Volatile oils

Md. Zahidul Islam Zahid

Lecturer
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
North South University
 Introduction
• Volatile oil is a concentrated, hydrophobic liquid
containing volatile aroma compounds from plants.
• Volatile oils are also called as essential oil because
they represent the essence or odoriferous
constituents of plants.
• They are mostly found in plants of families like
Pinaceae, Apiaceae, Rutaceae etc.
 Properties of Volatile Oil
1. They are liquid, lipophilic and volatile with a characteristic
smell.
2. They are insoluble in water but soluble in alcohol, ether
and other lipid solvents.
3. They are usually lighter than water and their specific
gravity is less than 1.
4. Volatile oils have high refractive index and show optical
rotations.
CINNAMON
Biological Source:
Cinnamon consists of the dried inner bark of the shoots of
coppiced trees of Cinnamomum zeylanicum

Family: Lauraceae

Chemical constituents:
Cinnamon contains 0.5-6% of volatile oil, which includes: CH=CH-CHO
- Cinnamic aldehyde(60-70%)
- Eugenol(4%)
Cinnamic aldehyde
- Tannin and mucilage
CINNAMON
Uses:
• Chiefly used as carminative and flavoring agent
• Used as astringent and antibiotic agents
• Used as a spice
• Commercially used for extraction of Cinnamon oil
• Used as a powerful germicide
• Used as a counter-irritant in the treatment of muscular strains, rheumatism
and inflammations
• Used as anti-diarrhoeal agent.
Cinnamon Tree
Cinnamon
CARDAMOM
Biological Source: Cardamom consists of the dried ripe
seeds of Elettaria cardamomum
Family: zingiberaceae
Chemical constituents:
• The seeds contain
-volatile oil( 2-8%),the principal constituent of which is cineole, borneol and
limonene
- fixed oil(1-2%)
- resin and starch
CARDAMOM
Chemical constituents:

OH
O

Cineole Borneol Limonene

CARDAMOM
USES:
• Used as flavoring agent for pharmaceutical syrups, curries
and cake
• Used for the preparation of Compound Cardamom Tincture
• Used as an aromatic carminative, stimulant, stomachic and
diuretic agent
Cardamom Plant
CAMPHOR
Biological Source: Camphor is a solid ketone obtained from the volatile oil of
Cinnamomum camphora
Family: Lauraceae
Chemical constituents:
Camphor oil contains:
camphor, cineol, aldehyde, pinene, camphene, phellandrene, limonene and
diterpenes
O

Camphor
CAMPHOR
USES:
• Used externally as rubefacient, counter-irritant
• Internally used as a stimulant, carminative and antiseptic
• Used as 1-3% in skin medicaments due to topical antipruritic and antiinfective
properties
• Used in cosmetic
• Used to manufacture some plastics, varnishes, explosives
Cinnamomum camphora
EUCALYPTUS
Biological Source: Eucalyptus oil is a volatile oil obtained by steam distillation of the
fresh leaves of various species of Eucalyptus such as
E. globulus ; E. polybractea etc
Family: Myrtaceae
Chemical constituents:
- volatile oil(3-6%),the principal constituent of which is cineole(70-85%)
- resins, tannic acids, dihydroflavanol, p-cumeric acid, cinnamic acid, eucalyptic acid
and rutin

HO CH=CH-COOH

p-Coumaric acid
EUCALYPTUS
USES:
• Used in infections of the upper RT, malaria, certain skin
diseases
• In ointment for burns and as mosquito repellant
• As a stimulating expectorant in chronic bronchitis and
asthma
• Eucalyptus increases the appetite and digestion by increasing
the flow of saliva, gastric and intestinal juices
EUCALYPTUS
USES:
• Increases the rate of heart beats, lowers the arterial tension
and quickens respiration
• Mixed with an equal amount of olive oil,it is used as a
rubefacient for rheumatism
Eucalyptus Leaves
TURPENTINE OIL
Biological Source:
Turpentine oil is obtained by distillation of oleoresin of Pinus palustris and
other species of Pinus
Family: Pinaceae
Chemical constituents:
• About 40 monoterpenes are reported in the oil
• The major components are-
alpha-pinene(20-30%) and
beta-pinene(5-10%)
TURPENTINE OIL
USES:
• Externally used as a counter-irritant and rubefacient
• Used in the treatment of chronic bronchitis
• Commercially used to prepare synthetic pine oil,
disinfectants, denaturants, insecticides, paints, varnishes,
fragrances and vitamins etc
Pinus palustris
CLOVE
Biological Source: Clove is the dried flower buds of
Eugenia caryophyllus

Family: Myrtaceae
Chemical constituents:
• 15-20% of volatile oil-the chief constituent of which is eugenol(85%)
• It also contains vanillin, tannin(10-13%), terpenic acid, gum, resin and a
crystalline substance called caryophyllene
CLOVE
Chemical constituents:
CH2-CH=CH2 CHO

OCH3 OCH3

OH OH

Eugenol Vanillin
CLOVE
USES:
- Used for the preparation of clove oil
- Used as an aromatic stimulant, antispasmodic, antiseptic and carminative agent
to aid in flatulence, dyspepsia, throat infection etcetera.
- Used as flavoring agent in pharmaceutical preparations
- Used in toothache, dental preparation and in mouth washes
- Used as a common flavoring spice in baking and confections and in cooking meat
in Asian countries
Clove Plant
Clove
PEPPERMINT
• Biological Source: Peppermint consists of dried leaves and flowering tops of
Mentha piperita
• Family: Labiatae
• Chemical constituents:
- The principal constituent is 0.7-1.5% of a volatile oil, which contains 85% of
menthol
- It also contains 6-12 % of tannin

OH

Menthol
PEPPERMINT
USES:
- Used for allaying nausea, flatulence and vomiting due to stimulant, stomachic
and carminative properties
- Bruised leaves are applied externally to relieve local pain and headache
- A hot infusion is taken to allay stomach ache and diarrhea
- Used for flavoring in pharmaceuticals, dental preparations, mouth washes, drops,
soaps, chewing gums, candies, confectionery and alcoholic liquors
- Used in rheumatism, neuralgia, congestive headache and toothache due to
antiseptic and anesthetic properties
Peppermint Leaves
FENNEL
Biological Source: Fennel is the dried ripe fruits of
Foeniculum vulgare
Family: Umbelliferae
Chemical constituents:
Volatile oils(2-6.5%),the chief constituents of which is-
-phenolic ether
-anethole(50-60%)
-fenchone(18-20%) and
-ketone
FENNEL
• Chemical constituents:

CH=CH-CH3

=O

OCH3

Anethole Fenchone
FENNEL
USES
• Commercially used as a spice and for the production of fennel oil.
• Pharmaceutically as an aromatic agent.
• Used as an effective carminative drug to treat and manage flatulence, dyspepsia,
indigestion and other stomach troubles.
• Useful in diseases of the chest, spleen and kidney.
• Anethole is used in mouth and dental preparations.
• Used as expectorant in cough preparations.
Fennel
Foeniculum vulgare
Thank You 