Botanical name Allium cepa L.
Family Liliaceae
Source Bulb
Origin Egypt
Processing Method Steam distilled
Color/Consistency Light yellow to brownish yellow
Aromatic Summary / Note / Strength of Aroma A middle note with a strong aroma, Onion Essential Oil has a strong, sulphuraceous odor.
Blend with Asafoetida, Garlic, Rosemary, Oregano, Sage, and Thyme.
Product Abstract
Onion is which is also known as Pyaaz, or bulb onion is the highly cultivated species of the genus Allium. It is cultivated on a worldwide basis. The most common usage of Onion as we all know is in culinary aspects. In India, it is used on a very diverse aspect. In botanical terminology, it is also known as Allium Cepa.
History
Onions grew in Chinese gardens as early as 5000 years ago and they are referenced in some of the oldest Vedic writings from India. In Egypt, onions can be traced back to 3500 B.C. There is evidence that the Sumerians were growing onions as early as 2500 B.C. One Sumerian text dated to about 2500 B.C. tells of someone plowing over the city governor's onion patch.
Harvesting/Extraction Information
The Onion oil which is extracted from the Onion bulbs which contains vitamin A, B and C in abundance is done by the process of steam distillation. The credit for the origination of this oil belongs to Germany. This oil is highly used in the food industry. The fragrance of this oil is really very unpleasant and its color can be anywhere between yellow to golden brown. The onion plant from which it is extracted is a perennial herb that grows hollow leaves on itself. The chemical constituents of this oil are like Sulfur compounds, dipropyl disulfide, methylpropyl and dipropyl trisulphide.
Common Usage
Caution
When applying onion essential oil topically, be sure to do a skin patch test first. Apply a small amount of it onto a non-sensitive part of your skin (such as your forearm area) and see if there are any allergic or sensitive reactions within 24 hours of application. If there are none, then go ahead and apply onion essential oil as a natural remedy for your ailments.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your doctor first before using onion essential oil.
Key constituents
Dipropyl disulfide 26.0%
Methyl propyl trisulfide 16.0%
Methyl propyl disulfide 12.5%
Propyl (E)-1-propenyl disulfide 9.5%
Dipropyl trisulfide 8.0%
Propyl (Z)-1-propenyl disulfide 6.0%
Methyl (E)-1-propenyl disulfide 4.0%
Dimethyl trisulfide 3.6%
Methyl (Z)-1-propenyl disulfide 2.1%
(E)-1-Propenyl propyl trisulfide 1.3%
Dimethyl sulfide 1.1%
2-Methylpent-2-enal 1.0%
(Z)-1-Propenyl propyl trisulfide 1.0%
Di(1-propenyl) trisulfide 1.0%
Quality May be adulterated with aliphatic sulfide mixtures (Burfield 2003).
Safety summary
Hazards Drug interaction; inhibits blood clotting; may be skin sensitizing.
Caution (oral) Anticoagulant medication, major surgery, peptic ulcer, hemophilia, other bleeding disorders.
Cautions (dermal) Use with caution on skin or mucous membranes, especially if hypersensitive, diseased or damaged.
Regulatory guidelines Has GRAS status.
Organ-specific effects
Adverse skin reactions Since onion and garlic oils have a great deal in common, there is a suspicion that onion oil might, like garlic oil, present some risk of sensitization.
Cardiovascular effects Onion oil demonstrates antiplatelet activity. Platelet activity is essential for blood clotting. Onion oil is more potent than garlic oil.
Systemic effects
Acute toxicity No information found.
Antioxidant/pro-oxidant activity In rats, onion oil protected against nicotine-induced lipid peroxidation, increasing activities of antioxidant enzymes and concentrations of glutathione.
Carcinogenic/anticarcinogenic potential Onion oil was not mutagenic in the Ames test, but was marginally mutagenic in a chromosomal aberration test. In mouse micronucleus tests, onion oil showed no genotoxicity. The proliferation of human leukemia HL-60 cells was inhibited by onion oil. It also demonstrated an inhibitory effect onPMA-mediated mouse skin tumor promotion both in vitro and in vivo. In mouse epidermal cells, onion oil increased glutathione peroxidase activity, and abolished the inhibitory effect of a tumor promoter on the enzyme. Onion oil contains no known carcinogens.
Drug interactions Anticoagulant medication, because of cardiovascular effects, above.
Comments
Safe levels for dermal application of onion oil are not known. Sulfur-rich oils such as onion are more commonly administered internally than externally in aromatherapy. Shallot oil, Allium cepa var. aggregatum, is occasionally available.
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