Botanical name Hedychium spicatum
Family Zingiberaceae
Source Rhizomes
Origin India
Processing Method Steam Distillation
Color/Consistency Pale yellow viscous liquid
Aromatic Summary / Note / Strength of Aroma A middle note with a medium aroma, Hedychium Essential has warm woody notes with a hint of spice and a soft floral touch.
Blends With SandalWood, Jasmine, Cassia
Product Abstract
Hedychium, famous as kapoor kachri in India is well known due to its beautiful flowers that are used for decoration in various celebrations. This is grown as an ornamental plant in India. Moreover, the buds of the flower are used as edibles for flavoring the food. The flower has very good smell and most commonly used for making wreaths and bridal bouquets.
History
The oil has been used in both medicine and aromatherapy by ancaint Greeks. The term Hedychium is drived from two Greek terms "Hedy" and "Chois" maening flowring plant.
Harvesting/Extraction Information
Requires a rich moist soil and a sunny position. They can be grown in a sunny border as a summer sub-tropical bedding plant. Plants are not very cold-hardy, tolerating temperatures down to about -2°c. They can be grown at the foot of a south-facing wall if given a good mulch in the winter. Plants succeed outdoors in Tresco Gardens, Isles of Scilly. This species succeeds outdoors in most parts of S. England, especially if the rhizomes are mulched with dry leaves in the autumn. Plants have been known to withstand temperatures down to -16°c in Germany. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits. The tubers should only just be covered with soil. The flowers are sweetly scented, the scent being most pronounced towards evening. Both the bruised and the dried root are very aromatic with a fragrant, somewhat pungent smell that is similar to orris root but more powerful
Common Usage
Caution
Dilute before use; for external use only. May cause skin irritation in some individuals; a skin test is recommended prior to use. Contact with eyes should be avoided.
Key constituents
1,8-Cineole 44.3%
Linalool 25.6%
T-Muurolol 4.4%
Hedycaryol 2.6%
a-Cadinol 2.3%
a-Eudesmol 2.3%
b-Eudesmol 2.2%
Ascaridole 1.9%
Eremoligenol 1.3%
b-Pinene 1.3%
Terpinen-4-ol 1.3%
Hazards May contain ascaridole. Essential oils high in 1,8- cineole can cause CNS and breathing problems in young
children.
Contraindications Do not apply to or near the face of infants or children.
Maximum adult daily oral dose 180 mg
Maximum dermal use level 6.3%
Our safety advice
Our oral and dermal restrictions are based on 1.9% ascaridole content with limits of 0.05 mg/kg/day and 0.12%.
Organ-specific effects
Adverse skin reactions No information found.
Systemic effects
Acute toxicity No information found. Ascaridole is highly toxic. 1,8-Cineole has been reported to cause serious poisoning in young children when accidentally instilled into the nose.
Carcinogenic/anticarcinogenic potential No information was found for sanna oil, but it contains no known carcinogens.
Comments
Benzyl cinnamate 24.0%, benzyl acetate 16.5%, 1,8-cineole 13.0%, linalyl acetate 11.5%, and linalool 8.5% have been reported as constituents of this oil. Dutt identified ethyl p-methoxy cinnamate 67.8%, ethyl cinnamate 10.2% and 1,4-cineole 6.0% in sanna oil. These reports may reflect differences in varieties or chemotypes. According to Sabulal et al, who analyzed Hedychium spicatum var. acuminatum, three other analyses of this same variety also identified 1,8-cineole as the major constituent. Limited availability; the plant is reputed to be over-exploited and vulnerable in parts of India.