Eucalyptus  (Eucalyptus globulus) is a large plant that easily reaches 30/40 meters high and thrives in temperate regions.

There are about 800 species of eucalyptus, including:

• Eucalyptus staigeriana
• Eucalyptus camaldulensis
• Eucalyptus pellita
• Eucalyptus regnans
• Eucalyptus grandis
• Eucalyptus urophylla
• Eucalyptus Sideroxylon
• Eucalyptus maidenii
• Eucalyptus robusta
• Eucalyptus citriodora
• Eucalyptus tereticornis

Eucalyptus globulus is a large evergreen tree native to southeastern Australia. It is renowned for its aromatic leaves and distinctive blue-green foliage. This species is widely cultivated around the world for its timber, essential oil, and ornamental value. The tree is also known for its rapid growth and ability to adapt to various environmental conditions.

Botanical Classification:

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Order: Myrtales
• Family: Myrtaceae
• Genus: Eucalyptus
• Species: Eucalyptus globulus

Plant Characteristics:

Growth Form:Eucalyptus globulus is a tall tree that can reach heights of 30 to 60 meters (98 to 197 feet). It has a straight, smooth trunk that often peels in strips to reveal a white or greyish bark.

Leaves: The leaves are lanceolate (spear-shaped), alternate, and glossy, with a distinctive blue-green color. They have a strong, aromatic scent, especially when crushed.

Flowers: The flowers are small, white or cream-colored, and grouped in clusters. They have numerous stamens and are typically surrounded by a cup-shaped calyx.

Fruit: The fruit is a woody capsule that contains numerous small seeds. The capsules are often cylindrical or barrel-shaped.

Chemical Composition and Structure:

• Essential Oil: The leaves of Eucalyptus globulus contain a high concentration of essential oil, primarily composed of eucalyptol (1,8-cineole), which gives the plant its characteristic aroma. Other compounds include alpha-pinene, limonene, and citronellal.
• Phenolic Compounds: The plant contains various phenolic compounds, including flavonoids and tannins, which contribute to its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
• Saponins: Eucalyptus globulus contains saponins, which have been noted for their potential medicinal and therapeutic effects.

How to Cultivate It:

• Soil: Eucalyptus globulus prefers well-drained, sandy or loamy soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. It is adaptable to various soil types but thrives in fertile, nutrient-rich soil.
• Climate: The tree grows best in temperate to subtropical climates. It requires full sun and can tolerate a range of temperatures but is sensitive to frost.
• Watering: Eucalyptus globulus is relatively drought-tolerant once established but benefits from regular watering, especially in dry periods.
• Propagation: The tree is typically propagated from seeds, which should be sown in a seed tray or directly into the soil. Seeds should be lightly covered and kept moist until germination.
• Maintenance: Eucalyptus globulus requires minimal maintenance. Regular pruning may be needed to maintain its shape and remove any dead or diseased branches.

Uses and Benefits:

• Medicinal Uses: The essential oil of Eucalyptus globulus is widely used for its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and decongestant properties. It is commonly used in cough syrups, lozenges, and inhalants for respiratory issues.
• Industrial Uses: The timber of Eucalyptus globulus is used in construction, paper production, and as a source of bioenergy. The essential oil is used in cleaning products and personal care items.
• Ornamental Uses: The tree is often planted as an ornamental shade tree in parks and large gardens due to its attractive foliage and rapid growth.

Applications:

• Pharmaceutical: Eucalyptus essential oil is used in various medicinal preparations for treating respiratory conditions, coughs, and colds.
• Cosmetics and Personal Care: The oil is used in skincare products for its antiseptic and soothing properties. It is also found in shampoos, soaps, and lotions.

Cosmetics - INCI Functions:

Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.

Perfuming. Unlike fragrance, which can also contain slightly less pleasant or characteristic odours, the term perfume indicates only very pleasant fragrances. Used for perfumes and aromatic raw materials.

CAS   84625-32-1   EC number   283-406-2

• Industrial: The timber is utilized in making furniture, flooring, and paper. The oil is used in disinfectants, air fresheners, and other cleaning products.

Environmental and Safety Considerations:

• Environmental Impact: Eucalyptus globulus is known for its fast growth and ability to thrive in diverse conditions, but it can be invasive in some regions outside its native range. Its cultivation can sometimes affect local water tables and biodiversity.
• Safety: The essential oil of Eucalyptus globulus is generally safe when used in recommended amounts. However, it can cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals and should be used with caution in children and pregnant women.

The most interesting ingredients, from a healthy point of view, of these plants are mainly alkaloids, flavonoids, pigments, phenolic, terpenes, amides, steroids and essential oils. Recent studies have exhibited its antimicrobial effects against bacterial, fungal, parasitic and viral agents (1).

Methanol extract (8:2) demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory activity through membrane stabilization  protein denaturation inhibition, anti-lipoxygenase, and proteinase inhibition assays.  (2).

Another interesting application of eucalyptus essential oil is its larvicide and insecticide potential and can therefore be used in the community in artificial water bodies as an eco-compatible vector control measure in the era of the resistance to chemical insecticides (3).

The data emerging from this study shed other health-oriented characteristics of the use of the aqueous extract of leaves of Eucalyptus globulus  that can play an important role as an anti-hypertensive agent to reduce the burden of cardiovascular complications (4).

For more information:

Eucalyptus studies

References________________________________________________________________________

(1) Ghasemian A, Eslami M, Hasanvand F, Bozorgi H, Al-Abodi HR.  Eucalyptus camaldulensis properties for use in the eradication of infections.  Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis. 2019 Aug;65:234-237. doi: 10.1016/j.cimid.2019.04.007.

(2) Ashour RMS, Okba MM, Menze ET, El Gedaily RA.  J  Eucalyptus Sideroxylon Bark Anti-inflammatory Potential, Its UPLC-PDA-ESI-qTOF-MS Profiling, and Isolation of a New Phloroglucinol.  Chromatogr Sci. 2019 Jul 1;57(6):565-574. doi: 10.1093/chromsci/bmz029.

(3) Kaura T, Mewara A, Zaman K, Sharma A, Agrawal SK, Thakur V, Garg A, Sehgal R. Utilizing larvicidal and pupicidal efficacy of Eucalyptus and neem oil against Aedes mosquito: An approach for mosquito control.    Trop Parasitol. 2019 Jan-Jun;9(1):12-17. doi: 10.4103/tp.TP_35_18. Epub 2019 May 22.

Abstract. Background and objectives: Plant-based products can provide safe and biodegradable mosquito control agents. The essential oils have a strong odor due to complex secondary metabolites and exhibit lower density than that of water, which renders them suitable to form a thin layer above the water surface. The present study was designed to evaluate the larvicidal, pupicidal activity of Eucalyptus and neem oils against Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Materials and methods: We evaluated the activity of commercially available Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) and neem (Azadirachta indica) oils against larvae and pupae of A. aegypti and A. albopictus for their larvicidal and pupicidal activity, stability in different water types, dependence on volume and surface area of the water body, and residual efficacy....Conclusions: Eucalyptus oil was more effective against mosquito larvae at lower concentration as compared to neem oil. It can, therefore, be utilized in the community in artificial and small temporary water bodies as an eco-friendly vector control measure in the era of increasing resistance to chemical insecticides.

(4)  Ajebli M, Eddouks M.  Eucalyptus globulus possesses antihypertensive activity in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats and relaxes isolated rat thoracic aorta through nitric oxide pathway.   Nat Prod Res. 2019 Apr 10:1-3. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2019.1598992

Abstract. In the current study we determined the effect of the aqueous extract of leaves of Eucalyptus globulus (AEEG) in anesthetized normal and L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats and on rings of isolated thoracic aorta from Wistar rats at a dose of 160 mg/kg. Our results show that AEEG extract reduced systolic, mean and diastolic blood pressure after repeated (7 days) oral administration of this extract in hypertensive rats. In addition, it was revealed from the present study that AEEG relaxed aortic rings in a dose-dependent (25-200 µg/ml) manner via the activation of nitric oxide production. Pre-treatment of aortic rings with indomethacin, glibenclamide, nifedipine or propranolol did not attenuate the AEEG-induced vasorelaxation. Our data elucidate the health-orientated virtues of using AEEG which may play an important role as an antihypertensive agent to reduce the burden of cardiovascular complications.