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Cinnamomum camphora (L.) PRESL.


Botanical Name	:	Cinnamomum camphora (L.) PRESL.
English Name	:	Camphor Tree
Synonym(s)	:	Laurus camphora, Linn., Camphora officinarum, Nees., Cinnamomum inunctum, Meisn. Cinnamomum glanduliferum, Meisn.
Family	:	Lauraceae

General Info

Description

A large, handsome, evergreen tree. Leaves are glabrous, sub- coriaceous, ovate-elliptic to elliptic to sub-ovate-elliptic, inflorescence is in axillary, slender, glabrous and many flowered panicles. The fruits are one-seeded berries, globose, slightly fleshy, seated on a shallow, thin cup, turning black when ripe.

Herb Effects

Stimulates the central nervous system (aerial part); stimulates the cardiovascular system (aerial part and essential plant oil); sedative (in hysteria), antibacterial, carminative, antispasmodic, antiseptic, rubefacient, expectorant and aphrodisiac (essential plant oil).

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Camphor

Chemistry

Active Ingredients

Mainly camphor (essential plant oil), 1,8 cineole, alpha-bisabolol, alpha-pinene, beta-elemene, borneol, caffeic acid, camphor, carvacrol, citronellol, eugenol, geraniol, kaempferol, limonene, myrcene, quercetin, vanillin.

Chemistry of Active Ingredients

Name

CAS#

IUPAC Name

Formula

Structure

Camphor

8022-77-3

1,7,7-trimethylnorbo
rnan-2-one

C₁₀H₁₆O

Alpha-bisabolol

67375-41-1

6-methyl-2-(4-methyl
-1-cyclohex-3-enyl)-
hept-5-en-2-ol

C₁₅H₂₆O

alpha-Pinene

80-56-8

2,7,7-trimethylbicyc
lo[3.1.1]hept-2-ene

C₁₀H₁₆

Beta-elemene

33880-83-0

1-ethenyl-1-methyl-2
,4-diprop-1-en-2-yl-
cyclohexane

C₁₅H₂₄

Borneol

10385-78-1

1,7,7-trimethylnorbo
rnan-2-ol

C₁₀H_{18_O}

Caffeic acid

Not Available

3-(3,4-dihydroxyphen
yl)prop-2-enoic acid

C₉H₈O₄

Carvacrol

499-75-2

2-methyl-5-propan-2-
yl-phenol

C₁₀H₁₄O

Citronellol

26489-01-0

3,7-dimethyloct-6-en
-1-ol

C₁₀H₂₀O

Eugenol

97-53-0

2-methoxy-4-prop-2-e
nyl-phenol

C₁₀H₁₂O₂

Geraniol

8007-13-4

3,7-dimethylocta-2,6
-dien-1-ol

C₁₀H₁₈O

Kaempferol

80714-53-0

3-[3-[4,5-dihydroxy-
6-(hydroxymethyl)-3-
[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-
(hydroxyme thyl)oxa
n-2-yl]oxy-oxan-2-yl
]oxy-4,5-dihydroxy-6
-(hydroxymethyl)oxan
-2 -yl]oxy-4,5-dihy
droxy-2-(4-hydroxyph
enyl)-chromen-7-one

C₃₃H₄₀O₂₁

Limonene

9003-73-0c

1-methyl-4-prop-1-en
-2-yl-cyclohexene

C₁₀H₁₆

Myrcene

2153-31-3

7-methyl-3-methylide
ne-octa-1,6-diene

C₁₀H₁₆

Quercetin

Not Available

2-(3,4-dihydroxyphen
yl)-3,4,5-trihydroxy
-chromen-7-one

C₁₅H₁₀O₇

Vanillin

8014-42-4

4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-
benzaldehyde

C₈H₈O₃

Pharmacology

Medicinal Use

In indigestion (leaf); as a sedative (in hysteria), carminative, aphrodisiac, as a nervine depressant in chorea, epilepsy, convulsions and rheumatism, in urogenital disorders, pruritis and as an antidote (in strychnine poisoning) (essential plant oil). Camphor liniment is used for relief of pain in muscular rheumatism.

Contraindication

Do not employ camphor in any form during pregnancy and lactation.Avoid use in patients with epilepsy or Parkinson’s disease.

Reference

Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.

The Himalaya Drug Company.

Bentley and Trimen, Medicinal Plants.

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