Essential oil

Essential oils are also known as volatile, ethereal oils or

aetherolea, or simply as the "oil of" the plant from which they
were extracted, such as oil of clove. An oil is "essential" in the
sense that it carries a distinctive scent, or essence, of the plant.
Essential oils do not as a group need to have any specific
chemical properties in common, beyond carry characteristic
fragrances.
Essential oils are generally extracted by distillation. Other
processes include expression, or solvent extraction. They are
used in perfumes, cosmetics (as in creams), soap and other
products, for flavoring food and drink, and for scenting *smell*
incense and household cleaning products.
Various essential
1 oils have been used medicinally at different
periods in history. Medical application proposed by those who sell
medicinal oils range from skin treatments to remedies for cancer.
 Method of preparation of volatile oils
 1- Distillation method
 The distillation of volatile oils by means of water or
steam has long been practiced. In this method boiling
water with aromatic material plants, vaporized, condones
and separation. Plants material should be fresh or dry;
drying should be in shade to prevent oxidation also stored
plant away from light moisture and low temperature.
 Types of distillation
 1. Water distillation: it is applied to plant material that is
dried and not effected with boiling.
 EX. Turpentine oil, water and turpentine oil put in chamber
and subjected to heat until all volatile (both oil and water)
condensed in the condensing chamber.
 Disadvantages: some of oil can be hydrolysis and need
times.
 2. Water and steam distillations: in this method we use
either fresh or dried. The plants material are grounded and
the covered with a layer of water and then steam passed
through the macerated (become soft) mixture.
Disadvantage; may be that boiling damage their volatile
oils.
 3. Direct steam distillation: this method applied to fresh
drug ex. Peppermint, this drug cut and taken directly to the
distillation chamber, steam is forest through the fresh plant
and carried the oil droplets to the chamber condenser.
  Extraction methods

 This method is used for the preparation of those oils which decompose
by the action of steam or are present in very small quantities in the plant
organ, this is applies to flowers.
 A. Maceration (soaking)
 The fresh flowers immersed in boil fat then separated oil by extraction.

 B. Solvents extraction:
 Organic solvent used should be ;
 1, volatile
 2, selectively
 3, low boiling water
 4, inert
 5, cheep
 6, water immiscible (not mixable)

 This method is carried out using

 Volatile solvents of low boiling point such as: benzene, hexane,
chloroform,…..etc
 Non-volatile solvents such as lard, olive oil,…etc
 C. Effleurage (caress) method:
 Fresh flowers are immersed in soft fat base for 24 hrs, to many
days or even month, the oil is removed from the fatty base by
extracted with alcohol.
 Advantage of extraction: The extracted oils have a more
natural odor
 Reserve most of oil constituent without decomposition. Uniform
temperature (50 oC)

 Differentiation between volatile oils and fixed oils:

 V. oils don’t consist of glyceryl ester of fatty acid
 Due to their ability to volatilize, they can be distilled from their
source
 V. oils don’t leave greasy spot on the paper
 V. oils can’t be saponified with alkalis
 They don’t become rancid when exposed to light or air
 They oxidized or resinify when exposed to light or air
 Chemical composition of volatile oils
 Volatile oils are complex and highly mixture of
constituents. They are belonging to two groups according
to their biogenetic origins.
 1. The group of terpenoids via the mevalonic acid pathway:
 Are defined as a natural product whose structure may be
divided into isoprene unites (C5H8), and his molecular
weight is not too high.
 The terpenes either:
 # Monoterpenes which contains of two isoprene units
(C10H16), they may be acyclic or bicyclic.
 # sesquiterpenes which contains of three isoprene units
(C15H24), they may be
 acyclic, monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic.
 # Diterpenes which contains of four isoprene units
(C20H32).
 # Triterpenes which contains of six isoprene units (C30H48).
 2. The group of aromatic compound derived from
shikimic acid pathway
 These compounds contain the C6 phenyl ring with an
attached C3 propane side chain.
 3. Non, it’s not belong to terpenoides and aromatic
groups (hexanol).

 In many cases the plant contains mixture of compounds

of different type that can be separated by:-

 Low temperature
 Fractional distillation

 Fraction crystallization from poor solvents

 Removal by chemical action

 Pharmacological properties of volatile oils
 Lavender (belonging to the mint family): overall first aid oil, Uses
 Antiviral and antibacterial, boosts immunity (increase protection), antidepressant,
anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic.
 Chamomile (type of plant with medicinal value, used to make chamomile tea):
 Uses : Anti-inflammatory, antiallergenic, relaxant, antidepressant.
 Marjoram (type of plant used as a spice in cooking):
 Uses :inflammatory, antispasmodic, and antiseptic (substance which destroys
microorganisms).
 Rosemary [evergreen shrub which grows in Mediterranean regions (used in
perfumes, medications, and as a spice)]:
 Uses: stimulating to circulation, relieves pains, decongestant.
 Tea tree (evergreen shrub of eastern Asia; dried leaves of the tea plant; drink
made from water filtered through tea leaves or other dried leaves):
 Uses: antifungal, antibacterial, and antiyeast.
 Cypress (type of tree, ‫ خشب السرو‬,‫ سرو شجر من فصيلة الصنوبر‬,‫)شجر السرو‬:
 Uses: stimulating to circulation, antiseptic, astringent.
 Peppermint (mint, plant from the Mentha family; mint-flavored candy):
 Uses: stimulant clears sinuses, antiseptic, digestive.

 Plant containing volatile oils used as counter irritating
 Lavender oil
 Origin: it is a dried flower of Lavandula, belong to family Labiatae.
 Active constituents:
 1-3% of volatile oils with 60% from ester of linalool.
 Flavonoids
 Tannins
 Coumarins
 Uses:
 Mild sedative (drug that reduces tension)
 Carminative (drive out gas from the stomach)
 Relieve muscle spasm
 Antidepressant
 Antiseptic (substance which destroys microorganisms which produce
sepsis)
 Antibacterial
 Stimulate the blood flow


 Camphor (2- Borneone)
 It is ketone obtain from Cinnamomum camphora
belong to family Lauraceae
 Origin:- wood of the stem and roots with chipped

 Active constituent:- 50-70 %, camphor

 terpeneol, Saferol, linalool, cineol

 Uses, expectorants to relieve rhinitis and bronchitis

 Employed in liniments as acounter- irritating in
fibrosis and neuralgia.
 Plant containing volatile oils used as anti-flammatory agents

 Salvia leaves:
 Origin: consist of the dried leaves of salvia officinalis belong to
family Labiatae.

 Active constituents:
 1- 2.5% volatile oils
 Flavonoids glycosides
 Triterpenes as well as diterpenes
 Phenolic acids


 Uses:
 Tonic effect
 Reduce the sweating
 Oestrogenic
 Antiseptic
 Antibiotic (kills bacteria)
 Antispasmodic and antioxidant activity
 Chamomile flowers
 From dried flower head of Matricaria recuitta belong to
compositae family

 Active constituents :-
 0.5– 1.5% of volatile oil with sesquiterpenes (bisabolol
& Boxides)
 Chamazuler (1-1.8 %), Flavonoids, Glycosides.

 Uses:- Used as externally on form ointment or powder

in the treatment of burns, wounds & irritating skin.
 As domestic remedy for indigestion, stomatitic,
Carminative, spasmolytic & gastritis.
 Arnica Flower:
 From dried flower head of Arnic mountana belong
to compositae family

 Active constituents :-
 .1 % of volatile oil

 Thymol, Flavonoids (Glycosides Flavonoids),

Triterpene, Carotenoids .

 Uses:- treatment of wounds & sprains (by diluted

flower as tincture).
 As antibiotic activity, anti- inflammatory
 Plant containing volatile oils used as expectorants (medication
that increases the production of phlegm)
 Anis
 Origin: it is consisting of the dried ripe fruit of pimpinella anisum
belong to family Umbelliferae.

 Active constituents
 2-6 % volatile oils
 Flavonoids
 Polysaccharides
 Glycosides of p-hydroxybenzoic acid

 Uses:
 Relive colic (stomach pain)
 Indigestion (difficulty in digesting food)
 Antispasmodic
 Asthma whooping cough and bronchitis
 Expectorant
 Increase the breast milk production
 Treatment of lice and scabies.
 Caraway (spice, substance added to food to improve
flavor)

 Origin: consist of the dried ripe fruit of carum carvi

belong to family Apiaceae

 Active constituents:
 Carvone
 Limonene
 Β,α- pinene
 β-cymin

 Uses:
 flavoring agent
 antispasmodic effect especially on ureter
 used in renal stone
 Fennel
 Dried ripe fruit of foeniculcum vulgare belong to
Umbelliferae family

 Active constituent
 2-6 % volatile oil

 Estragole, fenchone

 Uses
 Aromatic carminative

 Give to mother to increase the lactation

 Treatment of flatulence & colic

 Plant containing volatile oils used as stomachic and carminative
 Ginger
 Origin: it is scraped or unscraped rhizome of zingiber offcinale
belongs to family Zingiberaceae.
 Active constituents: volatile oils (zingiberol and gingerol)
 Uses:
 condiment and carminative
 anti-emetic
 anti- activity
 antibacterial and antifungal
 Valerian
 Origin: the rhizome and root of valeriana officinalis, family
valerianaceae.

 Active constituents:
 volatile oils
 epoxy-irridoid

 Uses:
 calmative (sedative) in hysteria
 nervous disorder, antispasmodic
 Peppermint
 Consists of the dried leaves & flowering tops of
mentha piperita belong to Labiatae family, the oil
obtained is colorless, pale yellow, yellowish green,
liquid, odor of peppermint & pungent aromatic
cooling taste.


 Active constituent:- volatile oil(Menthol, Menthon,

Methyl acetate)

 Uses
 Aromatic carminative, relives gastritis, colic

 Leaves is anti- diarrheal, choleretic effect ( increase

the bile secretion)
 Curcuma
 Origin: it is the dried rhizome of curcuma
domesrica, belong to family Zingiberaceae.


 Active constituents:
 Volatile oils

 Coloring matter

 Uses
 As aromatic stomachic and diuretic(causing an
increase in urination
 Treatment of jaundice and hepatitis

 Coloring agent and condiment

 PLANT CONTAINING VOLATILE OILS USED AS DIURETICS

 Parsley
 Root and fruits of Petroslinum crispm belong to
Umbelliferae Family

 Active constituents
 Root contain 0.1 – 0.5 %, of volatile oil

 Fruits contain 2 – 6 %, of volatile oil

 Flavonoids, furocnmarin

 Uses
 Both have medicinally as diuretics, emmenagogue
 Juniper
 Drug consists of the dried fruits of Juniperus communi
belong to Cupressaceae family.

 Active constituent
 0.2-2.0 % volatile oil , contain monoterpene pinene
(80%), camphon, limonen)
 Sesquiterpenoids (cadinen, 30% sugar, tannins, resin
& flavonoids).

 Uses
 Diuretics, treatment of urinary tract infection, should
be avoid during pregnancy or the presence of renal
disorders