The fragrant camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) and its products, such as camphor oil, have been coveted since ancient times. Having a rich history of traditional use, it was particularly used as a fumigant during the era of the Black Death and considered as a valuable ingredient in both perfume and embalming fluid. Camphor has been widely used as a fragrance in cosmetics, as a food flavourant, as a common ingredient in household cleaners, as well as in topically applied analgesics and rubefacients for the treatment of minor muscle aches and pains. Camphor, traditionally obtained through the distillation of the wood of the camphor tree, is a major essential oil component of many aromatic plant species, as it is biosynthetically synthesised; it can also be chemically synthesised using mainly turpentine as a starting material. Camphor exhibits a number of biological properties such as insecticidal, antimicrobial, antiviral, anticoccidial, anti-nociceptive, anticancer and antitussive activities, in addition to its use as a skin penetration enhancer. However, camphor is a very toxic substance and numerous cases of camphor poisoning have been documented. This review briefly summarises the uses and synthesis of camphor and discusses the biological properties and toxicity of this valuable molecule.

https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/18/5/5434/pdf?y=1

Camphor—A Fumigant during the Black Death and a Coveted Fragrant Wood in Ancient Egypt and Babylon—A Review

Chemical composition, antibacterial and antioxidant activities of leaf essential oil and extracts of Metasequioa glyptostroboides Miki ex Hu.

Cyperus rotundus L.: Traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities.

Chemical composition and inhibitory parameters of essential oil and extracts of Nandina domestica Thunb. to control food-borne pathogenic and spoilage bacteria.

Composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils isolated from Egyptian plants against plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi

Chemical composition and some biological activities of the volatile oils of a chemotype of Lippia chevalieri Moldenke

The essential oil of the aerial parts of Triumfetta rhomboidea was analysed by GC and GC-MS and assayed for its antibacterial and antifungal activities. The main constituents identified were trans-β-caryophyllene (22.4%),kessane (14%) and caryophyllene oxide (13%). The antimicrobial tests showed a mild activity against Escherichia coli and Enterococcus hirae.

Composition and antimicrobial activities of the essential oil of Triumfetta rhomboidea Jacq.

The composition of the essential oil obtained from the aerial parts of Chrysanthellum americanum was analysed by GC-MS. Sixty-five compounds were identified from the hydrodistillate; caryophyllene oxide (20 %), hexa-2,4-dienol (10 %), β-caryophyllene (6 %), α-pinene (4.5 %) and verbenol (4.5 %) were found as the main constituents. The oil was further tested against five microorganisms and two of them showed a significant inhibitory effect. The growth of Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were inhibited at 100 μgml-1 broth, suggesting that the oil is potentially antifungal. The chemiluminescence analysis carried out reveals that this volatile oil was slightly antioxidant with an IC50 value of 530 mM compared to that of the reference; α-tocopherol. Hence the involvement of the oil chemical constituents in the obtained biological activities is discussed in this report.

M. Dherbomez

Papers

Chemical composition and some biological activities of the volatile oils of a chemotype of Lippia chevalieri Moldenke

Composition and antimicrobial activities of the essential oil of Triumfetta rhomboidea Jacq.

Composition, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of the Volatile Oil of Chrysanthellum americanum (Linn.) Vatke.