Traditional Uses:
Cinnamomum tamala is a moderate sized evergreen tree which is the source of tejpat leaves and the Indian cassia bark. It is distributed in tropical and sub-tropical Himalayas, therefore also is grown wildly in Chure range of Nepal at altitude of 1500 m. The leaves of a tree closely related to cinnamon but are little known elsewhere.
In ancient Greece and Rome, the leaves were used to prepare fragrant oil, called Oleum Malabathri, and were therefore valuable. The leaves are mentioned in the 1st century Greek text Periplus Maris Erytraei as one of the major exports of the Tamil kingdoms of southern India. The name is also used in mediaeval texts to describe the dried leaves of a number of trees of the genus Cinnamomum, which were thought to have medicinal properties.
1. Organoleptic Properties:
Appearance: Fluid liquid
Color: Golden yellow
Aroma: Camphoraceous, spicy
2. Physico - Chemical Properties:
Specific Gravity: 0.88106 to 0.94497 at 25º C
Optical Rotation: (-) 10.5º to (-) 20.5º at 25º C
Refractive Index: 1.4870 to 1.4975 at 25º C
Acid No: 0.5 to 6.5
Ester Number:Not less than 65
Ester No After acetylation: 100 to 145
Solubility: Soluble in 0.4 to 2.5 vol. of 90% alcohol; turbid on addition of further
alcohol
3. Packing:
Aluminum containers and epoxy-lined metallic barrels
500g, 1 kg, 5 kg, 10 kg, 50 kg, 100 kg, capacities
4. Actions: Analgesic, Antibiotic, Antiseptic, Antiseptic, Astringent, Carminative,
Digestive, Emmenagogue, Relaxant, Stomachic
5. Principal Constituents: In the essential oil from the leaves, mostly
monoterpenoides were found: Linalool (50%) is the major compound,
whereas a-pinene, p-cymene, ß-pinene and limonene range around
5 to 10% each. Phenylpropanoids appear only in traces: Newer work
reports 1% cinnamic aldehyde and no eugenol, whereas older literature speaks
of traces of both compounds.
6. Uses:
Benefits the nervous system and useful in treatment of stress-related conditions
such as headache, insomnia and nervous tension. Useful in the treatment of
circulation, muscles and joints complications and relieves arthritis, inflamed joints,
muscular pains, rheumatism and sprains. Benefits the digestive system and helps
improve appetite. Helps control infections
7. Industrial Uses:
Extensively used as fragrance component in soaps, detergents, cosmetics and
perfumes, toothpastes, and industrial fragrances
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References:
ADHIKARY, S.R., TULADHAR, B.S., SHEAK, A., BEEK, T.A.V., POSTHUMUS, M.A. and LELYVELD, G.P. (1992) Investigation of Nepalese essential oils. I. The oil of Cinnamomum glaucescens (sugandha kokila). Journal of Essential Oil Research, 4(2), 151-159.
BRADU, B.L. and SOBTI, S.N. (1988) Cinnamomum tamala in NW Himalayas. Evaluation of various chemical types for perfumery value. Indian Perfumer, 32(4), 334-340.
EOA (1975) Oil of cinnamon bark Ceylon. EOA No. 87. 1 p. Essential Oil Association of USA.
JANTAN, I. and GOH, S.H. (1990) The essential oils of Cinnamomum mollissimum as natural sources of safrole and benzyl benzoate. Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 2(3), 252-259.
MOESTAFA, A. and BADEGES, F. (1986) Distillation of cassia leaf oils (Cinnamomum burmanii, C. zeylanicum and C. cassia) by cohobation method and the identification of oil components. Warta Industri Hasil Pertanian, Indonesia, 3(1), 22-25.
NATH, S.C., HAZARIKA, A.K., BARUAH, R.N., SINGH, R.S. and GHOSH, A.C. (1994) Major components of the leaf oil of Cinnamomum sulphuratum Nees. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 6(1), 77-78.
SENANAYAKE, U.M. and WIJESEKERA, R.O.B. (1990) The volatiles of the Cinnamomum species. pp. 103-120. In Proceedings of the 11th International Congress of Essential Oils, Fragrances and Flavours, New Delhi, India, 12-16 November, 1989, Volume
WU, H. (1992) A study on the chemotypes of Cinnamomum parthenoxylen (Jack) Nees. Journal of Plant Resources and Environment, China, 1(4), 45-49.
YAACOB, K.B., ZAKARIA, Z. and RAMLI, Z. (1990) Major constituents of Cinnamomum parthenoxylon wood oil. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 2(1), 51.
ZHU, L.F., LU, B.Y. and LI, Y.J. (1984) Studies on chemical constituents of essential oil from leaves of jiang-zhang [C. porrectum]. Acta Botanica Sinica, 26(6), 638-643.