= easily evaporated on exposure
to air at ordinary temperature
Complex liquid mixtures of
odoriferous principals obtained
mainly from plant sources of
varying chemical composition
Easily evaporate when exposed to
air at ordinary temperature
Used for either their specific
therapeutic activity or their
aroma
Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)
Over 87 families are rich in volatile oils
Lamiaceae (Labiatae) Astraceae (Compositae)
Myrtaceae
Essential
oils from animal sources e.g. musk (from
the male musk deer), ambergris ( from certain kinds
of whales).
Musk deer
Sperm whale
Volatile oils + sugars = glycoside e.g. amygdalin
Volatile oils + gums= oleo gum.
Volatile oils +resins = oleo resin.
Volatile oils + gums and resins = oleo gum resin.
Historical overview
Ancient Egyptians used V.O for their antibacterial
properties.
The aromatic essences were used in the Roman
baths and applied as massage (i.e. topical
application).
Resins rich in oil (oleoresins) were widely used as
incenses in churches and mosques and still used.
The use of inhalation of stimulants as onion in case
of fainting is common in folk medicine.
Aromatherapy
It is a branch of complementary medicine which depends on the use
of aromatic plants and their extracts to promote health and vitality
(treatment through stimulation of sense of smell) or used locally as
a whole body massage.
2. Localized in certain organs e.g.
1.In all the tissues of the plant e.g. Conifer (Pinaceae).
Petals (Rose) Pericarp and fruits Petals, rind of fruits
(Anise) and leaves (Orange)
Stem and leaves Barks and leaves
(Mentha) (Cinnamon)
Glandular hairs (Lamiaceae). Oil cavities or glands (Rutaceae).
Oil cells (Zingeberaceae). Secretory canals or tubes (Apiaceae).
mild antiseptics
local irritants
anthelmentics
antispasmodic
local analgesics
carminatives
Spices , condiments ,
preservatives
Perfume industry ,cosmetics,
soaps, deodorizers, household
cleansers, polishes and
insecticides
Flavouring agents in food
and pharmaceutical
industries especially
medicines used for infants
2-They are immiscible with
1-They are colourless,
water, but sufficiently soluble
pleasant smelling, volatile in
to give an odour to water
steam and optically active.
(aromatic waters).
Physical
properties of
volatile oils
3-Mostly lighter than water
except for few ones such as 4-They may darken in
oils of cinnamon (sp. gr. colour when exposed to
=1.04), clove (1.03-1.06). light.
Complex chemical mixture
+
( alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, ethers, oxides,
phenols and esters ).
N.B.: Few oils may consist of one main component e.g.
Volatile oil of mustard (93% allylisothiocyanate).
Volatile oil of cloves (85% eugenol).
Soluble in organic
Hydrocarbons solvents (ether,
& oxygenated Distillable CHCl3) and
compounds alcohol of different
strengths
1-Chemical 2-Steam
3-Solubility
composition distillation
Non- Soluble in
Glyceryl esters organic solvents,
distillable almost insoluble
of fatty acids
in alcohol
Volatile None Resinification
4-Volatilization at 6.Action of air and
5-Nutritive value
ordinary temperature light during storage
Non-volatile Nutritive Rancidity
No soap No stain
7- Soap formation 8-Stain on filter paper
Form soap Permanent
and greasy
The
localization of
the oil in the
plant
The condition
of the plant
Factors material
affecting the ( fresh or dry)
choice of the
method of
preparation
The amount
of the oil
The nature
of its
constituents
Methods of preparation of Volatile oils
Distillation
methods
Enzymatic Scarification
The different
hydrolysis of &Expression
methods are: methods
glycosides
Solvent
extraction
methods
