Eucalyptus oil and use

Eucalyptus oil is the common name for the distilled oil obtained from the leaves of the eucalyptus tree, a genus of plants in the myrtaceae family native to Australia and grown worldwide.Eucalyptus oil has an extensive history of use as a medicine, antiseptic, insect repellant, flavoring, fragrance, and industrial use.The leaves of selected eucalyptus species are steam distilled to extract eucalyptus oil.

Type and production

Eucalyptus oil in trade is divided into three main groups according to its composition and main end use: medicinal, perfumery and industrial.The most ubiquitous is the standard eucalyptol-based "eucalyptus oil," a colorless runny liquid (which turns yellow over time) with a penetrating, camphoric, woody-sweet odor.China produces about 75 percent of the world's trade, but much of it comes from the cineole part of the camphor laurel tree, not true eucalyptus oil.Significant producers of true eucalyptus include South Africa, Portugal, Spain, Brazil, Australia, Chile, and Eswatini.

Global production is dominated by blue eucalyptus. However, eucalyptus and Eucalyptus japonicus have the highest cineole content, ranging from 80% to 95%.The British Pharmacopoeia states that if it is a pharmaceutical grade oil, it must contain at least 70% cineole.Rectification is used to bring lower grade oils to the desired high cineole standard.In 1991, annual global production of medicinal eucalyptus oil was estimated at 3,000 tons, with an additional 1,500 tons of the main spice oil (from lemon eucalyptus).Eucalyptus also produces non-cineole oils, including piperonone, phellandrene, citral, methyl cinnamate, and geranyl acetate.

Uses

Herbs:

The European Medicines Agency's Committee for Herbal Medicinal Products has concluded that traditional medicines based on eucalyptus oil can be used to treat cough associated with the common cold and to relieve symptoms of localized muscle pain.

Insect repellants and biopesticides:

Eucalyptol-based eucalyptus oil is used as an insect repellent and biopesticide.In the United States, eucalyptus oil was first registered as an insecticide and acaricide in 1948. 

Flavors and spices:

Eucalyptus oil is used for flavoring.Eucalyptol-based eucalyptus oil is used as a flavoring agent at low levels (0.002%) in a variety of products, including baked goods, confectionery, meat products and beverages.Eucalyptus oil has antimicrobial activity against a variety of foodborne human pathogens and food spoilage microorganisms.Non-cineole mint gum, strawberry gum, and lemon iron bark are also used as flavoring agents.Eucalyptus oil is also used as a fragrance ingredient to impart a fresh and clean scent to soaps, detergents, lotions and perfumes.It is known for its pungent, intoxicating smell.Due to its cleansing properties, eucalyptus oil can be used in mouthwashes to freshen breath.

Industrial

Studies have shown that cineole-based eucalyptus oil (up to 5% of the blend) can prevent separation problems in ethanol and petroleum fuel blends. Eucalyptus oil also has a respectable octane rating and can be used as a fuel on its own. However, production costs are currently too high for petroleum to be economically viable as a fuel.Eucalyptus oil based on phellandrene and piperonone has been used in mining to separate sulfide minerals by flotation.

Clean:

Eucalyptus oil is used in household cleaning applications.Commonly used in commercial laundry products such as wool wash.It is used as a solvent to remove greasy and sticky residues.