Melaleuca Leucadendron Cajaput Oil is an essential oil extracted from the cajaput (or cajeput) tree, primarily used in aromatherapy and skincare products.
Industrial Production Process
- Steam Distillation. The process begins with the steam distillation of the leaves and twigs of Melaleuca Leucadendron. During this process, steam passes through the plant material, 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. Melaleuca Leucadendron Cajaput oil undergoes quality testing to ensure it meets the required standards in terms of purity, aromatic profile, and chemical properties.
What it is for and where
Cosmetics
Fragrance. It plays a very important role in the formulation of cosmetic products as it provides the possibility of enhancing, masking or adding fragrance to the final product, increasing its marketability. It is able to create a perceptible pleasant odour, masking a bad smell. The consumer always expects to find a pleasant or distinctive scent in a cosmetic product. .
CAS 85480-37-1
EC Number 287-316-4
Form and Color
This Melaleuca Leucadendron compound generally appears as a color that ranges from light yellow to green.
Melaleuca Leucadendron commonly known as cajeput is a tree belonging to the Myrtaceae family, known for its medicinal and aromatic properties. It is commonly used for cajeput oil, which is extracted from its leaves and used in various treatments. This oil is known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant (1) and antimicrobial (2) properties. Phytochemical analysis has revealed the presence of terpenes, methyl eugenol and other interesting compounds useful for human health (3) It is often used in skin care products, in cold and cough remedies, and as an analgesic. Melaleuca Leucadendron is native to Australia and Indonesia, but is also cultivated in other tropical regions.
References_____________________________________________________________________
(1) Surh J, Yun JM. Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Butanol Extract of Melaleuca leucadendron L. Prev Nutr Food Sci. 2012 Mar;17(1):22-8. doi: 10.3746/pnf.2012.17.1.022.
Abstract. Melaleuca leucadendron L. has been used as a tranquilizing, sedating, evil-dispelling and pain-relieving agent. We examined the effects of M. leucadendron L. extracts on oxidative stress and inflammation. M. leucadendron L. was extracted with methanol (MeOH) and then fractionated with chloroform (CHCl3) and butanol (BuOH). Antioxidant activity of the MeOH extract and BuOH fraction were higher than that of both α-tocopherol and butyrated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Total phenol content in the extracts of M. leucadendron L., especially the BuOH fraction, well correlated with the antioxidant activity. The anti-inflammatory activity of BuOH extracts were investigated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The BuOH fraction significantly inhibited LPS-induced NO and PGE2 production. Furthermore, BuOH extract of M. leucadendron L. inhibited the expression of COX-2 and iNOS protein without an appreciable cytotoxic effect on RAW264.7 cells. The extract of M. leucadendron L. also suppressed the phosphorylation of inhibitor κBα (IκBα) and its degradation associated with nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation. Furthermore, BuOH fraction inhibited LPS-induced NF-κB transcriptional activity in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggested that M. leucadendron L. could be useful as a natural anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory resource.
(2) Valdés AF, Martínez JM, Lizama RS, Vermeersch M, Cos P, Maes L. In vitro anti-microbial activity of the Cuban medicinal plants Simarouba glauca DC, Melaleuca leucadendron L and Artemisia absinthium L. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2008 Sep;103(6):615-8. doi: 10.1590/s0074-02762008000600019. PMID: 18949336.
Abstract. In the present study, an extensive in vitro antimicrobial profiling was performed for three medicinal plants grown in Cuba, namely Simarouba glauca, Melaleuca leucadendron and Artemisia absinthium. Ethanol extracts were tested for their antiprotozoal potential against Trypanosoma b. brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania infantum and Plasmodium falciparum. Antifungal activities were evaluated against Microsporum canis and Candida albicans whereas Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were used as test organisms for antibacterial activity. Cytotoxicity was assessed against human MRC-5 cells. Only M. leucadendron extract showed selective activity against microorganisms tested. Although S. glauca exhibited strong activity against all protozoa, it must be considered non-specific. The value of integrated evaluation of extracts with particular reference to selectivity is discussed.
(3) Tsuruga T, Chun YT, Ebizuka Y, Sankawa U. Biologically active constituents of Melaleuca leucadendron: inhibitors of induced histamine release from rat mast cells. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 1991 Dec;39(12):3276-8. doi: 10.1248/cpb.39.3276.
Abstract. Chloroform and methanol extracts of the fruits of Melaleuca leucadendron strongly inhibited histamine release from rat mast cells induced by compound 48/80 or concanavalin A. Ursolic acid, a triterpene, was the most active compound contained in the chloroform extract and two stilbenes, piceatannol and oxyresveratrol, were isolated as active compounds from the methanol extract. Several other stilbenes and related compounds were examined to obtain information on the structure activity relationships of stilbenes.
