9389. Thuja

Nomenclature

Arbor vitae; white cedar; tree of life.

Description and references

Coniferous, pyramidal evergreen tree, Thuja occidentalis L., Cupressaceae, used as an ornamental plant and in traditional medicine to treat respiratory infection, warts, scurvy and rheumatism. Habit. North America, Europe. Medicinal portions include the dried, leafy young branches and the oil extracted from the leaves and branch tips. Constit. Volatile oil (1.4-4%); p-coumaric acid; umbelliferone; flavonoids incl. quercetin, mearusitrin; tannic acid (≈1.3%); polysaccharides and proteins (≈4%). Botanical description and medicinal uses: J. Gruenwald et al., PDR for Herbal Medicines (Medical Economics, Montvale, 2nd Ed., 2000) pp 759-760. Review of pharmacology and clinical experience: B. Naser et al., Evid. Based Complement. Alternat. Med. 2, 69-78 (2005).

Derivative

Volatile oil.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 8007-20-3
Oil of thuja; cedar leaf oil; oil of white cedar.

Description and references

Constit. α-thujone (69%), β-thujone (7-10%), fenchone (10-15%). Fragrance monograph: Food Cosmet. Toxicol. 12, 843-844 (1974).

Properties

Colorless to yellow liquid. d2525 0.906-0.916. nD20 1.4560-1.4590. Sol in most fixed oils, mineral oil, propylene glycol; 1 ml dissolves in 3 ml 70% alcohol. Practically insol in glycerin.

Caution

Symtpoms of overexposure may include queasiness, vomiting, painful diarrhea, mucous membrane hemorrhaging, death (Gruenwald).

Use

As fragrance in soaps, detergents, perfumes.

Therapeutic Category

Immunostimulant.