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Research: MORI and colleagues, R
Listed in Issue 80
Abstract
MORI and colleagues, Research and Development Division, Institute of Cosmetic Science, Club Cosmetics Co., Ltd., 145-1, Ichibu-cho, Ikoma City, Nara 630-0222, Japan, analysed the amounts and relative ratios of the main constituents in commercially available essential oils .
Background
Methodology
The researchers analysed commercially available essential oils using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) – including essential oils of Lavandula officinalis (lavender oil ), Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil ) and Mentha piperita (peppermint oil ) – and quantified the main ingredients. They compared the results of analyses of some commercial lavender oils with those of Lavandula flagrans (lavandin oil) and the reference standard.
Results
Analyses of the lavender oils showed that oils from different sources had different ratios of the contents of the main ingredients – such as linalool, linalyl acetate and camphor . Although the components of nearly all of the commercial lavender oils were roughly the same as those of the reference standard, a few products contained more than 0.5% of the amount of camphor in lavandin oil . This latter finding suggested that some commercial lavender oils were mixed with lavandin oil to lower the cost of manufacture and/or sale price . Tea tree oils from different sources differed with respect the amount of terpinens in each oil. Each of the different samples of peppermint oils contained a different ratio of the main ingredients .
Conclusion
The observed variations in the contents of commercially available essential oils are a cause for concern with respect to the expected versus the actual efficacy of the oils. It is important that accurate information regarding the relative and absolute amounts of constituents of essential oils is available to the consumer. The authors recommend that quality control, using instrumental analysis, be introduced.
References
Mori M et al. (Quality evaluation of essential oils.) Yakugaku Zasshi 122 (3): 253-61. Mar 2002.
