VOLATILE OILS

Other names: Ethereal oils; Essential oils; Essences

Are the odorous, colourless and photosensitive principles found in various plants
Undergoes auto-oxidation and resinification.

Parts of the Plant and Families

Part Families
Grandular hairs (Trichomes) Mint Family; Lamiaceae (Labiatae)
Modified parenchyma cells Pepper Family; Piperceae
Oil tubes (Vittae) Dilweed Family; Umbelliferae (Apiaceae)
Lysigenous and schizogenous passages Pine Family; Pinaceae; Citru Family; Rutaceae

Chemical constituent: BROAD CLASSES

1. TERPENE DERIVATIVES
Formed via acetate-mevalonic acid pathway
2. AROMATIC COMPOUNDS
Formed via the shikimic acid-phenylprop route.

Physical Characteristics:

Possess characteristic odors

High refractive index
Optically active
Immiscible in water but they can be sufficiently soluble to impart their odor in water.
Soluble in ether, alcohol and some organic solvents

VOLATILE OIL vs. FIXED OIL

Can be distilled from their natural sources

No permanent grease on spot test
They do not become rancid, they oxidized and resinify.

Methods of obtaining Volatile oils

I. DISTILLATION

I.1. WATER DISTILLATION

Applied to dry samples and are not subject to Injury by boiling

Example: TURPENTINE OIL

I.2. WATER AND STEAM DISTILLATION

Applied to dry and fresh samples that is subjected or may be injured by boiling
Example: CINNAMON OIL AND CLOVE OIL

I.3. STEAM DISTILLATION

Applicable to fresh plant drugs

 Examples: PEPPERMINT AND SPEARMINT

I.4 DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION

means of obtaining the Empyreutic oil

Similar that of incineration, heat without the presence/ access of air.
Examples: PINACEAE AND CRUPESSACEAE

II. ENZYMATIC ACTION

The best example is Glycosidic volatile oil (Mustard oil)

III. EXPRESSION

III.1. ESCUELLE A PIQUER

is puncturing the oil glands by rolling the fruit or the fruit to a trough lined sharp projection
Ex: Lemon Oil and Orange oil (Rutaceae family)

III.2. ENFLEURACE

Flower petals on a fatty pomade

Formerly used extensively in the production of perfumes and pomade
POMADE

IIII. EXTRACTION

Done using solvent systems based on such volatile solvents as petroleum ether or benzene.

MEDICINAL AND COMMERCIAL USES

Spices and Condiment

Flavoring
Carminative
Fabrication of perfumes

3 CATEGORIES

A. TOP NOTES
o most volatile poducts, they leave the skin readily
o Examples: Lemon , lavender and Anise oils

B. MIDDLE NOTES

o intermediates tenacity and volatility

o Examples: Thyme, Neroli, Rose oils

C. BASE NOTES

o low volatility and high tenacity

o also known as fixatives
o Examples: Vanillin, Musk, Civet and Ambergis

Musk - Dried secretion from the prepuhal follicles of the mate musk deer of Asia (Mochus spp.)
 Civet a glandular secretion appearing in an outwardly discharging pockets of civet cats
(Peradoxunus hermaphoditus)

AMBERGRIS - Most valuble material - Pathologic product formed in the stomach of spermwhale
when it feeds on squid or cuttlefish Ambrein - Most expensive perfumerie

CHEMISTRY OF VrATILE OILS

STEREOPTENE
o Solid oxidized hydrocarbon portion
o Examples: Menthol, Anethole, Thymol
ELEOPTENES
o Liquid hydrocarbon
o Examples: Methylsalicylate, Eucalyptol, Eugenol

WAYS TO SEPARATE THE COMPONENTS OF VOLATILE OILS

1. Low temperatures
2. Fractional distillation
3. Fractional crystallization
4. Chromatography
5. Removal by chemical action\

TERPENES

Natural products whose structures may be divided into isoprene units. They also serves as a
basis for the classification of volatile oils.
1. Monoterpenes 2 isoprene units C 10H16
2. Sesquiterpenes 3 isoprene units C15H24
3. Diterpenes 4 isoprene units C 20H32
4. Triterpenes 6 isoprene units C 30H48

DIVISIONS OF VOLATILE OILS

I. Hydrocarbon volatile oils

II. Alcohol volatile oils
III. Aldehyde volatile oils
IV. Ketone volatile oils
V. Phenol volatile oils
VI. Phenolic-ether volatile oils
VII. Oxide volatile oils
VIII. Ester volatile oils

I. HYDROCARBON VOLATILE OILS

1. Turpine oil
Other name: Spirits of Turpentine
It is the volatile oil distilled from the oleoresin of Pinus palustris (Pinnacea)
Characteristics: Colorless liquid having a characteristic odor and taste
2 forms of Turpentine oil.
 Forms of Turpine oils
A. RECTIFIED TURPENTINE OIL - is a turpentine oil rectified by distillation from aqueous
solution of NaOH.
B. TERPIN HYDRATE (TERPINOL) - formed by the action of nitric acid on rectified turpentine
oil in the presence of alcohol.

General uses: EXPECTORANT

II. ALCOHOL VOLATILE OILS

1. Peppermint Oil
Is the oil obtained from the distilled with steam dried leaf and flowering tops of Menths
piperita (Labiatae) or Mentha arvensis (Japanese peppermint)
Constituent: MENTHOL
Uses: flavorant, anti-pruritic , carminative, stimulant and counter-irritant
Characteritics: Colorless or pale yellow liquid that has a strong, penetrating odor of
peppemint and a pungent taste that is followed by a sensation of cold when air is drawn
into the mouth.
Characteristics of the Menthol: Colorless, hexagonal crystals that are usually needlelike,
as fused masses of a crystalline powder. It has a pleasant, peppermint-like odor.

III. ALDEHYDE VOLATILE OILS

Aldehydes occurring in volatile oils may be divided into acyclic and cyclic.
Cyclic: CITRAL (mixture of Geranial to Netal and Citronellal)
Aromatic: Cinnamaldehyde, Vanillin, Benzoin, Tolu, Peru balsams

1. Cinnamon Oil (Cassia Oil)

Is the volatile oil distilled with the steam from the leaves and twigs of Cinnamomum cassia
(Lauraceae) and rectified by distillation
Characteristics: Yellowish to brownish liquid becomes darker and thicker by age or by
exposure to air. Possesses the characteristic odor and taste of cassia cinnamon
Constituent: Cinnamic aldehyde
Uses: Flavoring agent, Carminative, Antiseptic

Cinnamic Aldehyde
Other name: Cinnamaldehyde, Cinnamyl aldehyde
Obtained naturally from Cassia oil or synthetically from a mixture of
benaldehydeand acetaldehyde by the action of NaOH
Storage condition: Stored in a well-filled, tight, light resistant containers and
protected from excessive heat
2. Lemon Peel Oil
Is the volatile oil obtained by expression, without the aid oh heat, from the outer, yellow
rind of the fresh ripe fruit of Citrus limon
Constituent: Limonene and Citral
Uses: Flavoring agent, stimulant, carminative and stomachic properties
3. Cintronella Oil (Lemongrass oil)
Is the oil obtained from Cymbopogon winterianus
Constituent: Citronellal
 Uses: Insect repellant (Anti-mosquito)
4. Hamamelis Oil
Is thevolatile oil obtained from Hamamelis virgiana
2-hexanal
Uses: Hemorrhoids preparation

IV. KETONE VOLATILE OILS

Ketone occurring IN VOLATILE OILS MAY BE DIVIDED INTO:

A. Monocyclic terpene ketones
Menthone
Carvone
Piperitone
Pulegone
Diosphenol
B. Dicyclic ketones
Camphor
Fenchone
Thujone
1. Camphor
Is a ketone obtained from Cinnamomum camphora (Lauraceae)
Natural camphor: (+)
Synthetic camphor: Racemic
Uses: Antiprurutic, rubefacient, and anti-infective
NOTE: Must be labeled to indicate whether it is obtained from natural sources or is prepared
synthetically
2. Caraway Oil
Is the volatile oil obtained via distillation with steam from the dried, ripe fruit of Carum carvi
(Umbelliferae)
Constituent: (+) carvone and (+) limonene
Uses: Flavoring agent and Carminative

3. Spearmint Oil

Is the distilled with steam from fresh, overground parts of the flowering plant of Mentha spicata or
Mentha cardiac
Constiituent: Carvone
Uses: Flavorant, Carminative, Chewing gum
Characteristics: Colorless, yellow or greenish yellow liquid that has the characteristics odor and taste
of spearmint

4. Buchu Oil

Is the volatile oil obtained from the dried leaf of Barosma betulina (Rutaceae)
Constituent: Diosphenol
Uses: Menstrual problem, carminative, anti-rheumatic

5. Cedar Leaf Oil

Is the volatile oil distilled with steam from the leaves of Thuja occidentalis (Cupressaceae)
Constituent: (+) thujone, (+) fenchone and -pinene
Uses: Counter-irritant