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Carvone: A Monoterpene Hydrocarbon.
Carvone has been identified in a study supported
by the US National Cancer Institute to have some increasing effect in levels of
glutathione S-transferase (a detoxifying enzyme) in mice (Zheng and colleagues
1992)
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Monoterpene Hydrocarbons: Found in
almost all Essential Oils have anti-tumour effects on mice in the laboratory.
There is also evidence that Monoterpene Hydrocarbons lose this anti-tumour
effect as the hydrocarbons become oxidised when the effect is reversed.
Monoterpene Hydrocarbons are antiviral,
decongestant, diuretic and a tonic to mucous membranes. |
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Limonene: Limonene has been studied for the anti-tumour effect
noticed in mice. Herbalists often prescribe herbs with this constituent as an
antioxidant and cancer or tumour inhibitor although there is evidence that these
properties are volatile and may be lost as a result of processing of the herb.
Limonene also has antiviral properties. |
Cineole: One of the two most important Monoterpene Oxides, the
other is Ascaridole, Cineole is one of the most widely distributed constituents
amongst plants as an oxidised product of monoterpenes. Cineole is often also
called Eucalyptol, named so because it is the major component of Eucalyptus oil. Cineole
is a expectorant widely used in commercial cough lozenges. It has a reputation
as a skin irritant amongst many practitioners but recent tests have failed to
confirm this. |
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Carophyllene Oxide: No current data available |
Myrcene: A monoterpene found in essential oil
of basil.
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Monoterpenes: One of the many terpenes, monoterpenes (the
smallest of the terpenes, although one of the most widely occurring) are mostly
found in essential or volatile oils. Aromatherapists use monoterpenes as a mucus
membrane tonic as decongestants and to ease nasal and other mucus membrane
discomfort. Monoterpenes evaporate easily and have a low boiling point.
Monoterpenes are mostly colorless and odorless, prone to oxidation. Oxidants
from monoterpenes could be irritant. Monoterpenes are antiseptic,
antiviral and bactericidal. |
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Phellandrene: No current data available |
