Illinois.