Teeth and Gums

Beautiful and graceful teeth will attract the eyes and receive the sympathy of the opposite person. That’s why daily oral care is extremely important, do not be subjective but do what to protect them!

If you want to see healthy teeth and gums, go to parts of Africa where there isn’t a tube of toothpaste in sight. Traditionally, certain sticks and rock salt have provided mankind with a most effective dental cleansing treatment. Today, the essential oils can provide a natural alternative to commercial products. Of course, it helps if you keep off the sweet things.

A tooth powder can be made from the following ingredients:

• Clay 4 teaspoons
• Salt 1 teaspoon
• Peppermint 2 drops
• Lemon 2 drops

Green or white clay work equally well. Mix these together in a blender and keep in a box. Dip your toothbrush into the powder and wet with a tiny bit of water before brushing the teeth as normal.

Myrrh has been used for treating mouth problems for a very long time indeed. It is marvelous for keeping gums healthy and treating those that are not. A mouthwash can be made by adding 2 drops of essential oil of myrrh to1 tablespoon of vodka and mixing well. Add only 2 drops of this to each glass of water you use to rinse the mouth.

Tooth White Powder

Here is a recipe for a tooth powder based on a very old Swiss method. It helps to keep the teeth white:

SWISS “SNOW CAPS” TOOTH POWDER

• Ground, dried orange peel 1 tablespoon
• Ground, dried sage 2 teaspoons
• Bicarbonate of soda 2 teaspoons
• Salt 1 teaspoon
• Lemon 5 drops
• Peppermint 1 drop

If you are having gum problems add to the above ingredients 15 drops of tincture of myrrh (available from the pharmacist) have added 1 drop of myrrh into which you essential oil. Mix it all together well in the blender.

LIPS

A soft and seductive lips is always the desire of women. Lips are for kissing and should always be looking their best, ready for what they were designed for. Unfortunately, they can crack, become infected, line, and be the site of a herpes virus reaction.

The impact of food, water, chemical exposure in cosmetics and also the influence of weather as well as life activities can make the lips more sensitive. Without proper lip care, the outer layer of epidermis cells will not stop peeling, even cracking, bleeding and darkening.

A lined mouth is not particularly attractive on either a man or a woman. And it can be avoided. Nothing is more irritating than dry cracked lips, whether from ill health, too much sun, or cold. Here is an alternative to the petroleum or animal fat based products which are the generally available commercial option:

PROTECTIVE LIP GLOSS BASE

• White beeswax 1 ounce
• Sweet almond oil  2 tablespoons
• Jojoba oil  10 drops
• Carrot oil  5 drops
• Vitamin E  (optional) 1 capsule*

*1 capsule – 250 lUs

LIP GLOSS ESSENTIAL OILS

• Geranium
• Lavender
• Palmarosa
• Chamomile German
• Lemon
• Rose

Use the bain-marie method, melt the beeswax and then add the almond oil, stirring all the time. Then add the jojoba oil, carrot oil, and vitamin E, and stir again. Finally, mix in the 10 drops of your chosen essential oils taken from the list above, or you can lip care following these recommendations:

FOR DRY, CRACKED LIPS

• Geranium 5 drops
• Lavender 5 drops

FOR SORE LIPS

• Chamomile German 5 drops
• Calendula 5 drops

If you have a cold sore around the lips, make up the following synergistic blend and add 20 drops to the lip gloss base, and use three times per day. Alternatively, dip a cotton ball into water, put p drop of the synergistic blend onto it and apply it directly to the cold sore once a day:

• Geranium 8 drops
• Lemon 3 drops
• Chamomile German 6 drops
• Tea tree 8 drops
• Lavender 5 drops

Mixed together in these proportions

Wish you always healthy and happy in life.

• The article is for reference only and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment.

• Sources: THE COMPLETE BOOK OF ESSENTIAL OILS & AROMATHERAPY – Valerie Ann Worwood

The eyes are said to be the seat of the soul. Certainly, we spend enough on making them look attractive: at the time of writing, in the United States alone, millions of dollars are spent each year on eye makeup. But no amount of mascara or eyeliner can hide the problems that afflict the very delicate skin that surrounds the eye, and crow’s feet wrinkles, creased skin, bags under the eyes, and darkening around the whole area can depress even the brightest of souls!

With regular use, essential oils applied around the eyes can diminish the creasing and smooth out the tiny cracks and crevices. The skin around the eyes, however, is extremely fragile and it is important only to use the lightest of base oils and the minimum of essential oils. Please note that if any oil gets into the eye, flush it out immediately with water.

Use the oil relevant to your age group.

OILS FOR AROUND THE EYES

EIGHTEEN TO TWENTY-FIVE YEARS

• Hazelnut oil 2 teaspoons
• Borage seed oil 2 drops
• Chamomile erman 1 drop
• Carrot oil 1 drops

TWENTY-FIVE TO FORTY YEARS

• Hazelnut oil 2 teaspoons
• Borage seed 2 drops
• Evening primrose  3 drops
• Lavender 2 drops
• Lemon 1 drop
• Vitamin E  1 capsule*
• Carrot 2 drops

(*) 1 capsule – 250 IUs 

FORTY TO FORTY-FIVE YEARS

• Hazelnut oil 2 teaspoons
• Evening primrose 6 drops
• Borage seed  3 drops
• Palma rosa  2 drops
• Lavender  2 drops
• Vitamin E  1 capsule*
• Carrot  3 drops

(*) 1 capsule – 250 lUs

MATURE YEARS

• Hazelnut oil 2 teaspoons
• Jojoba oil 5 drops
• Vitamin E  2 capsules*
• Lavender  1 drop
• Lemon 1 drop
• Bois de rose  1 drop
• Carrot 3 drops

(*) 1 capsule = 250 IUs

Mix the ingredients together well and use the lightest amount around the eye area. Weight around the eye area causes it to sag–and that applies to all oils and creams. Leave the oil for a few minutes and then very gently wipe off the excess. Apply the oil every night.

To treat puffy eyes and dark shadows around the eyes, these are the ingredients you need:

• Hazelnut oil 2 teaspoons
• Witch hazel  1 tablespoon
• Fennel  2 drops
• Chamomile German 2 drops

First, dissolve the essential oils as far as possible in ice cold witch hazel, and place it in the fridge. Wrap an ice cube in a cotton-wool ball (the shape and weight of an ice cube made in the plastic bags which you can now buy for the purpose is ideal, although “cube” is a misnomer here), dip it in the essential oil and witch hazel mixture and place it over your closed eye and the puffy area. Leave it in place for a few seconds and then, while the skin is still wet, apply a small quantity of hazelnut oil to the area.

Tired eyes benefit from dabbing with a cold rosehip or green tea. Make up the tea and keep it in the fridge and just dab it around the eyes when they feel that they need it.

You can make up your own eye oil, bearing in mind the information that has gone before, using the following oils. It would be ideal to use this while you are giving yourself a face mask treatment, for your eyes will be closed and relaxing, and you can lie down and take it completely easy for five minutes or so. Apply the oil only around the eye area, not on the eyelids.

ESSENTIAL OILS FOR AROUND THE EYE AREA

Essential Oil	Base Oil	Additions to Base
Chamomile German Carrot Lemon Lavender Palmarosa Fennel Rose	Hazelnut Almond	Jojoba Evening primrose Borage seed

• Source: THE COMPLETE BOOK OF ESSENTIAL OILS & AROMATHERAPY – Valerie Ann Worwood

• This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment.

Please see: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7427755/

Abstract

Sesquiterpenoids, and specifically sesquiterpene lactones from Asteraceae, may play a highly significant role in human health, both as part of a balanced diet and as pharmaceutical agents, due to their potential for the treatment of cardiovascular disease and cancer.

This review highlights the role of sesquiterpene lactones endogenously in the plants that produce them, and explores mechanisms by which they interact in animal and human consumers of these plants. Several mechanisms are proposed for the reduction of inflammation and tumorigenesis at potentially achievable levels in humans.

Plants can be classified by their specific array of produced sesquiterpene lactones, showing high levels of translational control. Studies of folk medicines implicate sesquiterpene lactones as the active ingredient in many treatments for other ailments such as diarrhea, burns, influenza, and neurodegradation. In addition to the anti-inflammatory response, sesquiterpene lactones have been found to sensitize tumor cells to conventional drug treatments.

This review explores the varied ecological roles of sesquiterpenes in the plant producer, depending upon the plant and the compound. These include allelopathy with other plants, insects, and microbes, thereby causing behavioural or developmental modification to these secondary organisms to the benefit of the sesquiterpenoid producer. Some sesquiterpenoid lactones are antimicrobial, disrupting the cell wall of fungi and invasive bacteria, whereas others protect the plant from environmental stresses that would otherwise cause oxidative damage.

Many of the compounds are effective due to their bitter flavor, which has obvious implications for human consumers. The implications of sesquiterpenoid lactone qualities for future crop production are discussed.

Nutritional Factors

For humans, lettuce and chicory (Lactuca sativa and Chicorium intybus L.) represent the major dietary sources of the sesquiterpene lactone. The benefits of eating fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet are widely known, and although statistics vary greatly between studies.

In addition to vegetables, beverages can also contribute to sesquiterpene consumption, with chicory root being used to make tea and sometimes used as a coffee substitute.

In addition, some Asteraceous plants are used to reduce the bitterness of some alcoholic beverages. Other sources of sesquiterpenoids include spices, such as anise and herbs, although their consumption is understandably smaller. Traditional medicinal plants can also be a significant source for some populations, as sesquiterpenoids often represent the active ingredient. These medicinal plants usually belong to the Asteraceae family, of which “malaria” (Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Sch. Bip.) Yarrow (Achillia spp.), and quinghaosu (A. annua) in the treatment of malaria, is among the most commonly used both historically and in current alternative treatments.

Structure

Sesquiterpenes là hợp chất ưa béo không màu. Quá trình sinh tổng hợp ở thực vật là từ ba đơn vị isoprene. Sesquiterpenes bao gồm 15 carbon xương sống, và trong khi cấu trúc của chúng đa dạng, phần lớn và các dạng chức năng nhất là chu kỳ, và do đó trọng tâm của bài tổng quan này sẽ dựa vào các hợp chất này.

Sesquiterpenes are colorless lipophilic compounds. Biosynthesis in plants is from three isoprene units, and occurs via farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP), in the endoplasmic reticulum. Sesquiterpenes consist of a 15 carbon backbone, and whilst diverse in their structure, the majority, and the most functional forms are cyclic, and consequently the focus of this review will rest upon these compounds.

The large number of sesquiterpene synthases coupled with the fact that a single synthase may produce numerous products and further modifications after sesquiterpene synthesis, such as oxidation and glycosylation take place, result in a vast number of varied structures, many similar synthases may produce the same products, in different ratios which affect the metabolite profile of a plant and can be used to classify closely related species or subspecies.

Regulation of the pathways is highly controlled in some species where sesquiterpenes are produced as a stress response, Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) produces sesquiterpenes only in response to herbivory, and 26 unigenes coding seven enzymes have been characterized. Oxidation of the 3C side chain of germacranolides is responsible for the formation of the lactone ring in germacranolides type sesquiterpenes, and guaianolides and eudesmanolides are further derived from this.

Biosynthesis of sesquiterpene lactones is highly characterized, with detailed reports available amongst others. Germacranolides, guaianolides, pseudoguianolides and eudesmanolides (Figure 1) are the most representative classes, germacranolides being the most significant with regards to their function in humans. Eudesmanolides (Figure 1A,B) have two fused 6 membered rings: germacranolides have a 10 membered ring; (Figure 1C,D): Guaianolides (Figure 1E–H) have a 7-membered and a 5-membered ring, and a methyl group at C-4: Pseudoguaianolides (Figure 1I–N) have a 7-membered and a 5-membered ring and a methyl group at C-5. All contain a fused 5-membered lactone group (γ lactone) with a carbonyl moiety at the alpha position.

Eudesmanolides α-santonin (A), β-santonin (B), germacranolides; Parthenolide (C), Lactuside A (D), guaianolides; 8-deoxylactucin (E), 11.(S),3-dihydrolactucopicrin (F), lactucin (G), lactucopicrin (H), Pseudoguaianolides; helenalin (I), Hymenin (J), lettucenin A (K), parthenin (L), tenulin (M), Strigolactones; 8-deoxy-strigol (N) Cadinanolide; Artemisinin (O), Seco-cadinanolide; Artemisinic acid (P)

Pharmacological effects of sesquiterpene

1. Inhibits cancerous tumor growth and induces cytotoxicity

According to studies on plant-based compounds with anti-cancer properties, scientists have discovered that sesquiterpenes are on the list of such substances. According to studies, there are about 50 types of sesquiterpenes evaluated to have the ability to inhibit the growth of tumors in experimental models.

Scientists have found that all types of sesquiterpenes that are potentially cytotoxic to cancer contain lactone function, with the exception of sesquiterpenes that contain double bonds at the α, β and α-ethylenic positions.

In a further study of the mechanism of action and structure relationship between sesquiterpene lactones, it was noted that the presence of an extracyclic double bond at the C11–C13 position is essential. essential for cytotoxicity of cancer cells.

One of the typical sesquiterpenes in fighting cancer cells is parthenolide. This active ingredient has been studied and used a lot in Europe in the treatment of cancer.

Parthenolide’s mechanism of action may be due to: stimulation of the natural apoptosis process of cancer cells (apoptosis), inhibition of NF activity – kappa B.

2. Antibacterial, inhibits the growth of fungus

According to the researchers, this antibacterial activity has been reported in several plant species containing high levels of sesquiterpenes.

These sesquiterpenes have been shown to inhibit the growth of:

• Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli.
• Candida albicans và some worms.

And two sesquiterpenes have been isolated that show strong antibacterial effects: tanachin and tavulin. However, the inhibitory effect of tavulin was weaker than that of tanachin.

Besides, some types of serquiterpenes also have the ability to fight viruses, such as the well-known active ingredient such as artemisinin isolated from the plant. This active ingredient is commonly used in the treatment of dengue fever caused by the dengue virus.

Not only that, but some active ingredients that are semi-synthetic from artemisinin such as artesunate also work against some viruses such as:

• HCMV (human cytomegalovirus).
• Herpes simplex virus type – 1 (HSV – 1).
• Epstein – Barr virus

3. Has anti-inflammatory properties

According to experts, sesquiterpenes have the ability to regulate a number of inflammatory processes, such as phosphorylation, platelet aggregation, histamine and seretonin release.

However, the main inflammatory response inhibited by sesquiterpenes involves nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). A comprehensive study by Bork et al showed that 54 Indian and Mexican medicinal plants, all rich in Sesquiterpene lactones, had potent inhibitory effects on the NF-κB pathway.

NF-κB is a family of proteins that control DNA transcription, cytokine production, and cell survival. The proteins form heterozygous or homozygous cytoplasmic complexes consisting of p50 and p65 subunits.

A comprehensive study by Siedle et al. described 103 sesquiterpenes from 6 subclasses that inhibit NF-κB DNA binding.

Not only that, they found that the majority of sesquiterpenes with this activity belonged to the guaianolide subgroup and that the presence of an unsaturated carbonyl group played a major role in cytotoxicity.

Typical for sesquiterpenes with anti-inflammatory activity among these compounds are zerumbone and parthenolide.

4. Antioxidant activity

Sesquiterpen lactone group is considered a group of substances with very strong antioxidant activity. Researchers Ruberto and Baratta looked at the lipid-oxidizing capacity of a wide range of plant essential oil components and found that sesquiterpenes have stronger oxidizing activity due to the presence of the allylic alcohol component.

In addition, scientists also put forward the view that thanks to strong antioxidant properties, the sesquiterpen group has the ability to inhibit the growth of tumors through affecting the process of spontaneous apoptosis. nature of cancer cells.

Hopefully, the information that the article has shared has helped you gain more important knowledge about sesquiterpenes and the benefits of this active ingredient to human health.

Wish you always healthy and happy in life.

• This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment.

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3709812/

• https://riff.vn/vi/sesquiterpen

Abstract

Agarwood is a resinous part of the non-timber Aquilaria tree, which is a highly valuable product for medicine and fragrance purposes. To protect the endangered Aquilaria species, mass plantation of Aquilaria trees has become a sustainable way in Asian countries to obtain the highly valuable agarwood. As only physiologically triggered Aquilaria tree can produce agarwood, effective induction methods are long sought in the agarwood industry.

In this paper, we attempt to provide an overview for the past efforts toward the understanding of agarwood formation, the evolvement of induction methods and their further development prospects by integrating it with high-throughput omics approaches.

Introduction

Agarwood (also known as gaharu in the South East Asia, oud in the Middle East, chen xiang in China, jinkoh in Japan and agar in India) is a highly valuable aromatic dark resinous heartwood of Aquilaria species (Liu Y. Y. et al., 2017). The formation of agarwood is generally associated with the wounding and fungal infection of the Aquilaria trees (Liu Y. et al., 2013; Mohamed et al., 2014). The resin is secreted by the trees as defense reaction and deposited around the wounds over the years following the injury, where the accumulation of the volatile compounds eventually forms agarwood (Subasinghe and Hettiarachchi, 2013).

Agarwood has been widely used as therapeutic perfumes, traditional medicine, religious purposes and aromatic food ingredient (Liu Y. et al., 2013). Some of the earliest known uses of agarwood were recorded in ancient literatures, religious scriptures and medical texts. The word “aloes” which means agarwood was found occurring in the Sanskrit poet, Kâlidâsa that can be dated back to c. 4th–5th century CE (Lee and Mohamed, 2016). Meanwhile, the use of agarwood in the prescription of traditional Chinese medicine of the same period had also been recorded. The Chinese medicine uses it as a natural sedative, pain reliever, digestive aid and carminative (Ye et al., 2016; Liu Y. Y. et al., 2017).

Agarwood has high demand throughout the world as a raw material for incense, perfume and medicine purposes, with Middle East and East Asia as the two major regions of consumption (Antonopoulou et al., 2010). As the wealth of the consumer countries has gradually increased in the recent decades, the market’s demand for agarwood started to exceed its supply. Global agarwood prices can be ranging from US$ 20 – 6,000 per kilogram for the wood chips depending on its quality or US$ 10,000 per kilogram for the wood itself (Abdin, 2014). In addition, the value of agarwood essential oil can be as high as US$ 30,000 per kilogram. The annual global market for agarwood has been estimated to be in the range of US$ 6 – 8 billion (Akter et al., 2013), yet a large number of the trades have not been recorded.

Aquilaria belongs to the Thymelaeaceae family of angiosperms, which is endemic to the Indomalayan realm. To date, there is a total of 21 Aquilaria species which have been documented and 13 of them are recognized as the agarwood-producing species (Lee and Mohamed, 2016). The destructive exploitation of agarwood, however, has badly affected the wild population of all Aquilaria species. As a consequence, the genus is now listed as endangered species and protected under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulation due to a drastic declination of the species in the wild (Convention On International Trade In Endangered Species [CITES], 2004; Lee and Mohamed, 2016).

High demand of quality agarwood in conjunction with the depletion of the wild Aquilaria trees implied that the price of the agarwood will continue to soar. As an alternative, mass cultivation and large plantation of Aquilaria trees which serve as a sustainable source to obtain agarwood have greatly resolved the shortage of agarwood supply in the global market.

Since healthy Aquilaria tree does not form agarwood, leaving it worth next to nothing, the scarcity of naturally occurring agarwood has prompted the development of artificial agarwood-inducing methods. Efforts to artificially induce the agarwood formation can be traced back to as early as 300 C.E. in the Chinese history, where it was recorded that resin deposition accompanied with color changes of internal tissues can happen within a year by injuring the trees (López-Sampson and Page, 2018). Besides mechanical wounding approach, the use of chemical, insect and pathogen-inducing techniques is increasingly common in the agarwood industry nowadays (Liu Y. et al., 2013; Mohamed et al., 2014; Kalita, 2015).All of these induction techniques in any case mimic the natural processes of agarwood formation, which have their own strengths and weaknesses.

In this article, we endeavor to provide a more comprehensive coverage of existing induction methods and their development prospects using the advancement of biotechnology. To better understand the agarwood formation process, the molecular mechanism of secondary metabolite biosynthetic pathways underlying the resin production will also be elaborated.

Agarwood Induction Approaches

The indiscriminate harvesting of agarwood from natural habitats has seriously hampered natural regeneration of Aquilaria trees, thus threatening the survival of the species in the wild. In order to meet the high market demand yet to protect the species from extinction, mass plantations of Aquilaria trees have been established across the Asian countries to allow sustainable agarwood production (Azren et al., 2018). Since agarwood formation in natural environment is a very long process which can take up to 10 years, the development of effective induction technology has received a great attention as it is extremely crucial to ensure the stability of agarwood yield from the domesticated Aquilaria trees.

Naturally, agarwood formation is often linked to the physical wounding or damage of Aquilaria trees caused by thunder strike, animal grazing, pest and disease infestations (Rasool and Mohamed, 2016; Wu et al., 2017). These events expose the inner part of the trees toward pathogenic microbes, which elicit the defense mechanism of Aquilaria to initiate the resin production. This natural formation process of agarwood has greatly inspired the development of diverse artificial induction methods (Table 1).

For example, many traditional induction approaches like nail in setting, holing, burning, trunk breaking and bark removal have adopted the concept of physically wound the trees (Mohamed et al., 2010; Azren et al., 2018). Although it is cost effective and requires only personnel with little or no scientific knowledge on agarwood, but these induction methods usually result in inferior quality and uncertain yield of agarwood.

Strengths and weaknesses of different types of agarwood inducing methods.

Agarwood formation	Description	Reference
Natural factors -Thunder strikes -Broken branches -Animal grazing -Pest and disease -infestations	Concept Create wounds for pathogenic microbes to enter and trigger the tree’s defense system Weaknesses -Unsustainable, undetermined and extremely low yield -Require extensive and indiscriminately harvesting of wild trees Advantages -Possible to obtain high quality agarwood -No cultivation, plantation and induction required	Mohamed et al., 2010; Azren et al., 2018
Conventional methods -Physical wounding -Burning-chisel-drilling -Partial-trunk-pruning -Wounding using axe or machete -Bark removal -Cauterizing -Cutting -Holing and nailing	Concept -Physical wounds of the tree will trigger the agarwood formation. Weaknesses -Laborious -Longer time is required to get the agarwood with uncertain quality -Localized agarwood formation only at the injured areas Advantages -Cost effective	Rasool and Mohamed, 2016; Wu et al., 2017
Non-conventional methods (1) Biological consortium (Some fungal strain used for induction including Aspergillus sp., Chaetomium sp., Fusarium sp., Lasiodiplodia sp., Penicillium sp., and Xylaria sp.)	Concept Introducing microbial cultures into the tree to mimic pathological infection to Aquilaria. Weaknesses -Require a long incubation time and localized agarwood formation at the inoculated area -Laborious and time-consuming to make holes and maximized the agarwood yield -Inconsistency of agarwood quality due to different fungal strains or species used Advantages – Microbial cultures can be prepared at low cost and easily available – Biological agents are obtained from natural source and often relate to be safe for handling and environmental friendly	Mohamed et al., 2014; Rasool and Mohamed, 2016; Sangareswari Nagajothi et al., 2016
(2) Chemical inducers (Phytohormones, salts, minerals, biological-derived substances, and others, e.g., NaCl, H2O2, formic acid, Agar-wit, Agar-bit, and CA-kit)	Concept Induce tree’s defense mechanism directly with either chemicals or signaling molecules Weaknesses -Skeptical impact on human health and environment -Need to be applied at the right dose to obtain optimal strength of induction Advantages -Fast results and high yields -Easy to apply in large-scale plantations -Consistent yield and quality -Can induce agarwood formation in the whole tree/systemic manner	Zhang et al., 2012; Liu X. et al., 2013; Van Thanh et al., 2015

The Main Constituents of Agarwood

The main attraction of the agarwood industry is its extremely high market value. Yet, the price of agarwood is largely determined by its quality which is graded solely based on human experience from the age-old practices of each country. The unavailability of standard quality grading system can be due to the intricate appearance of the traded agarwood and personal interest.

The currently adopted agarwood quality assessment in the market has been extensively reviewed by Liu Y. Y. et al. (2017). Recently, the metabolite analysis of agarwood has gained increasing attention as some studies showed that there is correlation of agarwood quality to its resin yield and metabolite constituents (Pasaribu et al., 2015; Liu Y. Y. et al., 2017).

Many studies have been conducted to clarify the metabolite composition of agarwood obtained either from wild or artificially induced methods (Chen et al., 2012; Gao X. et al., 2014; Hashim et al., 2014). It was concluded that the composition of agarwood resin is mainly composed of the mixtures of sesquiterpenes and 2-(2-phenylethyl) chromones (PECs) (Naef, 2011; Chen et al., 2012; Subasinghe and Hettiarachchi, 2015; Figure 1). Meanwhile, the constituents of agarwood essential oil were shown primarily to be sesquiterpenoids (Fazila and Halim, 2012; Hashim et al., 2014; Jayachandran et al., 2014). Together, all of these major compounds and some low abundant volatile aromatic metabolites form the unique and fragrant-smelling property of agarwood.

The number and types of agarwood metabolite constituents of each reported studies vary depending on the agarwood source, extraction methods and analysis approaches used (Fazila and Halim, 2012; Jong et al., 2014; Pasaribu et al., 2015).

Nonetheless, there are over 150 compounds as reviewed by Naef (2011) have been identified thus far in agarwood from different sources. Among these compounds, there are 70 sesquiterpenes and about 40 types of PECs which have been recognized in agarwood and their structures have been elucidated (Naef, 2011).

Several sesquiterpenes were observed to be more frequently present in agarwood from different studies, including aromadendrene, agarospirol, β-agarofuran, guaiol and (-)-aristolene (Fazila and Halim, 2012; Liu Y. et al., 2013; Jayachandran et al., 2014; Jong et al., 2014; Figure 2). Some sesquiterpenes are reported to be species-specific, such as jinkoh-eremol and epi-γ-eudesmol that only present in A. malaccensis, while baimuxinal only exists in A. crassna and A. sinensis (Naef, 2011; Liu Y. et al., 2013; Jong et al., 2014; Hashim et al., 2016).

It is worth mentioning that in the study of Pasaribu et al. (2015), the content of aromadendrene was found to be greater in higher grade agarwood and therefore it was suggested as an effective chemical marker for agarwood grading. Besides aromadendrene, Jayachandran et al. (2014) later has proposed an additional marker valencene which can be important in the grading of agarwood oil.

 

The PEC derivatives, as other major fragrance constituents of agarwood are the important contributors to the sweet, fruity and long lasting scent of agarwood when it is burnt. These compounds can only be detected by supercritical carbon dioxide and solvent extraction methods but never present in the extract of hydrodistillation (Yoswathana, 2013; Jong et al., 2014).

In comparison to the sesquiterpene constituents in agarwood, the types of PECs being determined by GC-MS are relatively limited. Structural studies revealed that all previously reported PECs in agarwood own the same basic skeleton (molecular weight: 250) and similar substituents, i.e., either hydroxy or methoxy groups (Mei et al., 2013). The percentage of 2(2-phenylethyl) chromone and 2-(2-4-methoxy-phenylethyl) chromone in the high grade agarwood such as kanankoh can be as high as 66.47 %, which is overwhelmingly higher than the lower-quality agarwood jinkoh that has only 1.5% (Ishihara et al., 1993).

Furthermore, the presence of certain PEC derivatives in agarwood was proposed to be useful in the evaluation of the grading of agarwood products (Shimada et al., 1982). There are 17 types of chromone derivatives which are agarwood specific and potential marker for the purpose of authentication (Naef, 2011). The substituted chromones, such as agarotetrol and isoagarotetrol (Figure 3), were shown to have positive correlation with the quality of agarwood obtained in the market with some exceptions (Shimada et al., 1986).

The types and derivatives of major compounds in agarwood are extremely wide and diverse, indicating the miscellaneous fragrance properties of agarwood from different species and regional sources. The better insight of agarwood metabolites will definitely facilitate the identification of universally accepted biomarkers for agarwood grading.

Since the publication of the comprehensive review of Naef (2011) regarding the major constituents of agarwood, new compounds continue to be discovered in the later studies (Wu et al., 2012a; Yang et al., 2014b; Wang et al., 2015). The number of discovered compounds in agarwood will certainly be further increased in the future.

Source: Scientific report on Agarwood by the authors:

• Yoswathana, 2013;

• Jong et al., 2014

• Ishihara et al, 1993

• Shimada et al., 1982

• Naef, 2011

• Shimada et al., 1986

• Wu et al, 2012a;

• Yang et al., 2014;

• Wang et al., 2015

• Pasaribu et al., 2015;

• Liu Y. Y. et al., 2017;

• Chen et al., 2012;

• Gao X. et al., 2014;

• Hashim et al., 2014

• Rasool & Mohamed, 2016;

• Wu et al., 2017

• Azren et al., 2018

• Rasool & Mohamed, 2016;

• Fazila & Halim, 2012;

• Jayachandran et al ., 2014;

• NCBI (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6374618/)

Please see more:

• Agarwood Essential Oil Uses
• Agarwood Perfume Extrait
• The Biosynthesis Pathways of Agarwood Constituents

Description

Liquid, viscous, yellow-white color. Extracted from the peel of the Grapefruit (Citrus maxima or Citrus grandis). Originated from Southeast Asian countries. In Viet Nam it is very familiar to everyone and is grown everywhere.

Pomelo Essential Oil imparts a sweet, fresh and aromatic odor, widely used in aromatherapy. Known as a great antidepressant. Furthermore, this essential oil also helps to calm the mind, thus helping to relieve stress. Pleasant taste, more distinctive than other citrus fruits.

Not only in the perfumery, cosmetics, and food industries; Medical and herbal experts also appreciate Pomelo essential oil because of the great values ​​it brings.

Studies have found that Pomelo essential oil has many positive effects on some of the most common health problems today.

1. Uses pomelo essential oil for Skin

For skin, Pomelo essential oil is also used to clean skin, remove blackheads and clear clogged pores. It contains several essential amino acids that help to build healthy skin cells and suppress any redness and swelling that tends to develop on skin exposed to harsh environmental states. Its high flavonoid content provides antioxidants traits to assist in combating free radical damage, diminish acne, scars and dark spots and lessen skin irritation.  Pomelo also contains spermidine that aids in delaying skin cells from ageing and reducing the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and sunken skin

KEY FEATURES FOR SKIN

• It contains an enzyme called bromelain, which speeds up the digestion of proteins and helps cleanse the skin by removing the older, outer skin layers

• Helps fight acne by clearing oils from the skin, as well as removing older skin cells, which balances pH of the skin

• Works effectively as an astringent, anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, soothing and toning

• Cleanses the skin effectively and helps in the treatment of several skin conditions

• Richness in antioxidants that fight free radicals, high in flavonoids and Vitamin C, therefore stimulates collagen production, thus maintains and improves skin elasticity and diminishes pigmentation

• Helps skin to replace ageing cells and formation of new tissues. Its antioxidant content of lycopene chemical can slow down ageing.

• Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it can be used to reduce itching from skin conditions such a psoriasis.

2. Uses pomelo essential oil for Hair

Pomelo has long been used to nourish hair, specifically supporting hair growth by improving blood circulation and stimulating hair follicles. It strengthens the hair and makes it smooth and beautiful.

KEY FEATURES FOR HAIR

• Stimulate fast hair growth and nourish hair follicles as it promotes blood circulation of hair rootsEliminates itching, dandruff, folliculitis and fungus effectively

• Restores damaged hair and nourishes the scalp and hairline.

• Provides nutrients to hair follicles and restores dry, coarse, damaged hair and provides smooth flow of tangled hair

3. Aids Digestion

Increased blood to the digestive organs — including the bladder, liver, stomach and kidneys — means that pomelo oil also helps with detoxification. It has a positive effect on digestion, can help you shed fluid retention, and fights microbes within the intestines, gut and other digestive organs.

4. Uses pomelo essential oil to Helps to Boost Weight Loss

Ever been told that pomelo is one of the best fruits to eat for weight loss and fat-burning? Well, that’s because some of pomelo’s active ingredients work to boost your metabolism and reduce your appetite. When inhaled or applied topically, pomelo oil is known to lower cravings and hunger, which makes it a great tool for losing weight fast in a healthy way. Of course, using pomelo oil alone isn’t going to make all the difference — but when it’s combined with dietary and lifestyle changes, it can be beneficial.

5. Works as Natural Antibacterial Agent

pomelo oil has antimicrobial effects that help reduce or eliminate harmful strains of bacteria that enter the body through contaminated foods, water or parasites. Research shows that pomelo oil can even fight strong bacterial strains that are responsible for food-born illnesses, including E. Coli and salmonella.

pomelo is also used to kill skin or internal bacteria and fungus, fight mold growth, kill parasites in animal feeds, preserve food, and disinfect water.

6. Helps to relax, relieve stress, fatigue

The smell of pomelo is uplifting, soothing and clarifying. It’s known to relieve stress and bring on feelings of peace and relaxation.

Research suggests that inhaling pomelo oil or using it for aromatherapy within your home can help turn on relaxation responses within the brain and even lower your blood pressure naturally. Inhaling pomelo vapors can quickly and directly transmit messages to your brain region involved in controlling emotional responses.

 

7. Key Features For Others

• Citrus fruits have traditionally been used for its uplifting properties and are known to be beneficial in relieving stress and nervous exhaustion.

• Pomelo Oil calms emotional distress and is immensely supportive when one is working through situational anxiety or depression.

• As it is an excellent antiseptic, it can be used on cuts or scrapes. Topical application over inflamed skin can provide relief and protect against infection.

• Used topically to reduce headaches, fatigue and hangover. Ease muscle spasm, soothe sore muscles and calm agitation.

HERE ARE THE TOP POMELO ESSENTIAL OIL USES

• Reduce Cravings: Add 1–2 drops of pomelo oil to your water, inhale it directly from the bottle, diffuse 5 drops in your office or home, or massage 2-3 drops into your chest and wrists when a craving strikes.

• Relieve Stress: Add 2–3 drops to a sterile cotton ball along with a touch of coconut oil. Then rub the mixture into your wrists, neck or chest. You can also diffuse 5 drops of pomelo or inhale it directly from the bottle.

• Ease Hangover: Diffuse 5 drops of pomelo essential oil in your home, add 1–2 drops to a glass of water, or apply 1–2 drops topically to your temples and neck.

• Improve Skin Health: As a natural acne treatment or skin salve, combine 1–2 drops of pomelo oil with about half a teaspoon of nourishing coconut or jojoba oil. Then apply the mixture once or twice daily on the affected area.Eliminate Odors: To get rid of unpleasant odors in your kitchen, appliances and bathrooms, diffuse 5 drops of pomelo oil along with other citrus scents like lemon essential oil and orange oil. While your house fills with a clean scent, you also eliminate odor-causing bacteria from the air. Additionally, you can use a small amount of pomelo essential oil on wooden surfaces, countertops, floors or in household appliances to kill bacteria and odor naturally.

• Boost Circulation: Add 2–3 drops of pomelo oil to a nightly bath, place some on your shirt collar or dap 1-2 drops onto your wrists.

• Aid Digestion: Make a homemade massage lotion with 3–5 drops of pomelo oil and equal parts coconut or jojoba oil. Then rub the mixture onto your abdomen to aid digestion.

• Boost Energy and Mood: Inhale pomelo oil directly from the bottle, diffuse 5 drops at home or work, or rub 2-3 drops onto your wrists.

• Improve Hair Health: Add 2-3 drops of pomelo oil to your shampoo or conditioner and massage it into your scalp and hair. You can also add 1-2 drops of pomelo to a small amount of coconut oil and rub the mixture into your clean, damp hair after bathing.

Pomelo essential oil works well with lots of other oils depending on what you’re using it for. Try combining it with basil oil, orange oil, peppermint oil, bergamot oil, eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil or lemon essential oil. Keep in mind that all citrus essential oils are highly concentrated and are full of healthy acidic properties. Because of this, we recommend you use glass containers when storing them so they don’t eat away any of the plastic.

POMELO OIL PRECAUTIONS

Pomelo essential oil is considered safe, but it might interact with certain medications, including antidepressants and blood pressure medications. Before adding Pomelo to your diet or using Pomelo oil as a natural medicinal remedy, check with your health care provider if you take medications or have sensitive skin.

You also want to avoid direct sun exposure right after using Pomelo oil topically, as some citrus oils can increase photosensitivity. When using the oil on your skin, wait at least one hour before going into the sun. Also keep in mind that some people with sensitive skin might experience irritation or an allergic reaction when applying Pomelo essential oil, so a skin patch test should be done first to check for your reaction (the same applies to starting use with any new essential oil since essential oils all differ in terms of ingredients and chemical properties).

Finally, be careful to avoid any misleading information on the internet about using high quantities of Pomelo oil for weight loss. Some sources claim that up to half a bottle per day should be taken for best results — but this is dangerous, potentially toxic and will very likely cause negative reactions. Overly consuming Pomelo oil can overstimulate the gallbladder and cause spasms and serious digestive issues like gallstones or changes in bile ducts, so use caution and only use Pomelo or any essential oil in small recommended doses.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment.

References: https://draxe.com; https://greenherbology.com/product/pomelo-essential-oil/; medicalnewstoday.com; tinhdau.info; hellobacsi.com; healthline.com;

 

B I O R E M A K E
POMELO ESSENTIAL OIL
100% Pure Natural essential oils; Alcohol-free; Chemical-free; Do not mix

 

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