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Cajeput oil

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Cajuput essential oil in clear glass vial

Cajuput oil (also spelled cajeput) is a volatile oil obtained by distillation from the leaves of the myrtaceous trees Melaleuca leucadendra, Melaleuca cajuputi, and probably other Melaleuca species. The trees yielding the oil are found throughout Maritime Southeast Asia and over the hotter parts of the Australian continent. The majority of the oil is produced on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. The name "cajeput" is derived from its Malay name, kayu putih or "white wood".

Production and uses

The oil is prepared from cajeput leaves and twigs macerated in water, and steam distilled after fermenting for a night. The resulting oil is extremely pungent, flammable, and has the odor of a mixture of turpentine, eucalyptus and camphor. It consists mainly of cineol (see terpenes), from which cajuputene, having a hyacinth-like odor, can be obtained by distillation with phosphorus pentoxide. It is a typical volatile oil, and is used internally in doses of 2 to 3 minims, for the same purposes as clove oil.

Topical uses

If successful, pain management using cajeput oil may work by causing surface warmth and irritation through the help of a chemical called cineole, which is employed topically as a counterirritant. It is an ingredient in some liniments for sore muscles, such as Tiger Balm. It is also used as an ingredient in inhalants or decongestants and topical pain remedies. With regard to direct application, cajeput oil can be applied to large areas of skin (after completing a patch test), minor wounds, scratches, and rashes.

Potential side effects

Like other essential oils, cajeput oil may cause skin rashes, redness, irritation, burning, and hives when applied directly to the skin in its pure form.

For fish

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Cajeput is used for the treatment of bacterial or fungal infections in fish. Common brand names containing Cajeput are Melafix, Pimafix and Bettafix. Melafix is a stronger concentration and Bettafix is a lower concentration that makes it harder to overdose smaller fish, especially bettas. It is most commonly used to promote fin and tissue regrowth, but is also considered effective in treating other conditions, such as fin rot or velvet.

Schivappa et al. tested Melafix and Bettafix on various pathogens including bacteria and found no effect. However Schelkle et al. found high efficacy of Melafix, Pimafix and various ingredients against the helminth Gyrodactylus turnbulli in guppies and in vitro: the emulsifier Crovol, used in both medicines was only useful by itself in vitro.

See also

References

  1. Society, National Geographic (2012-01-04). "Australia and Oceania: Resources". National Geographic Society. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  2. "International - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)". www.eia.gov. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  3. ^  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Cajuput Oil". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 4 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 961.
  4. Definition of "cajuput" by Oxford Dictionary on Lexico.com
  5. ^ Shivappa, Raghunath B.; Christian, Larry S.; Noga, Edward J.; Law, Jerry M.; Lewbart, Gregory A. (April 2015). "Laboratory Evaluation of Safety and Efficacy for Melafix (Melaleuca cajuputi Extract)". Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine. 24 (2): 188–192. doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2015.04.020.
  6. Bettina Schelkle, Donna Snellgrove, Lewis L. Jones, Jo Cable (23 July 2015). "Efficacy of commercially available products against Gyrodactylus turnbulli infections on guppies Poecilia reticulata". Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. 115 (2): 129–137. doi:10.3354/dao02886. PMID 26203884.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)


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