PINE NEEDLES OIL DWARF Chemical Properties

FEMA 2904 | PINE NEEDLE, DWARF, OIL (PINUS MUGO TURRA VAR. PUMILIO (HAENKE) ZENARI)

CAS DataBase Reference 8000-26-8

EPA Substance Registry System Oils, pine needle (8000-26-8)

Safety Information

Toxicity LD50 oral in rat: 6880mg/kg

MSDS Information

PINE NEEDLES OIL DWARF Usage And Synthesis

Description Dwarf pine needles oil is an essential oil obtained by steam or steam-water distillation of the comminuted needles and twigs of dwarf pine.  Main constituents of dwarf pine needles oil include l-α-pinene, β-pinene, l-limonene, dipentene, l-phellandrene, aldehydes, various esters, and alcohols. Dwarf pine needles oil has antiphologistic, antirheumatic, antiseptic, antineuralgic, antiviral, antiscorbutic, deodorant, decongestant, diuretic, disinfectant, expectorant, stimulant, tonic, and antifugal properties.

Dwarf pine needles oil can be used to help clear mucus from the lungs. It is used as a flavoring agent in foods and beverages and as a flavoring and fragrance in cough and cold medicines, vaporizer fluids, nasal decongestants, and ointments to relief pain. It can be used as fragrance in soaps and cosmetics. It is also added into ointments and applied directly to the skin to prevent skin infections.

References [1] #

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[3] George A. Burdock (1996) Encyclopedia of Food and Color Additives, Volume 3

Chemical Properties Dwarf-pine-needle oil is obtained in Austria (Tyrol) and other mountainous areas of Central and Southeast Europe by steam distillation of fresh needles and twig tips of Pinus mugo Turra ssp. mugo and ssp. pumilio (Haenke) Franco. It is a colorless liquid with a pleasant, balsamic odor.

d2020 0.858–0.868; n20D 1.474–1.478; α20D 15 ° to 7 °; solubility: 1 vol in ≤10 vol of 90% ethanol. Content by GC: α-pinene 10–30%;β-pinene 3–14%; 3-carene 5–25%; β-phellandrene 8–17%; limonene 8–14%; bornyl acetate 1–5%.

Chemical Properties The essential oil is obtained by steam or steam-water distillation of the comminuted needles and twigs in yields of 0.3 to 0.4%. The oil has a pleasant aromatic odor and bitter, pungent taste.

Physical properties It is a clear, almost colorless, mobile liquid.

Occurrence Found in the branches and adherent leaves of P. mugo Turra var. pumilio (Fam. Pinaceae) (Guenther, 1952).

Preparation By steam distillation of the branches and leaves of P. mugo Turra var. pumilio (Guenther, 1952).

Essential oil composition Main constituents include l-α-pinene, β-pinene, l-limonene, dipentene, l-phellandrene, aldehydes, various esters, and alcohols.

Pharmacology In man. Pinus pumilio oil increased bronchial secretions (Thomas, 1958). A dose of 500 mg/kg was reported to have no effect in vivo on the metabolism and pharmacological activity of pentobarbitone (25 mg/kg) in rats or in vitro on the metabolism of amidopyrene, p-nitroanisole and aniline by rat liver (Jori et al. 1969). Intravenous injection of the oil dissolved in sorbitol monostearate water caused no toxic effects in warm-blooded animals and large doses caused no changes in blood pressure, but it showed digitalis-like action of the isolated toad heart (Primavori. 1960).

Safety Profile Mildly toxic by ingestion. A human skin irritant. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes.