NAME: KIRAN KARIM

CLASS: BEMS 3RD PROF

SUBJECT: PHARMACY – 1
SEMESTER: 5
COURSE CODE: 351-T
“Volatile oils and
their method of
extraction”
 Introduction:
Volatile oil (or Essential oil) is a pure oil Extracted
from plants. It can extracted from the seeds, flowers ,
leaves, fruits, bark, wood, roots which is a liquid with
a complex chemical composition and varies in each
species. It has low boiling point and evaporate at room
temperature. Chemical composition of the essential
oils that are many hundreds of different species. But
the bulk can be separated and each group can be
effective in the treatment of different. There are many
types of volatile oils and their pharmacological actions
Types of volatile oils
MEDICINAL OILS
Basil Oil:
 Botanical name : Ocimum basilicum
 Important Constituents : Linalool, Fenchol ,
Eugenol , Methyl chavicol, Beta Caryophyllene .
 Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distillation
 Part Typically Used: Leaves and Flowers/Buds
 Aromatic Discription: Sweet, herbaceous, slightly
camphorous.
 Tulsi (Basil) is the ‘Queen of herbs’ and indeed, it is ‘the
incomparable one’, considering the health and beauty benefits
that are associated with it. Basil essential oil contains all the
goodness of tulsi in a concentrate form. This powerful oil with
fresh, sharp, herbaceous-minty odour combined has clarifying,
uplifting and warming effects. It is also one of the most
commonly used herbs for essential oil extraction. This
extraction process amplifies the medicinal properties of the
plant, flower, or tree. Every drop of essential oil is so
concentrated that one drop can be compared to pounds and
pounds of the plant used for extraction. Basil essential oil has
an aroma that can be calming and refreshing. However, basil
has an estimated 50 to 150 number of species all over the
world, so how a basil essential oil smells will depend on the
species and where it’s grown.
Cedar wood oil:
 Botanical name : Cedrus atlantica
 Important Constituents : B-Himachalene,a-
Himachalene,(E)-a-Atlantone,Gamma-
Himachalene,Deodarone,(E)-Gamma-
Atlantone,Himachalol, Isocedranol
 Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distilled
 Part Typically Used :Wood
 Aromatic Discription: Woody and sweet. The aroma is
reminiscent of artificial mothballs.
 Essential oil from cedar wood is believed to be one of the
first distilled by man. There’s plenty of existing evidence
that tells of how early humans put cedar wood essential oil to
various uses, taking full advantage of its antiseptic and
sedative effects, among many others. For instance, recent
findings suggest that despite the relative difficulty of
extracting essential oils from cedar, Ancient Egyptians used
substantial amounts of the precious nectar to embalm their
dead. We can all take the well-preserved state of Egyptian
mummies as proof of the strength of cedar wood oil’s
insecticidal and antimicrobial properties. Cedar trees prefer
colder climates and are usually found in higher altitudes.
Nowadays, not all trees that are called “cedar” are the same
species or even the same genus as the cedars of Biblical
fame.
Eucalyptus oil:
 Botanical name: eucalyptus globulus.
 Important constituent: Cineole/Eucalyptol, Pinene,
Camphene, Phellandrene, Citronellal, Geranyl acetate.
 Common method of extraction: distillation.
 Part typically used: fresh leaves.
 Aromatic description: camphouraceous.
 Eucalyptus oil is the distilled oil that comes from
the dried leaves of eucalyptus. a colorless liquid
with a strong woody and sweet smell. There are
more than 700 different species of eucalyptus in
the world, of which at least 500 produce a type of
essential oil.
Rose geranium oil
 Botanical name: Pelargonium Graveolens
 Important constituents:Geraniol (0.08-0.4%) β-Citronellol,
Citronellyl formate, Isomenthone, Eudesmol, Linolool,
Myrecene, Limonrnr menthone
 Common method of extraction: distillation
 Typically part used: leaves and stalk.
 Aromatic description: sweet and strong odour
 Geranium oil of commerce is the essential oil
distilled from the leaves of a number of species,
varieties and strains of Pelargonium. The plant is
short term perennial shrub. Pelargoniums hybridize
so readily that it is not useful to talk of particular
species. However, an important consequence of this
is that planting is always from cuttings to maintain
the characteristics of the planting material. Geranium
oil is widely used as an important floral component
in fragrances, cosmetics and household items where
fragrance is needed. It is a major component in the
soap industry, and is also used in pharmacy, herbal
medicine and aromatherapy.
Ginger oil
 Botanical name: zingiber officinialis
 Important constituents: Zingiberine, sesquiphellandrene
,BisaBolene, Dexto-camphene, Beta-phellandrene, 1,8-cineole.
 Common method of extraction: steam distillation
 Typically part used: rhizome
 Aromatic description: strong, warm or spicey odour.
 Ginger oil is essential oil that is extracted from the
plant ginger i.e. Zingiberaceae officinale of the
Zingiberaceae family and is also known as Common
or Jamaica Ginger.
 Ginger oil is pale yellow in color, has a fresh,
agreeable & aromatic smell, has strong and
characteristic odour. The shelf life of Ginger oil is
very long and it is Stable at room temperature. So it
is used in aromatherapy.
Lavendar oil
 Botanical name:Lavandula Angustifolia
 Important constituents: linalool, linalyl acetate,
camphor, terpinen, borneol, lanvanduyl acetate.
 Common method of extraction: steam distillation
 Typically part used: fresh flowers
 Aromatic description: floral, fresh, sweet, herbaceous
and sometimes slightly fruity. It can be slightly
camphorous.
 The flowers of lavender are fragrant in nature and
have been used for making potpourri for centuries.
Lavender essential oil has a calming scent which
makes it an excellent tonic for the nerves and
anxiety issues. A little Lavender can be applied to
the pillow or sprayed on the sheets to induce a
restful sleep, and it is also immensely effective in
relieving headaches. To use, it can inhaled directly
or with the use of diffuser. For those who suffer
sleep problems, you can apply several drops of it
directly to your pillow.
“pharmacological actions of
essential oils”
 • Basil oil - Insect repellent.
(Osmium - Antiseptic for respiratory tract (bronchitis,
Basilicum L.) asthma, respiratory allergies).
- Calmative (insomnia, nervousness,
anxiety).

• Cedar oil - Antiseptic for respiratory tract (bronchitis,

(Juniperus coughing) and expectorant.
Virginiana C.) - Antiseptic for urinary tract.
- Antiseptic for skin problems (acne, oily
skin, eczemas) and scalp (dandruff, greasy
hair, hair loss).
- Insect repellent.
• Eucalyptus oil - Antiseptic for respiratory tract (asthma,
(Eucalyptus bronchitis, flu, colds, sinusitis, coughing).
Globulus M.) - Antipyretic.
- Analgesic for rheumatic (arthritis, gout,
rheumatism) and muscular pains.
- Skin healing (wounds, herpes, burns) and
scalp.
- Insect repellent.

• Fennel oil - Analgesic for menstrual pains.

(Foeniculu - Antiseptic for skin problems (oily skin) Antiseptic
m Vulgare for urinary tract (cystitis, kidney stones).
M.) - Digestive (intestinal colic, flatulence, indigestion).
- Diuretic.
- Antispasmodic.
• Rose Geranium - Insect repellent.
oil - Skin healing (acne, wounds, herpes,
(Pelargonium eczemas, burns), scalp and mouth (mouth
Graveolens G.) ulcers, abscesses, gingivitis).
- Antiseptic for urinary tract.
- Antidepressant and calmative (fatigue,
stress).
- Analgesic for menstrual and rheumatic pains.

• Ginger oil - Vasodilator and circulation stimulating.

(Zingiber - Antipyretic.
Officinalis) - Anticough.
- Expectorant,  Digestive.
• Lavender oil - Antiseptic for skin problems, gastro intestinal
(Lavandula tract, urinary tract and ear infection.
Angustifolia L.) - Antidepressant.
- Calmative (insomnia, anxiety).
- Pain relief for headaches and rheumatism
(arthritis, gout, rheumatism).
- Skin healing (acne, burns, eczemas), mouth
and scalp.

• Lemongrass oil - Analgesic for muscular pains and

(Cymbopogon inflammations.
Citratus) -(anxiety, depression).
- Insect and moths repellent.
- Stimulating for the augmentation of mother’s
milk.
- Vasodilator (varicose veins, tired legs).
- Antipyretic.
 Method of extraction:
 The method of obtaining volatile oils depends upon condition of
plant materials. Oil production can be divided into three major
ways
 i. Distillation (Hydro-distillation)
 ii. Solvent extraction
 iii. Mechanical expression
Specialized methods are:
 i. Ecuelle Method
 ii. Enfleurage
  Distillation
Distillation Three types of distillation are used
1. Water distillation
2. Water and steam distillation
3. Direct steam distillation
Water distillation:
 Applied to plant material that is dried and is not
destroyed by boiling.
 Turpentine oil is obtained by this method.
 The crude turpentine oleoresin is introduced into the
distilling chamber.
 It is subjected to heat until all volatile matter, both oil
and water, is condensed in the condensing chamber.
 Turpentine oil is not affected by this amount of heat.
Water and steam distillation
 Applied to plant material that may be dried or fresh and
can be destroyed by boiling.
 In case of dried material e.g. cinnamon or clove, the drug
is ground.
 It is then covered with a layer of water.
 Steam is passed through the macerated mixture.
 As the oil can be damaged by direct boiling; therefore,
steam is generated elsewhere and is conveyed into the
container that keeps the drug.
 Oily layer of condensed distillate is separated from the
aqueous layer.
 The oil is then marketed with or without further
processing.
Direct steam distillation
 Applied to plant material that is fresh e.g. peppermint
or spearmint.
 The plant is cut and is placed directly into a metal
distilling tank on a truck bed.
 The truck is moved to a distilling shed, where steam
lines are attached to the bottom of the distilling tank.
 The plant material is still green and contains natural
moisture; therefore, maceration is not needed.
 Steam is passed through the fresh herb and carries the
oil droplets through a vapor pipe that is attached to
condensing chamber.
 During steam distillation, some components of a
volatile oil
Solvent extraction
Solvent extraction is either carried out by using various solvents or fats.
It can be classified into two types.
1. Absolute Solvent extraction
2. Supercritical fluid extraction
Absolute solvent extraction
 It is usually carried out for the extraction of volatile oil from rose
flowers etc.
 The flowers are agitated in a vat(tub) with a solvent such as hexane.
 This solvents takes out the aromatic compounds as well as other
soluble substances.
 The extract is then exposed to vacuum processing which removes the
solvent for re-use.
 The remaining waxy mass is known as concrete.
 The concrete is then mixed with alcohol which dissolves the aromatic
constituents and leaves behind the other substances
Supercritical fluid extraction
 It is the process of separating one component (the extract
ant) from another (matrix) using supercritical fluids as the
extracting solvents.
 The system must contain a pump for CO2, a pressure cell
that contains the sample, a mean of maintaining pressure
in the system and a collecting vessel.
 The liquid is pumped to heated zone, where it is heated to
supercritical conditions.
 It is then passed into extraction vessel. Here it diffuses
into the solid matrix and dissolves the material to be
extracted.
 The dissolved material is taken out from extraction vessel
 expression
 Most citrus essences are extracted by means of expression.
 In the past, the fruit pulp was removed by hands.
 The rind and pith were then soaked in warm water.
 Pith of the fruit absorbed water and exerted pressure due to which
it became more elastic.
 It was inverted which helped to rupture the oil cells on a sponge
placed next to rind.
 As sponge became saturated with oil, it was then squeezed to
release the volatile oil which was collected in a vessel and then
decanted.
 Enfleurage method
 In this method, an odorless fixed oil or fat is spread
in a thin layer on glass plates.
 The flower petals are placed on the fat for few hours.
 Then, repeatedly, the old petals are removed, and a
new layer of petals is introduced.
 When the fat absorbs maximum fragrance, the oil
may be removed by extraction with alcohol.
 It was formerly widely used in the production of
perfumes and pomades.
 ecuelle method
 It is used to obtain citrus oils.
 In this method, the fruit is rolled over the trough lined with
sharp projections.
 These projections penetrate the epidermis and puncture the oil
glands located in the outer portion of the peel.
 The fruit is then pressed to remove oil from glands.
 It is then sprayed with water that washes the oil from the
mashed peel.
 The resulting oil water emulsion is separated by centrifugation.
 REFERENCES:

 https://
www.slideshare.net/aksharpreetpharmacy/volatileo
ils-by-pooja-in-pharmacognosy
 https://
www.pharmatutor.org/articles/modern-methods-vo
latile-extraction-review