In collaboration with Scientific Association of Iranian Medicinal Plants

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran, Iran

2 Research Center of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Khuzestan

Abstract

In this investigation, the leaves of five Eucalyptus species as Eucalyptus microtheca F. Muell, E. gongylocarpa Blakely, E. gillii Maiden, E. woodwardi Maiden and E. salubris F. Muell were collected from two regions of Khuzistan province (Shushtar and Dezful, South Iran) in spring. After drying the plant materials in shade, their essential oils were obtained by hydro-distillation. The oils were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography, using flame ionization and mass spectrometric detection. The oils of E. microtheca were obtained at yields of 0.43% and 0.37% (w/w) from Shushtar and dezful, respectively. These yields were 2.37% and 1.78% for E. gongylocarpa, 3.5% and 3.9% for E. gillii, 1.18% and 1.13% for E. woodwardi, 2.05% and 1.02% for E. salubris. The main compounds of E. microtheca oils were 1,8-cineole (26.7% and 16.9%), P-cymene (14.8% and 20.4%) and a-pinene (12.5% and 12.0%) in the Shushtar and Dezful samples, respectively. The major constituents of E. gongylocarpa oils were 1,8-cineole (66.8% and 78.6%) and a-pinene (5.2% and 7.2%). The main components of E. gillii oils were 1,8-cineole (58.5% and 81.3%) and a-pinene (13.9% and 11.0%). The main compounds of E. woodwardi oils were 1,8-cineole (58.7% and 45.1%) and a-pinene (23.1% and 21.4%). The major constituents of E. salubrisoils were 1,8-cineole (62.0% and 71.0%) and a-pinene (8.0% and 10.0%). Differences in the percentage of the main components of these oils in two regions could be due to some differences in habitats like soil structure or humidity.

Keywords

- Adams, R.P., 1995. Identification of Essential Oil Components by Gas Chromatography/ Mass Spectroscopy, Allured Publishing Corp., Carol Stream, USA, 456 p.
- Brand, N., 1993. Eucalyptus, In: Hagers Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5th ed. Volume 5: Drogen E-O. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 115-130.
- Davies, N.W., 1990. Gas chromatographic retention indices of monoterpens and sesquiterpenes on methyl silicone and carbowax 20M phases. Journal of Chromatography, 503:1-24.
- Eucalyptus Oil – Eucalypti aetheroleum. European Pharmacopoeia, Concil of Europe.
- Grassmann, J., Hippeli, S., Dornisch, K., Rohnert, U., Beuscher, N. and Elstner, E.F., 2000.Antioxidant properties of essential oils. Possible explanations for their anti-inflammatory effects, Arzneim Forsch/Drug Research, 50: 135-139. 
- Harkenthal, M., Reichling, J., Geiss, H.K. and Saller, R., 1999. Comparative study on the in vitro antibacterial activity of Australian tea tree oil, cajuput oil, niaouli oil, manuka oil, kanuka oil and Eucalyptus oil, Pharmazie, 54: 460-463.
- Juergens, U.R., Dethlefsen, U., Steinkamp, G., Gillissen, A., Repges, R. and Vetter, H., (2003). Anti-inflammatory activity of 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) in bronchial asthma: a double blind placebo-controlled trial. Respiratory Medicine, 97: 250-256.
- Kaspar, P., Repges, R., Dethlefsen, U. and Petro, W., 1994. Sekretolytika im Vergleich. Anderung der Ziliarfrequenz und Lungen function nach Thrapie mit Cineol und Ambroxol. Atemw-Lungenkrkh, 20: 605-614.
- Mahlo, D.H., 1990. Obstruktive Atemwegserkrankungen. Mit Cineol die Lungenfunktionsparameter verbesern. Therapiewoche, 40: 3157-3162.
- Renedo, J., Otero, J.A. and Mira, JR., 1990. Huile essentille d'Eucalyptus globules L. de Cantabrie (Espange). Variation au cours de la distillation. Plantes Med Phytother, 24: 31-35.
- Reynolds, J.E.F. and Prasad, A.B., 1982. The Exta Pharmacopoiea. Editor: Martindle, 28th edition, London: Pharmaceutical Press, 1017-1018.
- Wilson, N.D., Watt, R.A. and Moffat, A.C., 2001. A near-inferared method for the assay of cineole in Eucalyptus oil as an al.ternative to the official. BP method. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 33: 95-102.
- Wittman, M., Petro, W., Kaspar, P., Repges, R. and DethlestenmU., 1998. Zur Thrapie chronisch obstruktiver Atemwegser-Krankungen mit Sekretolytika. Doppelblinder, randomisierter Cross-over-Vergleich zwischen Cineol und Ambroxol. Atemw-Lungenkrkh, 24: 67-74.