Eucalyptus oil

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Eucalyptus oil is the generic name for distilled oil from the Eucalyptus genus of the Myrtaceae plant family originating from Australia, but now cultivated worldwide.

Global annual production of eucalyptus oil is estimated at 3,000 tonnes. China produces about 70% of the world trade. Other major producers include South Africa, Portugal, Spain, Brazil, Australia, Chile and Swaziland.

[edit] Use and types

Eucalyptus oils in the trade are categorized into three broad types according to their composition and main end-use: medicinal, perfumery and industrial.The most prevalent is the standard cineole based 'oil of eucalyptus', a colourless mobile liquid (yellow with age) with a camphoraceous and woody scent.[1]

Production is dominated by Eucalyptus globulus. However, Eucalyptus polybractea has the highest quality oil with a cineole content averaging at 80-85%. The British Pharmacopoeia states that the oil must have a minimum cineole content of 70% if it is to be of pharmaceutical grade.[2]

The cineole based oils are used medicinally to relieve the symptoms of influenza and colds, in products like cough sweets, lozenges, and inhalants. They are also used in personal hygiene products for antimicrobial properties in dental care and soaps. They can also be applied to wounds to prevent infection. They also have anti-inflammatory and analgesic qualities and are topically applied as an ingredient in liniments.

The oil can also be used as an insect repellent and biopesticide.

Eucalyptus oil should not be confused with the term Eucalyptol (cineole), which is the dominant chemical isolate common in commercially available eucalyptus oils.

Commercial cineole based eucalyptus oils are produced from several species of Eucalyptus:


The Eucalyptus genus also produces non-cineole oils, including piperitone, phellandrene, citral, methyl cinnamate and geranyl acetate.

Eucalyptus oils are also used in perfumery and flavoring.

[edit] History

Australian Aboriginals used eucalyptus leaves as medicine. They steeped the leaves in water to make infusions to treat bronchial ailments (Barr et al. 1988).

In 1788, the first non-Aboriginal use occurred when the Surgeon-General of the First Fleet, John White, recorded the presence of olfactory oil in the eucalyptus. White distilled a quart of oil from the "Sydney Peppermint", Eucalyptus piperita Sm., which was found growing on the shores of Port Jackson, where Sydney now stands.

An oil sample was sent to England and tested, and was found to be "much more efficacious in removing all cholicky complaints than that of the oil obtained from the well known English peppermint, being less pungent and more aromatic". Eucalyptus oil was subsequently extracted by early colonialists, but was not commercially exploited.

Baron Ferdinand von Mueller, the Government Botanist in Victoria, encouraged Joseph Bosisto, a pharmacist, to investigate the commercial potential of the oil. Bosisto started the commercial eucalyptus oil industry in 1852 when he built a distillation plant near Dandenong, Victoria, Australia. Bosisto originally distilled Eucalyptus radiata (syn E. amygdalina).

The distilling of eucalptus spread, and by the 1870s Eucalyptus globulus, Tasmanian blue gum, was being exported worldwide. By the 1930s E. globulus dominated world wide trade in eucalyptus oil, while other species producing higher quality oil were also being distilled to a lesser extent.

The global establishment of eucalyptus plantations for timber resulted in increased volumes of eucalyptus oil as a plantation by-product. Non-Australian sources now dominate commercial eucalyptus oil supply.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Lawless, J., The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils, Element Books 1995 ISBN 1-85230-661-0
  2. ^ Eucalyptus history [1]
  • Boland, D.J., Brophy, J.J., and A.P.N. House, Eucalyptus Leaf Oils, 1991, ISBN 0-909605-69-6
  • FAO Corporate Document Repository, Flavours and fragrances of plant origin [2]