White Lotus Aromatics Newsletter - Lemon-Scented Tea Tree, January 28, 2002
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Lemon-Scented Tea Tree
Dear Friends-
Here is another monograph on an oil which is not that well known. I recently got several kilos of this material from Clive Teubes in South Africa. Clive is an excellent distiller and now has a small range of EcoCert Organic Oils. His work there is fine as he is working hard to promote organic horticulture amongst the farmers of his region.
Lemon Scented Tea-Tree (Oil of Leptospermum Petersonii):
The name Leptospermum originates from the Greek "leptos" - fine or slender; and "sperma" - a seed.
Synonyms for the species-
L. flavescens var. citratum
L. citratum
Place of origin
South Africa, New South Wales, Queensland
Description
Rounded shrub to 4 m high by 3 m across. Leaves are narrow-lanceolate, to 4 cm, and
strongly lemon-scented. White flowers, 1.5 cm in diameter, occur in spring and early
summer.
Description of Plant: Rounded shrub to 4m high by 3m
in width. Leaves bright green, narrow-lanceolate to
4cm with a strong lemon or citronella scent (depending
on chemotype) In summer white 1.5cm (sometimes
pale pink) flowers appear. The species is well known in
cultivation as a street tree in mild to warm climates. For
oil production plants are cut off approx. 30cm above
ground once they reach 1.5m in high (usually within
18mths of planting) to assist with soft regrowth. This
technique is called coppicing and is used with many
native species to encourage multistem regrowth with
minimal deadwood.
http://www.bush-sense.com/profile.html
Images
http://www.anbg.gov.au/leptospermum/leptospermum-petersonii.html
Leaves and flower
Harvest Season: From December to March.
Production method
Steam distilled from the leaves and twigs of Leptospermum Petersonii.
1918 saw the first report on this oil by Challinor et al.
under its previous name of Leptospermum citratum.
They describe it as having “a pleasant lemon-scented
odour”, not unusual considering the oil was rich in the
aldehydes citronellal, neral and geranial. Interest in
the antimicrobial potential of this species was shown
by Penfold and his co-workers, in 1942 during the
Australian Phytochemical Survey. Penfold et al.
discovered three physiological forms of L. citratum (as
it was then known) with aldehyde (Type), terpinene
(Variety “A”) and one with a soft fragrant rose-like
scent (Variety “B”). There has been much recent work
on this species by Brophy et al. that has supported
and added to these earlier findings. The high aldehyde
variety (Type) has been grown commercially in parts of
Africa and Guatemala in the past. Australian commercial
plantations of Lemon Scented Tea Tree are now
producing this oil in quantity.
http://www.bush-sense.com/profile.html
Aroma
Very fine, delicate and sweet lemon-roseaceous topnote. Fresh and clean wholesome aroma. As the topnote melds into the heart note a more penetrationg, slightly punguent herbaceous, lemon-lime like odor appears. A combined lemon verbena/citronella/lemongrass type of aroma which is to say grassy, leafy and citrus peel like. The sweet delicate topnote impression remains present well into the heartnote. It is a sparkling effervescent oil. This is definitely an oil of unexpected delights. The distillation is excellent(we should not forget that the distiller plays a critical part in the beauty of any oil. I have found Clive Teubes oils to be consistently of high quality in that regard
Main uses
Perfumery, cosmetics, aromatherapy, bug-repellent products.
Comments
Said to have antiseptic, antimicrobial, carminative and sedative properties, it is used inaromatic blends for the oil burner to combat coughs and colds. It is also successfully used as a powerful insect repellent.
Uses: Can be used as fragrance raw material. The odour has been described as a strong, pleasant lemon odour with a
delightful fresh rosy tone which is particularly persistent on dry-down. In 1929 the "Perfumery and Essential Oil
Record" suggested its use as a base for citrus compositions or as a toner and modifier of Rose Compositions. It was
suggested to be an ideal replacement for more expensive Verbena Oil.
As a natural insect repellent. A 20% solution was found to be effective against Anopheles farauti. It gave immediate
repellency and remained effective for 4 hours for at least 50% of the insects. This is a good result for an essential oil.
To improve the odour of Tea Tree Oil, Melaleuca alternifolia . Around 5% can be added to give a noticeable
improvement in the odour . When up to 20% is added there is an increased activity against Staphlococcus aureus when
compared with Pure Tea Tree Oil.
As a cosmetic preservative. It has been shown to be effective as a preservative in shampoo at 1%.
As an active in natural anti-microbial products or as an active in deodrant products.
Lemon scented Tea Tree has been shown to be active against Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans and Staphylococcus
aureus.
http://www.bucktonpage.com/month4.htm
Therapeutic Properties of Constituents:
Anti-infectious, anti-viral, antiseptic, expectorant,
anti-inflammatory, digestive stimulant.
L. petersonii has been recommended for the treatment
of oily skin and acne. It is also being recommended as
for use in natural insect repellents, either alone of
combined with M. alternifolia (Tea Tree). The oil is
stimulating in minute quantities but sedating and
calming at normal strength.
http://www.bush-sense.com/profile.html
Blending: This very lemon scented oil must be used
sparingly within any blends, to prevent other
components being drowned out by its vibrant scent.
For skin use, I like to blend Lemon Scented Tea Tree
with a citrus oil in equal parts to ‘quench’ the irritant
effect of the aldehydes found in this oil. Lemon Scented
Tea Tree also blends well with wood aroma’s such as
cypress, sandalwood and rosewood. Lemon Scented
Tea Tree can be used to improve the scent of more
medicinal essential oils such as M. alternifolia (Tea
Tree). As part of a respiratory blend Lemon Scented
Tea Tree will help to clear nasal and bronchial catarrh.
http://www.bush-sense.com/profile.html
Blending suggestions
Blends well with other Australian EO's. Some suggested blends you might like to try include:
1 part rosalina, 2 parts rose geranium, 1 part lemon tea-tree
1 part lemon tea-tree, 2 parts rosalina, 1 part nerolina
1 part lemon tea-tree, 1 part Eucalyptus radiata
3 parts lemon tea-tree, 1 part Eucalyptus radiata, 1 part patchouli (insect
repelling blend)
3 parts niaouli, 2 parts lemon tea-tree, 1 part lemon-myrtle
3 parts rosalina, 1 part lemon tea-tree, 1 part blue cypress
http://www.soap.it/eos/lemonttree.html
Hydrosol: A gentle, fresh lemon, slightly green scented
clear liquid. The hydrosol has proven to be a great skin
cleanser for oil/olive skin types, being moderately
astringent with no skin irritant effects. As a throat
gargle either neat (for adults) or dilute with some
warm water (for children) it leaves your mouth feeling
pleasantly fresh and lemony. I have found this to be a
good protection against throat infection and colds (my
6 y.o. son loves to gargle with this hydrosol). Feedback
from another aromatherapist has revealed that the
neat hydrosol discourages ants and other crawling
insects when used to wash down benches. I have
used a few drops of Lemon Scented Tea Tree oil in
floor washing water for the same effect, the fresh
lemony aroma being an added bonus. From a pet care
point of view, the hydrosol is apparently being used to
good effect on working cattle dogs in the treatment of
mange type skin problems and to keep flea
infestations under control.
http://www.bush-sense.com/profile.html
GC Analysis on this particular batch of Organic Lemon Tea Tree from South Africa.
Please note that there were many many more peaks but only the ones listed below were identified. It is quite an expensive proposition to get a more detailed gc done so I am always grateful when the distiller can provide me with any gc that has some peaks identified.
Alpha Pinene-.087527%
Odor Description : Fresh Camphor Sweet Pine Earthy Woody
Myrcene-2.0431%
Odor Description : Fresh Peppery Terpy Spicy Balsam Plastic
Aldehyde C9-1.71044%
Odor Description : Fresh Fatty Rose Orris Lily Orange Verbena
Nerol-12.37475%
Odor Description : Fresh Sweet Natural Neroli Citrus Magnolia
Neral-19.32608%
lemon odour, sweeter than geranial.
Geraniol-2.11861%
Odor Description : Sweet Rose Waxy Green Citrus With Floral Woody Nuances
Geranial-25.89086%
Strong lemon odor
Other major components of this oil identified by researchers are-
Citronellol, isopulegol and methyl heptenone.
In earlier e-mails I have mentioned that one can do some additional research on specific aromatic molecules by visiting James Dukes Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Website. In one section of that you can explore the biological activities of specific molecules. He has graciously included the citations that concerning the specific activities related to that molecule.
I would encourage those who access this information that an essential oil is a synergy which is much more than the sum total of its individual components. When an islolate is created on a particular molecule it definitely is going to have some specific effect but divorced from its aromatic pals in the whole oil it may not have the balance that is required to be really effective in the wholistic sense. This is just my opinion. I do not pretend to know anything about the therapeutic benefits of any isolate or oil but love the oils just for themselves, as miraculous treasures of the plant world but I also love studying what some of the literature has to say about the effects of the oil. Anyway I just wanted to mention this because of the following information that is offered to us by Mr. Duke.
Biological Activities of ALPHA-PINENE
Allelochemic;
Allergenic; M&R523;
Antibacterial; RIE12:5;
Antifeedant; JAF45:3276;
Antiflu; EMP5:195;
Antiinflammatory; IJO15(4):194;
Antiviral; EMP5:195;
Cancer-Preventive; 525;
Coleoptophile;
Expectorant; MIK;
FLavor; FEMA 15-150; ARC;
Herbicide; IC50=30 uM; TOX;
Insectifuge; 50 ppm; 382 HH3;
Insectiphile; JSPR22:141;
Irritant; JBH;
Perfumery; ARC;
Pesticide;
Sedative; LRN-JUN90;
Spasmogenic; CAN;
Tranquilizer; LRN-JUN90;
Biological Activities of MYRCENE
ACE-Inhibitor; 100 ug/ml; K26575;
Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor; 100 ug/ml; TYK1992:95;
Allergenic; M&R154;
Analgesic; EMM18:28;
Antibacterial;
Antimutagenic; EMM18:28;
Antinociceptive; 10-20 mg/kg ipr mus; JPP42:877;
Antinociceptive; 20-40 mg/kg scu mus; JPP42:877;
Antioxidant; JA6(4):33;
Antispasmodic; PM&T20:213.1986;
FLavor; FEMA 0.5-9; ARC;
Fungicide; TOX;
Insectifuge;
Irritant; ZEB;
Perfumery; JBH;
Pesticide;
Biological Activities of NEROL
Antibacterial; HG17;
Antiseptic; LAF;
FLavor; FEMA 1-20; ARC;
Perfumery; M11;
Pesticide;
Sedative; ZEB;
Trichomonicide; ED100=300 ug/ml; FT67:279;
Biological Activities of NERAL
Antibacterial; IWU;
Pesticide
Biological Activities of GERANIOL
Allergenic; M&R315 DC33:333;
Anthelminthic; MAD;
Antibacterial; MIC=400 ug/ml; JAF41:1103;
Anticancer (Pancreas); IC50=265 uM; LIP32:151;
Anticariogenic; MIC=400 ug/ml; JAF41:1103;
Antimelanomic; IC50=150 uM/l; JN127:668;
Antiseptic; 7 x phenol; W&W;
Antispasmodic; JEO2:185;
Antitumor; JAF43:2144;
Antitumor (Pancreas); IC50=265 uM; LIP32:151;
Ascaricide; MAD;
CNS-Stimulant; HHB;
Cancer-Preventive; 525;
Candidicide;
Embryotoxic;
Emetic; 3 x ipecac; LRN-SEP97;
Expectorant; MAD;
FLavor; FEMA 1-10; ARC;
Fungicide; IC93=2 mM; 438;
Herbicide; IC100-2,000 uM; TOX;
Insectifuge; 50 ppm; JSPR22:141.1986;
Insectiphile; M11;
Nematicide; IC86=100 ug/ml; NIG;
Nematicide; MLC=1,000 ug/ml; SZ44:183;
Perfumery; M11;
Pesticide;
Sedative; W&W ZEB;
Trichomonicide; LD100=300 ug/ml; FT67:279;
Biological Activities of GERANIAL
AntiEBV; IC50=16 uM; NR54:S24;
Antibacterial; JE12:279.1984;
Antiviral; IC50=16 uM; NR54:S24;
Pesticide;
Biological Activities of CITRONELLAL
Allergenic; M&R333;
Antibacterial; JE26:75;
Antiseptic; 3.8 x phenol; W&W;
Embryotoxic;
FLavor; FEMA <1; ARC;
Insectifuge; M11;
Motor-Depressant; BVC:162;
Mutagenic?; AEHD1:121;
Nematicide; MIC 1 mg/ml; SZ44:183;
Perfumery;
Pesticide;
Sedative; ED=1 mg/kg; W&W;
Teratogenic; JNP39:446;
Biological Activities of ISOPULEGOL
Antiacetylcholinesterase; IC50=2.0 mM; JAF45:677;
FLavor; FEMA 5-30; ARC;
Perfumery; ARC;
http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/chem-activities.html
White Lotus Aromatics
www.whitelotusaromatics.com