Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Eucalyptus: phytochemical composition, extraction methods and food and medicinal applications

  • Review
  • Published:
Advances in Traditional Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Eucalyptus is a large tree belonging to the family Myrtaceae. It is a tree of multiple uses and benefits. The essential oil extracted from its leaves, branch tips and fruits is rich in phytochemicals like eucalyptol, 1,8-cineole, limonene, citronellal, citral, eudesmol, α and β-pinene, p-cymene, terpinen-4-ol, terpineol, α–phellanderene and 9β-sitosterol etc. These compounds can be extracted by various methods like solvent extraction method, hydro-distillation and supercritical fluid extraction. The essential oil from the eucalyptus possesses anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, antioxidant, antimalarial, analgesic, antiseptic, anti-diabetic, anti-cancerous, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic properties. The historical records of the food and medicinal applications of eucalyptus are available and the recent studies on its phytochemical composition further strengthen its claim for application in the modern food and pharmaceutical industry.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akolade JO, Olajide OO, Afolayan MO, Akande SA, Idowu DI, Orishadipe AT (2012) Chemical composition, antioxidant and cytotoxic effects of Eucalyptus globulus grown in north-central Nigeria. J Nat Prod Plant Resour 2(1):1–8

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Rimawi F, Alayoubi M, Elama C, Jazzar M, Çakıcı A (2020) Use of cinnamon, wheat germ, and eucalyptus oils to improve quality and shelf life of concentrated yogurt (Labneh). Cogent Food Agric. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2020.1807810

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anonymous 2012. http://www.fao.org/3/ac772e/ac772e06.htm. 1-3-2020. Accessed 26 April 2020

  • Anwar S, Ahmed N, Speciale A, Cimino F, Saija A (2016) Bitter orange (Citrus aurantium L.) oils. In: Essential oils in food preservation, flavor and safety. Academic Press, pp 259–268

  • Barbosa LCA, Filomeno CA, Teixeira RR (2016) Chemical variability and biological activities of Eucalyptus spp. essential oils. Mol. 21(12):1671

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Batish DR, Singh HP, Kohli RK, Kaur S (2008) Eucalyptus essential oil as natural pesticide. For Ecol Manag 256:2166–2174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2008.08.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belewu MA, El-Imam AA, Adeyemi KD, Oladunjoye SA (2012) Eucalyptus oil and lemon grass oil: effect on chemical composition and shelf-life of soft cheese. Environ Nat Resour Res 2(1):114–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Boukhatem MN, Boumaiza A, Nada HG, Rajabi M, Mousa SA (2020) Eucalyptus globulus essential oil as a natural food preservative: antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal properties in vitro and in a real food matrix (orangina fruit juice). Appl Sci 10(16):5581. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10165581

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boulekbache-Makhlouf L, Meudec E, Chibane M, Mazauric JP, Slimani S, Henry M, Madani K (2010) Analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography diode array detection mass spectrometry of phenolic compounds in fruit of Eucalyptus globulus cultivated in Algeria. J Agric Food Chem 58(24):12615–12624

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Christina K, Tabanca N, Buchbauer G (2018) α-Terpineol, a natural monoterpene: a review of its biological properties. Open Chem 16:349–361. https://doi.org/10.1515/chem-2018-0040

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De-Oliveira TM, De-Carvalho RBF, Da-Costa IHF, De-Oliveira GAL, De-Souza AA, De-Lima SG, De-Freitas RM (2015) Evaluation of p-cymene, a natural antioxidant. Phar Biol 53(3):423–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dey B, Analava M (2013) Chemo-profiling of eucalyptus and study of its hypoglycemic potential. World J Diabetes 4(5):170–176. https://doi.org/10.4239/wjd.v4.i5.170

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Dezsi Ș, Alexandru SB, Cristina B, Dan CV, Radu SD, Ana-Maria G, Andrei M, Laurian V (2015) Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities and phenolic profile of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. and Corymbia ficifolia (F. Muell.) K.D. Hill & L.A.S. Johnson leaves. Molecules (basel, Switzerland) 20(3):4720–4734. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules20034720

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dhakad AK, Pandey VV, Beg S, Rawat JM, Singh A (2018) Biological, medicinal and toxicological significance of Eucalyptus leaf essential oil: a review. J Sci Food Agric 98(3):833–848

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dixit A, Rohilla A, Singh V (2012) Eucalyptus globulus: a new perspective in therapeutics. Int J Pharm Chem Sci 1(4):2020–2025

    Google Scholar 

  • Djenane D, Yangüela J, Amrouche T, Boubrit S, Boussad N, Roncalés P (2011) Chemical composition and antimicrobial effects of essential oils of Eucalyptus globulus, Myrtus communis and Satureja hortensis against Escherichia coli O157: H7 and Staphylococcus aureus in minced beef. Food Sci Technol Int 17(6):505–515

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Döll-Boscardin PM, Sartoratto A, Sales MBHLDN, Padilha DPJ, Nakashima T, Farago PV, Kanunfre CC (2012) In vitro cytotoxic potential of essential oils of Eucalyptus benthamii and its related terpenes on tumor cell lines. Evid-Based Compl Alt 3:1–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dos SF, Cristina I, Pereyra A, Andrea RP, Maria FM, Polak T, Abram V, Maria DPB, Poklar NU (2016) Phenolic compounds in extracts from Eucalyptus globulus leaves and Calendula officinalis flowers. J Nat Prod Plant Resour 2(1):53–57

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubey AK, Sahu O (2014) Extraction of eucalyptus oil as reduction of bacterial growth in drinking water. Int Lett Nat Sci 11(2):15

    Google Scholar 

  • Emara KS, Shalaby AE (2011) Seasonal variation of fixed and volatile oil percentage of four Eucalyptus spp. related to lamina anatomy. Afr J Sci Plant Sci 5(6):353–359

    Google Scholar 

  • EN-Long M, Yan-Chun L, Hiroshi T, Jin-Fang X, Ming-Yu X, Min-Wei W, Ikuko K (2008) β-Eudesmol suppresses tumour growth through inhibition of tumour neovascularisation and tumour cell proliferation. J Asian Nat Prod Res 10(2):159–167. https://doi.org/10.1080/10286020701394332

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Geoff P (2007) Eucalyptus oil applications and markets. Science 3:1–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardel DK, Laxmidhar S (2011) A review on phytochemical and pharmacological of Eucalyptus globulus: a multipurpose tree. IJRAP 2(5):1527–1530

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hart PH, Brand C, Carson CF, Riley TV, Prager RH, Finlay-Jones JJ (2000) Terpinen-4-ol, the main component of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil), suppresses inflammatory mediator production by activated human monocytes. Inflamm Res Inflamm Res 49(11):619–626. https://doi.org/10.1007/s000110050639

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hassan SB, Gali-Muhtasib H, Goransson H, Larsson R (2010) Alpha terpineol: a potential anticancer agent which acts through suppressing NF-kappaB signalling. Anticancer Res 30(6):1911–1919

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Herrero M, Cifuentes A, Ibáñez E (2006) Sub- and supercritical fluid extraction of functional ingredients from different natural sources: plants, food-by-products, algae and microalgae review. Food Chem 98:136–148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2005.05.058

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Juergens UR, Dethlefsen U, Steinkamp G, Gillissen A, Repges R, Vetter H (2003) Anti-inflammatory activity of 1.8-cineol (eucalyptol) in bronchial asthma: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Respir Med 97(3):250–256

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Juergens UR (2014) Anti-inflammatory properties of the monoterpene 1.8-cineole: current evidence for co-medication in inflammatory airway diseases. Drug Res 64(12):638–646

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khalid MA, Badoor MK, Abdul-Majeed BA (2015) Extraction and modelling of oil from Eucalyptus camadulensis by organic solvent. J Chem Eng Mat Sci 3:35–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Kourkoutas Y, Karatzas KA, Valdramidis VP, Chorianopoulos N (2015) Bioactive natural products: facts, applications, and challenges. Science. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/969143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee G, Park J, Kim MS, Seol GH, Min SS (2019) Analgesic effects of eucalyptus essential oil in mice. Korean J Pain 32(2):79–86. https://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2019.32.2.79

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lin JJ, Lin JH, Hsu SC, Shu-Wen W, Yi-Ping H, Nou-Ying T, Jaung-Geng L, Jing-Gung C (2013) Alpha-phellandrene promotes immune responses in normal mice through enhancing macrophage phagocytosis and natural killer cell activities. Vivo (athens, Greece) 27(6):809–814

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lu H, Shao X, Cao J, Ou C, Pan D (2016) Antimicrobial activity of eucalyptus essential oil against Pseudomonas in vitro and potential application in refrigerated storage of pork meat. Int J Food Sci Technol 51(4):994–1001. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijfs.13052

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mahmoudzadeh-Sagheb H, Heidari Z, Bokaeian M, Moudi B (2010) Antidiabetic effects of Eucalyptus globulus on pancreatic islets: a stereological study. Folia Morphol 69(2):112–118

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marchese A, Carla RA, Ramona B, Ana SS, Seyed FN, Arold JTS, Morteza I (2017) Update on monoterpenes as antimicrobial agents: a particular focus on p-Cymene. Materials (basel, Switzerland) 10(8):947. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma10080947

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marzoug HNB, Romdhane M, Lebrihi A, Mathieu F, Couderc F, Abderraba M, Khouja ML, Bouajila J (2011) Eucalyptus oleosa essential oils: chemical composition and antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the oils from different plant parts (stems, leaves, flowers and fruits). Molecules 16(2):1695–1709. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules16021695

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Mukhtar YM, Adu-Frimpong M, Xu X, Yu J (2018) Biochemical significance of limonene and its metabolites: future prospects for designing and developing highly potent anticancer drugs. Biosci Rep 38(6):110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mulyaningsih S, Sporer F, Reichling J, Wink M (2011) Antibacterial activity of essential oils from Eucalyptus and of selected components against multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens. Pharm Biol 49(9):893–899

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nile SH, Keum YS (2018) Chemical composition, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Indian J Exp Biol 56:734–742

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Özbek H, Yilmaz B (2017) Anti-inflammatory and hypoglycemic activities of alpha-pinene. ACTA Pharmaceutica Sciencia 55(4):7–13. https://doi.org/10.23893/1307-2080.APS.05522

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patil VA, Nitave SA (2014) A review on Eucalyptus globulus: a divine medicinal herb. Int J Pharm Pharm Sci 3(6):559–567

    Google Scholar 

  • Santos FA, Silva RM, Campos AR, Araujo DRP, Júnior RL, Rao VSN (2004) 1, 8-cineole (eucalyptol), a monoterpene oxide attenuates the colonic damage in rats on acute TNBS-colitis. Food Chem Toxicol 42(4):579–584. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2003.11.001

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar SN (1994) Capillary permeability-increasing effect of Eucalyptus hybrid leaf and a Seseli indicum seed oils in rabbit. Indian J Pharmacol 26(1):55

    Google Scholar 

  • Seid Y, Manoharan J, Omprakash S (2014) Extraction of essential oil from eucalyptus leaves as antibacterial application on cotton woven fabric. IJBVI 1(1):1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Shah BB, Baksi R, Chaudagar KK, Nivsarkar M, Mehta AA (2018) Anti-leukemic and anti-angiogenic effects of d-Limonene on K562-implanted C57 BL/6 mice and the chick chorioallantoic membrane model. Anim Model Exp Med 1(4):328–333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shah G, Bajaj J, Soni V, Dhawan RK (2016) Eucalyptus genus: a review. J Pharm Res 10(10):609–617

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shapira S, Pleban S, Kazanov D, Tirosh P, Arber N (2016) Terpinen-4-ol: a novel and promising therapeutic agent for human gastrointestinal cancers. PLoS ONE 11(6):1–13. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0156540

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharafati CF, Taghizadeh M, Rafieian-kopaei M, Sharafati-chaleshtori R (2016) Effect of chitosan incorporated with cumin and eucalyptus essential oils as antimicrobial agents on fresh chicken meat. J Food Process Pres 40(3):396–404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silva J, Abebe W, Sousa SM, Duarte VG, Machado MIL, Matos FJA (2003) Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of essential oils of Eucalyptus. J Ethnopharmacol 89(2–3):277–283

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sonker P, Verma S, Gupta P (2017) To study the pharmacological effect and beneficial effect of Eucalyptus globulus in different types of diseases. Int J Res Pharmacol Pharmacother 6(1):81–88

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soyingbe OS, Makhafola TJ, Mahlobo BP, Salahdeen HM, Lawal OA, Opoku AR (2017) Antiasthma activity of Eucalyptus grandis essential oil and its main constituent: vasorelaxant effect on aortic smooth muscle isolated from nomotensive rats. J Exp Appl Anim Sci 2(2):211–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stackpole DJ, Vaillancourt RE, Alves A, Rodrigues J, Potts BM (2011) Genetic variation in the chemical components of Eucalyptus globulus wood. G3 Genes Genom Genet 1(2):151–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Taur DJ, Kulkarni VB, Patil RY (2010) Chromatographic evaluation and anthelmintic activity of Eucalyptus globulus oil. Pharmacogn Res 2(3):125

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tyagi A, Bukvicki D, Gottardi D, Tabanelli G, Montanari C, Malik A, Guerzoni ME (2014) Eucalyptus essential oil as a natural food preservative: in vivo and in vitro antiyeast potential. BioMed Res Int. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/969143

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Vecchio M, Loganes C, Minto C (2016) Beneficial and healthy properties of eucalyptus plants: a great potential use. Open Agri J 10:52–57. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874331501610010052

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vilela GR, de Almeida GS, D’Arce MAB, Moraes MHD, Brito JO, da Silva MFDG, da Gloria EM (2009) Activity of essential oil and its major compound, 1, 8-cineole, from Eucalyptus globulus Labill., against the storage fungi Aspergillus flavus Link and Aspergillus parasiticus Speare. J Stored Prod Res 45(2):108–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2008.10.006

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wong C (2020) The health benefits of Eucalyptus oil. https://www.verywellhealth.com/steam-inhalation-with-eucalyptus-essential-oil-88169#citation-5. Accessed 20 April 2021

  • Zhang J, An M, Wu H, Stanton R, Lemerle D (2010) Chemistry and bioactivity of Eucalyptus essential oils. Allelopathy J 25(2):313–330

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are highly grateful to Lovely Professional University Phagwara, Punjab, India for providing the essential infrastructure for the preparation of this manuscript.

Funding

Funding

Funding not available for this article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India

    Surbhi, Ashwani Kumar, Sarabjit Singh & Prasad Rasane

  2. School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India

    Pooja Kumari

Authors
  1. Surbhi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ashwani Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sarabjit Singh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Pooja Kumari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Prasad Rasane
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ashwani Kumar.

Ethics declarations

Ethical statement

This article does not contain any human or animal studies performed by any of the authors.

Conflict of interest

Surbhi has no conflict of interest. Ashwani Kumar has no conflict of interest. Sarabjit Singh has no conflict of interest. Pooja Kumari has no conflict of interest. Prasad Rasane has no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Surbhi, Kumar, A., Singh, S. et al. Eucalyptus: phytochemical composition, extraction methods and food and medicinal applications. ADV TRADIT MED (ADTM) 23, 369–380 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-021-00582-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-021-00582-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation