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Volatile Oils Ok
Volatile Oils Ok
CH3
H2C C CH CH2 or
Isoprene
(2-methyl-1,3-butadiene)
The Isoprene Unit
An isoprene unit is the carbon skeleton of
isoprene (ignoring the double bonds)
tail head
Figure 26.6
Representative Monoterpenes
OH O
OH O
-Selinene
(celery)
Figure 26.6
Representative Sesquiterpenes
-Selinene
(celery)
Figure 26.6
Representative Sesquiterpenes
-Selinene
(celery)
Figure 26.6
Representative Diterpenes
OH
Vitamin A
Figure 26.6
Representative Diterpenes
OH
Vitamin A
Figure 26.6
Representative Diterpenes
Vitamin A
Figure 26.6
Representative Triterpene
Squalene
(shark liver oil)
Common volatile oils
Cloves
Chinese breath
sweetener
Used in many food,
drugs, cigarettes
Myrtaceae
Spice Islands
Dutch destroyed many
plantations to drive up
the price (1700’s)
Unopened flower buds
CLOVE
DEFINITION: Cloves are
the dried flower buds of
Syzygium aromaticum
(Eugenia caryophyllus),
(Myrtaceaea).
Geographical Sources
Molucca or Clove Islands,
Zanzibar, Pemba,
Madagascar, Indonesia &
Brazil.
CONSTITUENTS
14-21% Volatile oils
• Mainly eugenol & isoeugenol
• Sitosterol
• Stigmasterol
• Campesterol
Tannins
Triterpene acids & esters
Glycosides
CLOVE OIL - CONSTITUENTS
Volatile oils – mainly eugenol & acetyleugenol
Sesquiterpenes (α and β caryophyllenes)
Common Names:
Jamaican ginger, Ginger
Zingiber officinalis - Ginger
GEOGRAPHICAL SOURCES
• Jamaica
• China
• India Africa
HISTORY
Cultivated in India from the
earliest times. Used by
Greeks and Romans and
was a common article of
commerce in the European
Middle Ages.
CULTIVATION & PREPARATION
Grows well in subtropical
temperatures with high
rainfall.
Grown by vegetative means.
Mulching or is necessary as
the plant rapidly exhausts
minerals from the soil.
When the stems wither, the
rhizomes are ready for
collection.
Dried.
MACROSCOPICAL FEATURES
Scraped/peeled herb has little
resemblance to the fresh herb
(loss in weight & shrinkage).
Occurs in branched pieces
“hands” or “races”.
Buds
No cork
Aromatic odour & pungent
taste.
Unscraped rhizome:
resembles scraped herb –
Covered with cork (brownish
layers)
MICROSCOPICAL FEATURES
Sesquiterpene HC’s
Zingiberene & Zingiberol (Sesquiterpene alcohol)
Resins
Starch
Mucilage
Zingiber officinale
VARIETIES
Chinese Ginger – sliced
African ginger – darker (cortex is
grey – black in colour); lacks the
odour but more pungent than
Jamaican herb.
ALLIED DRUGS
Japanese ginger – Z. mioga
Preserved ginger – undried rhizomes
preserved by boiling in syrup.
ADULTERANTS
Spent ginger
Vegetable adulterants (detected with
microscopical examination).
USES & ACTIONS
ACTIONS
Carminative
Stimulant
Anti-emetic
Anti-bacterial & Anti-fungal
Sesquiterpene lactones – Anti-ulcer
Gingerol – pungent component –
Anti-inflammatory
Shogaols– increases bile secretion
& enhanced GIT activity
USES
Motion Sickness
Morning Sickness
CARDAMOM FRUIT & OIL
DEFINITION: Cardamom
consists of the dried, nearly
dried ripe fruits of Elettaria
cardamomum var miniscula
(Zingiberaceae).
HISTORY
Traditional Indian
ceremonies
PRODUCTION, COLLECTION &
PREPARATION
Mainly obtained from
cultivated plants
(propagated by seedlings
or vegetatively
[problematic due to virus
infection]).
Capsules on the same
plant ripen at different
times – important to
collect them before they
split.
COLLECTION & PREPARATION
Fruits are dried slowly
(outdoors or indoors).
Too rapid drying – capsules
split & shed seeds
Calyx at the apex of the stalk
and the stalk at the base may
be removed.
Fruits are graded with a sift
into ‘longs’, ‘mediums’,
‘shorts’ & ‘tiny’.
If they have been sulphur –
bleached (improved colour),
it will be aired outdoors
before packed for transport.
MACROSCOPICAL FEATURES
Plant is reed-like - > 4 m, with long leaves growing
from the rhizome.
Fruits – capsular: inferior, ovoid, 1-2 cm long.
Apex: shortly beaked & shows floral remains.
Base: rounded & shows the remain of a stalk.
Internally the capsule is 3-celled; each cell contains
x2 row of seeds.
Each seed: Slightly angular, 4mm long & 3 mm broad.
Colour: dark red-brown (fully ripe seeds) paler in
unripe seeds.
Strong, pleasant, aromatic odour
Pungent taste
MICROSCOPICAL FEATURES
Oil cells
Predominant
Parenchyma
(yellow colour)
Cells containing
silica
Starch grains
VARIETIES & ADULTERANTS
ADULTERATION
Powdered drug adulterated with the fruit pericarp
(powdered).
ALLIED HERBS
Official variety – E. cardamomum var miniscula
Liqueur manufacture
GEOGRAPHICAL
SOURCES
Cultivated in Sri Lanka,
South India, Seychelles,
Madagascar, Martinique,
Cayenne, Jamaica &
Brazil.
CULTIVATION, COLLECTION &
PREPARATION
Grown from seed
Cut down when 2-3 years
old.
After 5-6 shoots grow from
the stump (18 months),
shoots are harvested,
trimmed and fermented.
Bark is removed.
Peeled bark is then
stretched over a suitable
stick
Outer cortex is removed.
PREPARATION OF Cinnamomum
Individually scraped
barks are placed
inside each other.
Compound quills are
dried on wooden
frames in the open air
without exposure to
direct sunlight.
Sorted into grades.
MACROSCOPICAL FEATURES
Normally received in shorter lengths
known as ‘cigar lengths’.
Consists of a single or double
compound quill about 6-10 mm
diameter of varying length.
Thickness of the quill varies according
to grade (good quality: Not >
0.5mm), bark: 10-40mm.
External surface: is yellow-brown,
shining, wavy lines (pericycle fibres)
and occasional scars & holes
(leave/twig positions).
Inner surface: darker, longitudinally
striated.
Odour: fragrant
Taste: Warm, sweet & aromatic
MICROSCOPICAL FEATURES
Transverse: absence of epidermis & cork
Sclereids (thickened lignified pitted walls)
Secondary phloem is composed of phloem
parenchyma containing oil & mucilage cells,
phloem fibres & medullary rays.
Some phloem parenchyma contain tannins.
Secretion cells: volatile oils and mucilage
Calcium oxalates
Cinnamomum - CONSTITUENTS
• Volatile oils (at least
1.2 %)
• Phlobaphenes
• Mucilage
• Calcium Oxalate
• Starch
CINNAMON OIL –
ADULTERATION & ALLIED HERBS
Adulterants
• Cinnamon Leaf Oil
• Oil of Cassia
Allied Herbs
• Cayenne Cinnamon – C. zeylanicum grown in
Brazil – not used in Britain
• C. loureirii – from Vietnam – Closely resembles
C. cassia
Cinnamomum zeylanicum - USES
Flavouring agent
Mild astringent
Oil: Carminative
Germicide
LEMON PEEL
Definition: Dried lemon
(Limonis Cortex) peel is
obtained from the fruit of
Citrus limon (Rutaceae).
Botanical Description:
Small tree, growing to 3-5 m
in height.
Geographical Sources
Mediterranean Regions
Limonis Cortex –
COLLECTION & PREPARATION
Lemons are collected in
January, August &
November, before the
green colour changes to
yellow.
The smaller fruit, which
would not be sold on the
produce market, are used
in the preparation of oil of
lemon - the peel is
removed with a sharp
knife in the form of a
spiral band.
Limonis Cortex –
CHARACTERISTICS
Dried lemon peel occurs
in spiral bands (2 cm
wide; 2-3 mm thick).
The outer surface is
rough & yellow; the
inner surface is pulpy
& white (anatomically
similar to that of an
orange peel).
Odour: Strong &
characteristic
Taste: aromatic & bitter
Limonis Cortex –
CONSTITUENTS & USES
CONSTITUENTS
Should contain at least
2.5% volatile oil
Vitamin C
Hesperidin (Flavonoid)
Mucilage
Calcium Oxalate
USES
Flavouring purposes
LEMON OILS - Oleum limonis
Definition: Lemon oil is the oil expressed from the outer part of
the fresh pericarp of the ripe or nearly ripe fruit of Citrus limon
(Rutaceae).
Much oil is derived via steam distillation, but this process yields
oil of inferior quality.
Geographical Sources:
Mediterranean, North & South America, Australia & parts of Africa.
Preparation of Lemon Oils
i. Hand Methods
No longer applicable to
pharmaceutical oils
Production of Lemon Oils
ii. Machine Processes
Quality is inferior to the best hand-pressed oils.
Machines are designed to release oils from the peel via puncture,
rasting or cutting and by imitating the gentle squeezing action
of the sponge method. (Superiority of the sponge method is
due to the fact that there is no contact between the oil & the
inner white part of the skin.
The newer machines extract oil more completely than the older
ones and give a higher yeild
iii.Distilled Oils
Although not official, some lemon oils are produced by distillation,
mainly from the residue of the expression processes. It is
much cheaper than hand-pressed or machine-made oil.
Oleum limonis - CONSTITUENTS
Terpenes – mainly limonene
Sesquiterpenes
Aldehydes (Citral & Citronella)
Esters
USES
Perfumery
Flavouring
TERPENELESS LEMON OIL
Definition: Oil prepared by
concentrating lemon oil in
vacuum until most of the
terpenes have been
removed, or by solvent
partition. The
concentrate is a
terpeneless oil, which has
a citral content of 40-50
%.
It is equal in flavouring to
10-15 times its volume of
lemon oil
BUCHU – Agathosma betulina
Agathosma betulina –
CONSTITUENS & USES
CONSTITUENTS
Volatile oils
• Pulegone
• Menthone & isomenthone
• limonene
Diosmin
Mucilage
Resin
Calcium oxalates
Buchu camphor – Responsible for the diuretic action
USES/ACTIONS
Diuretic
Urinary Tract Anti-Septic – Used for UTI’s
NUTMEG & NUTMEG OIL
Definition: Nutmeg is the
dried kernel of the seed
of Myristica fragrans
(Myristicaceae).
Geographical Sources
Indigenous to the Molucca
Islands (Spice Islands)
Cultivated in Indonesia,
Malaysia & the West
Indies.
NUTMEG – Myristica fragrans
HISTORY
First Introduced to the
Europeans by the Arabs.
Bombay nutmegs –
M. malabarica (India)
– lack the
characteristic odour of
the genuine herb.
NUTMEG OIL
Nutmeg oil is distilled from the
kernels of Myristica fragrans.
CONSTITUENTS
Pinene
Sabinene
Camphene
Dipentene
Safrole
Eugenol & eugenol derivatives
Myristicin – a benzene: toxic to
humans (large does of nutmeg
or nutmeg oil may cause
convulsions).
MACE
Common mace or Banda
mace consists of the
dried arillus or arillode of
M. fragrans.
GEOGRAPHICAL
SOURCES
Portugal, SA, Spain, China,
Brazil, Australia, India &
Paraguay.
Eucalyptus - DESCRIPTION
MACROSCOPICAL
• Older dried leaves are
grey-brown & have lateral
veins. Secretory oil cells
are visible in leaves held
to the light.
MICROSCOPIC
• Epidermal cells have a
thick cuticle.
• Anisocytic stomata
• Mesophyll has
schizogenous oil glands
• Calcium oxalate crystals:
Prisms & Cluster crystals
Eucalyptus - CONSTITUENTS
Volatile Oil (at least 2
%)
sesquiterpene - Anti-
bacterial action
against oral
pathogens.
EUCALYPTUS OIL
Oil of eucalyptus is distilled from the fresh leaves
of various species of Eucalyptus and rectified.
They are produced in the same countries which
produce the dry herb.
Only a certain amount of species produce oil
suitable for medicinal use – the main criteria is a
high cineole content and low amounts of
phellandrene and aldehydes.
CONSTITUENTS
At least 70 volatile oils
(mainly cineole).
EUCALYPTUS OIL - USES
Alleviating the symptoms of
nasopharyngeal
infections
Treating coughs
Decongestant.
Official preparations
Mixtures, inhalations,
lozenges and pastilles;
also applied externally as
ointments and liniments.
FENNEL
DEFINITION: Fennel
consists of the dried ripe
fruits of Foeniculum
vulgare (Umbelliferae).
GEOGRAPHICAL
SOURCES
Europe, India, China &
Egypt. Mediterranean
origin.
ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS
USES
Flatulence
Dyspepsia
Chronic coughs & catarrh
Foeniculum vulgare
Foeniculum vulgare – USES
Culinary purposes
Used in medicine as a
flavouring
Carminative
CARAWAY & CARAWAY OIL
DEFINITION: Caraway
consists of the dried, ripe
fruits of Caram carvi
(Umbelliferae).
GEOGRAPHICAL
SOURCES
Wild & Cultivated in Central
& Northern Europe,
Holland, Denmark,
Germany, Russia,
Finland, Poland,
Hungary, Britain, Egypt,
Morocco, Australia &
China
MACROSCOPICAL
FEATURES
A biennial herb growing up
to 1 m in height.
Herb: Normally consists of
mericarps separated from
the pedicels. Fruits are
slightly curved, brown &
glabrous.
Size: 4-7 mm long, 1-3 mm
wide
Often the stigma & style are
still attached.
Characteristic aromatic
odour & taste
MICROSCOPICAL FEATURES
Pitted sclerenchyma
secretory canals
Dark, red-brown cells
containing a pale
yellow or colourless
oleoresin
Thick cellulose walls
Calcium oxalate crystals
ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS
1-7 % Volatile oils
• Carvone
• Limonene
• Carveole
8-20 % Fixed oils
Proteins
Calcium oxalates
Colouring matter
Resin
CORIANDER & CORIANDER OIL
DEFINITION: Coriander is
the dried, nearly ripe fruit
of Coriandrum sativum
(Umbelliferae).
GEOGRAPHICAL
SOURCES
Indigenous to Italy. Also
cultivated in Holland,
Central & Eastern
Europe, Mediterranean
(Morocco, Malta &
Egypt), China, India &
Bagladesh.
MACROSCOPICAL FEATURES
Annual herb growing 0.7 m
in height with white or
pink flowers.
Drug: Normally consists of
whole cremocarps –
straw yellow & 2-4 mm in
diameter when ripe.
Considerable variation
occurs (e.g. Indian variety
> oval).
Apex has 2 styles.
Fruits have an aromatic
odour & spicy taste.
Unripe plant: unpleasant
mousy odour same
odour oil has when made
from unripe fruit.
MICROSCOPICAL FEATURES
Outer pericarp: stomata
& calcium oxalte
prisms.
Thick sclerenchyma
Testa:= brown flattened
cells
Endosperm is curved &
consists of
parenchymous cells
containing fixed oils.
ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS
1.8 % Volatile oils
• Linalool/coriandrol
• Pinene
• Terpinene
• Limonene
• Cymene
• Non-linalool alchols & esters
Flavonoids
Coumarins
Phenolic acids
High fat content (16-28%)
Protein (11-17%)
Coriandrum sativum - USES
Domestic purposes
(cooking - curries)
Pharmaceutically:
flavouring agent &
Carminative
PEPPERMINT
& PEPPERMINT OIL
DEFINITION:
Peppermint is the
dried leaves of
Mentha piperita
(Labiate). It should
contain at least 1.2 %
volatile oil.
GEOGRAPHICAL
SOURCES:
Europe & America
MACROSCOPICAL
FEATURES
All mints have a square
stem & creeping rhizome.
Black mint, which is the
most commonly cultivated
variety in England, has
purple stems and dark
green petiolate leaves
tinged with purple. Leaf
blades are 3-9 cm long
with a grooved petiolate
up to 1 cm long.
Pinnate venation.
Glandular trichomes: bright
yellow points (hand lens)
Small purple flowers appear
in late summer.
MICROSCOPIC FEATURES
Diacytic stomata
Multicellular clothing
trichomes
2 types of glandular
trichomes (one with a
unicellar head; with a
multicellular head).
Calcium oxalate is
absent.
Oleum Menthae
Oil of peppermint is
obtained from Mentha
piperita via steam
distillation using the
flowering tops.
Oil should contain at
least 44 % menthol,
15-32 & menthone
and 4.5-10 % menthyl
acetate.
Oleum Menthae - CONSTITUENTS
Menthol
Menthone & isomenthone
Menthyl acetate
Limonene
Cineole
Menthofuran
Pulegone
Cineole
HERB: Carminative