Eucalyptus globulus

Scientific name: Eucalyptus globulus Labill.

Botanical family: MYRTACEAE

Vernacular names

(In territories with significant traditional TRAMIL use)

Colombia:

eucalipto

Honduras:

eucalipto

Other vernacular names

Colombia:

Eucalipto

Honduras:

Eucalipto

Haiti:

Kalitis

Geographical distribution

Native to Australia, widely cultivated throughout the world.

Botanical description

In America many different species have been introduced, almost all of which are used indiscriminately in folk medicine. Furthermore, there is difficulty in its taxonomic identification, also because of hybridisation factors, which is why a detailed description is not presented.

Eucalyptus spp. are trees of up to 40 m in height. Erect stem, smooth, flaky bark. Single, alternate and aromatic leaves. Eucalyptus globulus Labill. A large tree. When young, the leaves are ovate, cordate, embracing the stem or sessile, of greyish green colour. When adult they are petiolate, hanging, alternate,
lanceolate, accumulated, brilliant dark green in colour. Axillary flowers, without petals, with a large number of yellowish white stamens. Its fruit is a wide woody capsule in the upper part of 15 mm long and 2.5 cm in diameter.

Voucher(s)

Ochoa,265,HPMHV (E. tereticornis)
Ríos,400,CECALLI (E. camaldulensis)
Mercado,3,CIMCZA (E. cinerea)
TramilCol,21890,CUCV (E. globulus)

For flu and coughs:
prepare a decoction or infusion with 5-10 grams of fresh leaves or 20-40 grams of fresh leaves in 4 cups (1 litre) of water²¹.
For decoction, boil for 5 minutes in a covered vessel. For the infusion, add the boiling water to the leaves and cover.
Leave to cool, strain (filter) and drink 1 cup 3 times a day^3,22.

Preparations must never be stored for more than 24 hours, even if refrigerated.

According to the information available:

The use for flu and coughs is classified as REC based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys and the scientific information published.

If deterioration is observed in the patient or the flu persists for more than 7 days, or the cough persists for more than 5 days, seek medical attention.

Avoid ingestion in the event of gastrointestinal or bile duct inflammation or liver disease³.

Not for use during pregnancy, breastfeeding or in children under 12 years.

The aqueous leaf extract (6 g/day) has very good tolerability orally in humans12. Its LD50 in rats is 4.5 g/kg13.

The leaves in infusions or other galenical preparations from E. globulus can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea³.

The hydroalcoholic extract (50%) of the dried aerial parts of E. globulus via the intraperitoneal route in mice had a LD50 = 562 mg/kg¹⁴.

The hydroalcoholic leaf extract (50%) of E. citriodoraintraperitoneally in mice reached a LD50 above 1 g/kg¹⁵.

The essential oil of E. globulus orally in rats reached a LD50 =4.44 g/kg¹⁶.

The essential oil of E. citriodora orally in rats showed a LD50 > 5 g/kg and subcutaneously in rabbits a LD50 = 2.48 g/kg¹⁷.

The essential oil of E. globulus subcutaneously (135 mg/kg) in vivo in pregnant mice (6-15 days of gestation) did not show teratogenicity¹⁸.

Ingestion of the essential oil of E. globulus can cause intestinal irritation; cases of death from respiratory depression have been reported after ingestion of 4-24 ml (equivalent to 4-24 g of essential oil)¹⁹.

Preparations with essential oil applied to the face of children under 3 years of age can induce glottic spasm and bronchospasm³.

The essential oil of E. globulus, by inhalation in vaporisations in human adults, was found to be harmless²⁰.

There is no information available documenting the safety of use in children, during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

The E. citriodora leaf has been studied widely and contains, among other components, essential oil (1-3%): eucalyptol (cineol), present along with a wide range of other mono-, di- and sesquiterpenes that vary in concentration and type from one species to another, such as 1,8-cineol, r-cymene, limonene,
pinene, among others^4-5. It also contains flavonoids: eucalyptin⁶ and tannins⁷, which have a very specific distribution in one species or another.

The aqueous extract (10 g of leaves/1 l of distilled water) of E. globulus was used in nebulisations (5-15 ml) in 50 children under 5 years of age affected by mild or moderate acute respiratory diseases with a result of 41 healed, 8 with improvement of the clinical picture and one without improvement⁸.

The eucalyptol (cineol) is attributed with antiseptic and balsamic properties⁹ and in external and internal use, it is recognised as an expectorant¹⁰.

The 1,8-cineole is attributed with anticatarrhal, antitussive, bactericidal, expectorant and sedative activity and the pinene is attributed with antiseptic, bactericidal and expectorant activity¹¹.

The German “Commission E” approves the oral use of aqueousleaf preparations of E. globulus as an anticatarrhal agent³.

Pharmacopoeia

Ed.3

References

1 LAGOS-WITTE S, 1988-89, 1996
Encuesta TRAMIL. Laboratorio de Histología Vegetal y Etnobotánica, Dep. de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras UNAH, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
2 GOMEZ H, GAITAN R, DIAZ F, 2003
Encuesta TRAMIL (Norte del departamento de Bolívar). Grupo de Productos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas. Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.
3 PDR for Herbal Medicines, 2003
Eucalyptus globulus. The PDR® for Herbal Medicines, PDR Electronic Library, Medical Economics Company, PhytoPharm US Institute for Phytopharmaceuticals, Metuchen, USA, www.mdcc.edu/medical/library/catalog2.htm (28feb2003)
4 SOOD VK, RIER JR JP, GHOSH RC, 1987
A gas-liquid chromatograph analysis of oil from young and old leaves of Eucalyptus citriodora Hooker. Parfuem Kosmet 68(8):495-498.
5 FERNANDEZ RR, SURI RK, 1981
Studies on the oil of Eucalyptus citriodora Hook, grown at Dehra Dun. Indian Forestry 107(4):243-248.
6 SHEN YB, YU Z, 1986
Chemical constituents of Eucalyptus citriodora leaves. Part I. Linchan Hua Hsueh Yu Gong Yi 6(3):28-31.
7 ATAL CK, SRIVASTAVA JB, WALI BK, CHAKRAVARTY RB, DHAWAN BN, RASTOGI RP, 1978
Screening of Indian plants for biological activity. Part VIII. Indian J Exp Biol 16:330-349.
8 LOPES SAMPAIO AT, 1992
A utilizaçao da soluçao natural de eucalipto nas nebulizaçoes, como auxiliar nos tratamentos das inecçoes respiratórias agudas (IRA).R Bras Enferm Brasilia
45(2/3):183-186.
9 PARIS R, MOYSE H, 1981
Précis de Matière Médicale. Paris, France : Ed. Maloine.
10 GARNIER G, BEZANGER-BEAUQUESNE L, 1961
Ressources médicinales de la flore française. Paris, France : Ed. Vigot Frères.
11 DUKE J, 1992
Handbook of biologically active phytochemicals and their bioactivities. Boca Raton, USA: CRC Press.
12 ALONSO JR, 1998
Tratado de fitomedicina. Bases clinicas y farmacologicas. Buenos Aires, Argentina: Ed. ISIS S.R.L. p840.
13 JOUAD H, MAGHRANI M, EDDOUKS M, 2004
Hypoglycemic activity of aqueous extract of Eucalyptus globulus in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. J of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants
10(4):19-28.
14 ASWAL B, BHAKUNI D, GOEL A, KAR K, MAHROTRA B, MUKHERJEE K, 1984
Screening of Indian plants for biological activity: Part X. Indian J Exp Biol 22(6):312-332.
15 DHAR ML, DHAR MN, DHAWAN B, MEHROTRA B, SRIMAL R, TANDON J, 1973
Screening of Indian plants for biological activity: Part IV. Indian J Exp Biol 11:43-54.
16 DUKE J, 1977
Phytotoxin tables. Crc Crit Rev Toxicol 5:189-237.
17 ANON, 1988
Eucalyptus citriodora oil. Food Chem Toxicol 26(4):323.
18 PAGES N, FOURNIER G, LE LUYER F, MARQUES M, 1990
The essential oils and their potential teratogenic properties: Example of the essential oils of Eucalyptus globulus preliminary study with mice. Plant Med Phytother 24(1):21-26.
19 DUKE J, 1988
Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton, USA: CRC Press.
20 SPOERKE DG, VANDENBERG SA, SMOLINSKE SC, KULIG KK, RUMACK BH, 1989
Eucaliptus oil, 14 cases of exposure. Vet Hum Toxicol 31(2):166-168.
21 CARBALLO A, 1995
Cálculo de concentración y dosis de las drogas vegetales TRAMIL: Mensuraciones farmacognósticas y aproximaciones técnico-clínicas. Laboratorio
Provincial de Producción de Medicamentos, Sancti Spiritus, Cuba.
22 KOSSMANN I, VICENTE C, 1992
Salud y plantas medicinales. Buenos Aires, Argentina: Editorial Planeta Tierra. p113-115.

Disclaimer

The information provided is for educational purposes only for the benefit of the general public and health professionals. It is not intended to take the place of either the written law or regulations. Since some parts of plants could be toxic, might induce side effects, or might have interactions with certain drugs, anyone intending to use them or their products must first consult with a physician or another qualified health care professional. TRAMIL has no responsibility whatsoever towards the user for any decision, action or omission made in relation to the information contained in this Pharmacopoeia.

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Eucalyptus globulus

Vernacular names

Colombia:

Honduras:

Colombia:

Honduras:

Haiti:

Geographical distribution

Botanical description

Voucher(s)

Pharmacopoeia

References

Disclaimer