Cypress Oil Research Articles

Antioxidant Activities of Eleven Australian Essential Oils

Essential oils are gaining increasing interest due to their multiple biological activities and great potential for therapeutic use. The antioxidant effect of essential oils is of special interest in diseases with inflammatory aspects. In this paper, the antioxidant activities of eleven essential oils extracted from Australian native plants were examined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) assays. In the DPPH assay, all of the essential oils showed substantial antioxidant potential, with a radical-scavenging activity ranging from 12.9% ± 0.3% to 86.9% ± 0.2% at the concentration of 1.6 × 10−2 mL/mL. In the ABTS assay, lemon-scented tea-tree oil ( Leptospermum petersonii Bailey) (80.6% ± 0.7%), Australian blue cypress oil ( Callitris intratropica R. T. Baker & H. G. Smith) (78.6% ± 1.3%), lemon-scented eucalyptus oil ( Eucalyptus citriodora Hook.) (56.7% ± 0.9%) and lemon-scented ironbark oil ( Eucalyptus staigeriana F. Muell. ex Bailey) (58.9% ± 0.8%) exhibited relatively high radical-scavenging activities at the concentration of 1.6 × 10−2 mL/mL. Taken together, in both DPPH and ABTS assays, lemon-scented tea-tree oil (with IC50 of 1.5 × 10−3 mL/mL and 1.5 × 10−3 mL/mL, respectively), Australian blue cypress oil (with IC50 of 9.5 × 10−3 mL/mL and 3.0 × 10−3 mL/mL, respectively), lemon-scented eucalyptus oil (with IC50 of 4.8 × 10−3 mL/mL and 8.9 × 10−3 mL/mL, respectively) and lemon-scented ironbark oil (with IC50 of 6.4 × 10−3 mL/mL and 7.0 × 10−3 mL/mL, respectively) showed the highest antioxidant potential of the essential oils tested. By comparison, the antioxidant capacity of vitamin E had IC50 values of 5.3 × 10−5 mL/mL and 4.3 × 10−6 mL/mL in the DPPH and ABTS tests respectively.

Antifungal Effect of Eugenol and Nerolidol against Microsporum gypseum in a Guinea Pig Model

Essential oils have been widely used in anti-infectious application. In the present study, we elucidated the antifungal activities of eugenol and nerolidol isolated from Japanese cypress oil in a guinea pig model infected by Microsporum gypseum (M. gypseum). A minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), skin lesion scoring, hair culture and histopathologic examination of skin tissues were performed to evaluate the antifungal effect of these oils. The MICs of eugenol, nerolidol and econazole (positive control) were 0.01-0.03% and 0.5-2% and 4-16 microg/ml, respectively. Based on these MICs, eugenol and nerolidol were adjusted to 10% concentration with a base of Vaseline petroleum jelly and were applied topically to the skin lesion infected with M. gypseum daily for 3 weeks. Both eugenol and nerolidol were clinically effective at improving the lesion during the first week of application, as determined by skin lesion scoring. Nerolidol improved the skin lesions infected by M. gypseum, but eugenol did not, as determined in the hair culture test. Histopathologic examination revealed that the eugenol- and nerolidol-treated groups had a lower degree of hyperkeratosis and inflammatory cell infiltration than the positive control. Taken together, these results suggest that eugenol and nerolidol could apply supplementary antifungal agents.

Stimulative and sedative effects of essential oils upon inhalation in mice

This study investigated the stimulative or sedative effects of inhaling fragrant essential oils (EOs) by using a forced swimming test (FST) with mice. This behavioral test is commonly used to measure the effects of antidepressant drugs. The inhalation by mice of EOs, such as ginger oil (p<0.05), thyme oil (p<0.05), peppermint oil (p<0.05), and cypress oil (p<0.01) resulted in 5% to 22% reduction of immobility. The same results were achieved when over-agitation was artificially induced in the mice by an intraperitoneal injection of caffeine (a psycho-stimulant). In contrast, inhalation of some EOs by the mice resulted in increased immobility. To evaluate more correctly the sedative effects of EOs, the immobility of over-agitated mice induced with caffeine was ascertained after the inhalation of various EOs. Inhalation of lavender oil (p<0.01) and hyssop oil (p<0.01) increased the immobile state in mice that were treated with caffeine. The results of this study indicate that the inhalation of essential oils may induce stimulative or sedative effects in mice.

Immunological and Psychological Benefits of Aromatherapy Massage

This preliminary investigation compares peripheral blood cell counts including red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), neutrophils, peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs), CD4+, CD8+ and CD16+ lymphocytes, CD4+/CD8+ ratio, hematocrit, humoral parameters including serum interferon-γ and interleukin-6, salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA). Psychological measures including the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire and the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) between recipients (n = 11) of carrier oil massage and aromatherapy massage, which includes sweet almond oil, lavender oil, cypress oil and sweet marjoram oil. Though both STAI and SDS showed a significant reduction (P < 0.01) after treatment with aromatherapy and carrier massage, no difference between the aromatherapy and control massage was observed for STAI and SDS. Aromatherapy, in contrast to control massage, did not significantly reduce RBC count or hematocrit. However, aromatherapy massage showed a significant (P > 0.05) increase in PBLs, possibly due to an increase in CD8+ and CD16+ lymphocytes, which had significantly increased post-treatment (P < 0.01). Consequently, the CD4+/CD8+ ratio decreased significantly (P < 0.01). The paucity of such differences after carrier oil massage suggests that aromatherapy massage could be beneficial in disease states that require augmentation of CD8+ lymphocytes. While this study identifies the immunological benefits of aromatherapy massage, there is a need to validate the findings prospectively in a larger cohort of patients.

Analysis of Thujopsene in Antimicrobial/Deodorant Processed Textiles as an Index of Hiba Oil

The use of hiba oil (cypress oil) as a safe and natural antimicrobial agent for textiles is on the rise. For investigating the hiba oil content of commercially available textiles, the authors developed an analytical method using thujopsene, the main ingredient of hiba oil, as an index. First, standard fabrics were prepared by fixing microcapsules filled with hiba oil. Using these fabrics, detection of thujopsene by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC⁄MS), extraction of thujopsene from textiles, and purification of the extract were studied, and then an analytical method for finding thujopsene on the level of ng⁄g-fabric was established. Next, in order to estimate the survivability of thujopsene in marketed products, the JIS color fastness test was performed for the hiba-oil-treated fabrics, and the survival rate of thujopsene in those fabrics was observed. It was proven that thujopsene continued to remain on the level of ng⁄g-fabric. Furthermore, analysis of thujopsene was carried out for 23 kinds of textile products labeled “processed with hiba oil or hinokitiol,” which were purchased in the past five years. As a result, thujopsene was detected in 21 products, proving that most commercially available products had been processed with hiba oil. This analytical method is considered effective in determining whether a textile product was actually processed with hiba oil.

The birth of blue cypress oil

The birth of blue cypress oil

MICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY AND BIODEGRADABILITY TO TAXODIUM DISTICHUM SEED OIL

Isolates of two fungal species from rotted orange fruits as well as standard bacterial cultures were screened for their susceptibility and ability to metabolise Taxodium Distichum ( bald cypress) seed oil over a twelve- day period by adding the oil to fungal spore or bacterial culture suspension. Under these conditions, all tested strains metabolized the oil in variable rates ranged from 8 to 100% . The proportions of the oil component degraded differed widely with the microorganism. The highest degradation was observed with Aspergillus and Penicillium species (100%), certain other standard cultures, notably of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Klebsiella pneumoniae and Bacillus subtilis metabolized, about 15-30%, of the oil. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the oil revealed higher efficacy against Candida albicans but limited towards Gram - positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and B. subtilis). No significiant activity was noted against Gram - negative bacteria and true fungi. Microbial degradability of T. distichum oil is found to be inversely proportional with the oil bio-activity complete resistance followed by complete degradation exhibited by true fungi to bald cypress oil. By the end of the biodegradation period, antimicrobial activity of the resulted products exhibited no significant difference than that of the substrate. Thus , cultures that were established within 12 days failed to yield significant oil biodegraders. The estimation of the oil was carried out by Gas chromatography (GC) and GC mass spectrum (GC-MS)

LEWIS ACID CATALYSED PINACOL REARRANGEMENT–A SHORT SYNTHESIS OF KARAHANAENONE

Abstract The pinacolic coupling reaction has been effectively used to prepare the unsymmetrical pinacol 2 and this key intermediate underwent a smooth ring enlargement to the monoterpene karahanaenone 3, an odoriferous constituent of Japanese hop and Cypress oil.

Thiophenol additions to alkenylidenecyclopropanes. A novel synthesis of karahanaenone

The additions of thiophenol to alkenylidenecyclopropanes (e.g. 3, 14) are found to be highly regioselective and stereoselective leading to endo - (or cis - vinyl sulphide adducts (e.g. 4, 15) resulting from additions to the 1,4-double bonds in the starting materials. Thiophenol addition to (1) leads to a mixture of the vinyl sulphides (16) and (17) which undergo Cope rearrangement producing the cycloheptadiene (18); hydrolysis of (18) then gives karahanaenone (19) an odoriferous constituent of Japanese hop and Cypress oil.

Cypress oil

Cypress oil

Cypress oil

Cypress oil