Authors: Suh Chang PharmD,
Maria Kostka-Rokosz PharmD, Lana Dvorkin
PharmD, Julia Whelan MS
Overview
Myrtaceae family. Eucalyptus
is a large fast-growing native Australian
evergreen. Strong essential oil is extracted
from the fresh, bluish-green leaves
by a special steaming process. Leaves
and the oil are used for medicinal preparations.
Commission E has labeled eucalyptus
as an expectorant, secretomotory and
mild antispasmodic. It is used in small
amounts in over-the-counter cold and
cough preparations. Recommended by TRAMIL
for asthma, fever, and cough. (3)
Eucalyptus is indigenous
to Australia and Tasmania. It is cultivated
today in some subtropical regions of
southern Europe, Africa, Asia and America.
Active Ingredients
Essential oil is present
in the leaves (1.5-3.5%) with 1, 8-cincole
as the main ingredient (70-90%), together
with a-pinene, p-cymene, limonene and
several other minor monoterpenoids.
Eucalyptol-antiseptic, expectorant,
urinary irritant (6)
Proven Scientific Evidence
Anti-cariogenic: animal
studies and invitro studies show effectiveness
of extract of eucalyptus for its antibacterial
activity against oral bacteria.(13)
It has also demonstrated mild effectiveness
in improving snoring.(7)
Analgesic: A study that was published
in Journal of Ethnopharmacology, (8)evaluated
the analgesic effects of the essential
oils of the 3 eucalyptus species (Eucalyptus
citriodora, Eucalyptus tereticornis
and Eucalyptus globules) in mice.
The writhing acetic acid test was
performed in mice to determine the
analgesic activity. Groups of 10 mice
were fasted overnight prior to the
experimental, while given free access
to water. Eucalyptus citriodora group
received 0.1 mg/kg of the essential
oil; Eucalyptus tereticornis group
received 10 mg/kg of the essential
oil; Eucalyptus globules group received
100 mg/kg of the essential oil; acetylsalicyclic
acid group received 250 mg/kg of the
drug; placebo group (0.9% saline plus
4% Tween-20) received equivalent volume
of placebo. Acetylsalicyclic was used
as a positive control in the investigation.
Intraperitoneal administration of
eucalyptus essential oils significantly
decreased the number of acetic acid
induced writhes in mice compared to
the placebo group (p<0.05). The
inhibitory effects of the eucalyptus
citriodora were 57%; eucalyptus tereticornis
was 50%; eucalyptus globules were
53%; acetylsalicyclic acid was 91%.
Anti-inflammatory: A study that was
published in Journal of Ethnopharmacology,
(8,5)evaluated the anti-inflammatory
effects of the essential oils of 3
eucalyptus species (Eucalyptus citriodora,
Eucalyptus tereticornis and Eucalyptus
globules) in mice. Carrageenan (200µg/paw)
or dextran (300µg/paw) was injected
into the right hind paw of conscious
rats to induce paw edema. Volume of
the paw was measured immediately before
the inducers and at regular selected
time intervals (1, 2, 3 and 4 hours)
after injection of each of the essential
oils (10 or 100mg/kg) or equivalent
volume of vehicle. Outcome of the
test was determined by change in paw
volume measured in ml after administration
of essential oils. The result of the
study showed that 100mg/kg of essential
oils of eucalyptus significantly reduced
edema compared to the control values
(p<0.05). 10mg/kg of essential
oils of eucalyptus did not show significant
reduction compared to the control
values.
Dosage Information
Oral: the average daily
dose is 0.3 to 0.6 g eucalyptus oil.
Inhalation: 2 to 3 drops in boiling
water, inhale the steam (single dose:
0.2 g corresponding to 10 drops). Oil:
3 to 6 drops added in 150ml water, to
be taken several times a day.
External preparation: the concentration
is 5 to 20% essential oil, in oil and
semi-solid preparations and 5 to 10%
essential oil, in aqueous-alcoholic
preparations. If the essential oil is
used, several drops may be rubbed into
the skin.
Toxicities
3.5 cc of oil is fatal.
Signs of poisoning include epigastric
burning, nausea, vomiting diarrhea,
dizziness, muscular weakness, feeling
of suffocation, cyanosis, delirium,
convulsions, and death. Women who are
pregnant or breast feeding should avoid
the use of eucalyptus. Interactions
with drugs metabolized hepatically and
hypoglycemic drugs.
Where Sold
Eucalyptus products can
be purchased at stores that specialize
in aromatherapy and Internet.
3. Germosén-Robineau, L.; Enda-Caribe;
Universidad de Antioquía. Hacia
una farmacopea caribeña : investigacion
cientifica y uso popular de plantas
medicinales en el Caribe. Santo Domingo;
Enda-Caribo: Republica Dominicana;
UAG & Universidad de Antioquia;
1995.
4. Takahashi A, Maeda N, Tanaka R,
Osawa K, Fujita H. Anti-Cariogenic
Effects of Extracts from Eucalyptus
Leaves on Gnotobiotic BALB/cA Mice.
Oral Therapeutics & Pharmacology.
1999;18(1):29-34.
5. Atta AH, Alkofahi A. Anti-Nociceptive
and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of some
Jordanian Medicinal Plant Extracts.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 1998;60(2):117-24.
6. Singh IP, Etoh H. Biological Activities
of Phloroglucinol Derivatives from
Eucalyptus Spp. Natural Product Sciences.
1997;3(1):1-7.
7. Ishizuka Y, Imamura Y, Terashima
K, Koyama S. Effects of Nasal Inhalation
Capsule. Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Tokyo.
1997;40(SUPPL. 3):9-13.
8. Silva J, Abebe W, Sousa SM, Duarte
VG, Machado MI, Matos FJ. Analgesic
and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Essential
Oils of Eucalyptus. J Ethnopharmacol.
2003 Dec;89(2-3):277-83.
9. Gruenwald, J.; Brendler, T.; Jaenicke,
C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 3rd ed.
Montvale, NJ: Thompson PDR; 2004.
10. Jellin, Jeff M. Natural Medicines
Comprehensive Database Pharmacist's
letter. Prescriber's letter.
11. Pierce, Andrea. The American Pharmaceutical
Association Practical Guide to Natural
Medicines. New York: William Morrow
and Co.; 1999.
12. Oyedeji AO, Ekundayo O, Olawore
ON, Adeniyi BA, Koenig WA. Antimicrobial
Activity of the Essential Oils of
Five Eucalyptus Species Growing in
Nigeria. Fitoterapia. 1999;70(5):526-8.
13. Osawa K, Saeki T, Yasuda H, Morita
H, Takeya K, Itokawa H. Antibacterial
Activity of Eucalyptus Globulus on
Cariogenic Bacteria and its Inhibitory
Effect on Glucosyltransferase. Natural
Medicines. 1998;52(1):32-7.
14. Wyk, van B.; Wink, Michael. Medicinal
Plants of the World: an illustrated
scientific guide to important medicinal
plants and their uses. Portland Oregon:
Timber Press; 2004.
15. DeStefano, Anthony. Latino Folk
Medicine: healing herbal remedies
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2001.
16. Davidow, Joie. Infusions of healing:
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