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Detecting traces of methyl eugenol in essential oils: tea tree oil, a case study
Citation
Southwell, IA and Russell, MF and Davies, NW, Detecting traces of methyl eugenol in essential oils: tea tree oil, a case study, Flavour and Fragrance Journal, 26, (2) pp. 336-340. ISSN 1099-1026 (2011) [Refereed Article]
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The definitive published version is available online at: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/
DOI: doi:10.1002/ffj.2067
Abstract
Methyl eugenol is a naturally occurring flavour and fragrance found in a variety of different food sources,
including spices, herbs and fruit and also as a component of natural essential oils. Commonly used oils with more than 0.1%
of methyl eugenol include calamus, rosewood, elemi, ylang ylang, cymbopogon, star anise, lovage, verbena, nutmeg, basil,
pimento, bay leaf, rose and clove. In addition there are other potential sources of exposure to methyl eugenol, including
agriculture, wine consumption and ambient background in air and water. Because high doses of some allyl alkoxybenzenes
have induced tumours in rats and mice, use is recommended as either restricted or, in the case of safrole, prohibited. Many
reviewers and researchers present clear evidence that these restrictions are excessive, especially those who accept that
carcinogenesis is a threshold phenomenon. This paper describes suitable gas chromatographic methods for the
determination of trace amounts of methyl eugenol in the essential oil of tea tree, Melaleuca alternifolia, terpinen‐4‐ol
type. Published �trace� amounts were interpreted as being as high as 0.3�0.9% by one regulator. Peak assignment by GC‐MS
and co‐elution with a standard facilitated the GC‐FID determination of 128 commercial samples. Inter‐laboratory
confirmation was achieved using GC‐MS with selected ion monitoring. These determinations indicated that the methyl
eugenol content of tea tree oil ranged from less than 0.01% to 0.06% (mean 0.02%), i.e. 20‐fold lower than the regulator�s
interpretation and one million times lower than the logarithmic scale levels known to cause carcinomas in rats.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | methyl eugenol, essential oils, carcinogens, tea tree |
Research Division: | Chemical Sciences |
Research Group: | Organic chemistry |
Research Field: | Natural products and bioactive compounds |
Objective Division: | Plant Production and Plant Primary Products |
Objective Group: | Industrial crops |
Objective Field: | Essential oil crops |
UTAS Author: | Davies, NW (Associate Professor Noel Davies) |
ID Code: | 66095 |
Year Published: | 2011 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 13 |
Deposited By: | Central Science Laboratory |
Deposited On: | 2010-12-22 |
Last Modified: | 2017-10-25 |
Downloads: | 5 View Download Statistics |
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