Compendium of the most significant studies with reference to properties, intake, effects.

Nakamura T, Yoshida N, Yamanoi Y, Honryo A, Tomita H, Kuwabara H, Kojima Y. Eucalyptus oil reduces allergic reactions and suppresses mast cell degranulation by downregulating IgE-FcεRI signalling. Sci Rep. 2020 Dec 1;10(1):20940. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-77039-5.

Abstract. Eucalyptus oil has been used since ancient times for its bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and sedative effects. In recent years, the action of Eucalyptus oil has been scientifically proven, and there have been reports that Eucalyptus oil suppresses the production of chemokines, cytokines and lipid mediators in basophils, alveolar macrophages and monocytes. Based on this information, we aimed to verify whether Eucalyptus oil can be used for allergic dermatitis, the incidence of which has been increasing among human skin diseases. This effect was verified using a mouse IgE-mediated local allergic model. In conclusion, topical application of Eucalyptus oil suppressed oedema and vascular permeability enhancement due to IgE-mediated allergic on the skin. In addition, we also verified the degranuration of mast cells, which is a part of its action, and examined whether 1,8-cineole, which is the main component of Eucalyptus oil, suppresses the phosphorylation of PLCγ and p38 directly or indirectly. 1,8-cineole was found to suppress degranulation of mast cells.

Wińska K, Mączka W, Łyczko J, Grabarczyk M, Czubaszek A, Szumny A. Essential Oils as Antimicrobial Agents-Myth or Real Alternative? Molecules. 2019 Jun 5;24(11):2130. doi: 10.3390/molecules24112130.

Abstract. Herbs and the essential oils derived from them have been used from the beginning of human history for different purposes. Their beneficial properties have been applied to mask unpleasant odors, attract the attention of other people, add flavor and aroma properties to prepared dishes, perfumes, and cosmetics, etc. Herbs and essential oils (EOs) have also been used in medicine because of their biological properties, such as larvicidal action, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidant, fungicide, and antitumor activities, and many more. Many EOs exhibit antimicrobial properties, which is extremely important in fields of science and industry, such as medicine, agriculture, or cosmetology. Among the 250 EOs which are commercially available, about a dozen possess high antimicrobial potential. According to available papers and patents, EOs seem to be a potential alternative to synthetic compounds, especially because of the resistance that has been increasingly developed by pathogenic microorganisms. In this review we summarize the latest research studies about the most-active EOs that are known and used because of their antimicrobial properties. Finally, it is noteworthy that the antimicrobial activities of EOs are not preeminent for all strains. Further investigations should, thus, focus on targeting EOs and microorganisms.

Mota Vde S, Turrini RN, Poveda Vde B.Antimicrobial activity of Eucalyptus globulus oil, xylitol and papain: a pilot study. Rev Esc Enferm USP. 2015 Apr;49(2):216-20. Portuguese. doi: 10.1590/S0080-623420150000200005.

Abstract. Objective: To evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of the Eucalyptus globulus essential oil, and of the xylitol and papain substances against the following microorganisms: Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Samonella sp.; Staphylococus aureus; Proteus vulgaris; Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. Method: The in vitro antimicrobial evaluation was used by means of the agar diffusion test and evaluation of the inhibition zone diameter of the tested substances. Chlorhexidine 0.5% was used as control. ...Conclusion: The Eucalyptus globulus oil has antimicrobial activity against different microorganisms and appears to be a viable alternative as germicidal agent hence, further investigation is recommended.

Karpanen TJ, Conway BR, Worthington T, Hilton AC, Elliott TS, Lambert PA. Enhanced chlorhexidine skin penetration with eucalyptus oil. BMC Infect Dis. 2010 Sep 22;10:278. doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-10-278.

Abstract. Background: Chlorhexidine digluconate (CHG) is a widely used skin antiseptic, however it poorly penetrates the skin, limiting its efficacy against microorganisms residing beneath the surface layers of skin. The aim of the current study was to improve the delivery of chlorhexidine digluconate (CHG) when used as a skin antiseptic....Conclusion: The delivery of CHG into the epidermis and dermis can be enhanced by combination with eucalyptus oil, which in turn may improve biocide contact with additional microorganisms present in the skin, thereby enhancing antisepsis.

Quatrin PM, Verdi CM, de Souza ME, de Godoi SN, Klein B, Gundel A, Wagner R, de Almeida Vaucher R, Ourique AF, Santos RCV. Antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of nanoemulsions containing Eucalyptus globulus oil against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida spp. Microb Pathog. 2017 Nov;112:230-242. doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2017.09.062. 

Abstract. Candida species are the main responsible microorganisms for causing fungal infections worldwide, and Candida albicans is most frequently associated with infectious processes. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative bacterium commonly found in immunocompromised patients. The infection persistence caused by these microorganisms is often related to antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation. In this context, the objective of the present study was to prepare and characterize nanoemulsions containing Eucalyptus globulus oil and to verify its antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities against P. aeruginosa and Candida spp. The nanoemulsions had a size of approximately 76 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.22, a zeta potential of - 9,42 mV and a pH of approximately 5.0. The E. globulus oil was characterized by gas chromatography, being possible to observe its main components, such as 1-8-Cineol (75.8%), p- Cymene (7.5%), α-Pinene (7.4%) and Limonene (6.4%). The antimicrobial activity of the nanoemulsion was determined from the macrodilution tests and the cell viability curve, where the minimum fungicidal concentration of 0.7 mg/mL for C. albicans and 1.4 mg/mL for C. tropicalis and C. glabrata were obtained. However, the nanoemulsions did not present antimicrobial activity against P. aeruginosa, since it contains only 5% of the oil, being ineffective for this microorganism. The nanoencapsulated oil action against the formed biofilm was evaluated by atomic force microscopy and calcofluor staining, and the nanoemulsion was more efficient for two of the three Candida species when compared to free oil.

Hendry E, Conway B, Worthington T. Antimicrobial efficacy of a novel eucalyptus oil, chlorhexidine digluconate and isopropyl alcohol biocide formulation. Int J Mol Sci. 2012 Oct 30;13(11):14016-25. doi: 10.3390/ijms131114016. 

Abstract. Effective surface disinfection is a fundamental infection control strategy within healthcare. This study assessed the antimicrobial efficacy of novel biocide formulations comprising 5% and 2% eucalyptus oil (EO) combined with 2% chlorhexidine digluconate (CHG) and 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA) contained within a wipe. The efficacy of this novel antimicrobial formulation to remove and eliminate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli and Candida albicans from steel surfaces was investigated. Adpression studies of pre-contaminated wipes were also utilised to assess their potential to induce cross-contamination between hard surfaces. Furthermore, the bactericidal nature of the EO-formulation was established in addition to time-kill. The EO-containing formulations demonstrated bactericidal antimicrobial efficacy against all microorganisms and did not induce surface cross-contamination. There was no significant difference (p < 0.05) between the 5% and 2% EO formulations in their ability to remove microorganisms from steel surfaces, however both significantly (p < 0.05) removed more than the control formulations. Microbial biofilms were eliminated within 10 min (p < 0.05) when exposed to the EO formulations. Our novel EO-formulation demonstrated rapid antimicrobial efficacy for potential disinfection and elimination of microbial biofilms from hard surfaces and may therefore be a useful adjunct to current infection control strategies currently employed within healthcare facilities.

Eucalyptus globulus leaf oil  is a volatile essential oil used by traditional medical science for a number of common ailments and now commonly available over-the-counter (OTC) as ointments, drops, mouthwashes, suffumes and balms. It is considered safe, but doses should not be exaggerated.

Raw Materials and Their Functions

Eucalyptus Globulus (Myrtaceae) Leaves. The leaves of the eucalyptus tree are rich in essential oils, particularly eucalyptol (cineole), which imparts the oil's noted therapeutic properties.

Industrial Production Process of Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil

• Distillation of Eucalyptus Globulus leaves. During this process, steam passes through the leaves, extracting the essential oil, which is then condensed and collected.
• Purification. After distillation, the oil is purified to remove any impurities and optimize the quality of the fragrance and therapeutic properties.
• Quality Control. Eucalyptus Globulus leaf oil undergoes quality testing to ensure it meets the required standards in terms of purity, aromatic profile, and chemical properties.

A large quantity of eucalyptus oil is commercially available, but most contain chemical additives and fillers.

It appears as a yellowish liquid with a particularly intense camphor scent, almost insoluble in water, 70% soluble in ethanol, absolute ethanol, fat and oil.

What it is for and where

Eucalyptus globulus leaf oil is widely used in aromatherapy, personal care products, cleaning products, and as an ingredient in pharmaceuticals. Eucalyptus oil is known for its refreshing, decongestant, and antimicrobial properties. It is commonly used in products to relieve cold and cough symptoms, in lotions and ointments for muscle relief, and as a natural insect repellent. Additionally, it is used in cleaning products for its fresh scent and antibacterial properties.

Cosmetics

It is a restricted ingredient as  III/355 a Relevant Item in the Annexes of the European Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009.

INCI Functions:

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.

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.

CAS   84625-32-1

EC number   283-406-2

Other uses

Applied topically, it demonstrates an analgesic effect and suppresses local allergic inflammation. Also useful on insect bites, chapped skin.

Natural cleanser for removing hard-to-remove stains or oil on carpets, fabrics, clothes.

Safety

Warning: not to bring this oil too close to the eyes as it may cause irritation.

For more information:

Eucalyptus leaf oil studies

The Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) is a large plant that easily reaches 30 to 40 metres in height and thrives in temperate climate regions and belongs to the Myrtaceae family.

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

What it is used for and where

Its leaves are used to produce:

• oil that needs to be diluted (and not taken pure) against colds
• ointment to relieve muscle aches
• hot steam for cold inhaments
• mouthwashes against gingivitis and other oral tract infections

Eucalyptus is the primary food source for Koala living in Australia.

It is a primary source for the production of paper and cellulose in South America.

Studies

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).

Typical commercial product characteristics

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....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.