Module 4 Flashcards
What is the importance of understanding chemistry as it relates to aromatherapy?
Understanding the chemistry of essential oils allows a therapist to communicate more effectively with her clients, and with other practitioners, and to apply essential oils for their optimal therapeutic purpose.
Name three biological roles provided by essential oils.
1) Attraction of pollinators – insects or other animals. The maximum scent production occurs when the pollen is ripe and the flower is ready for pollination. Scent is also at its peak during the time of day when the pollinator is most active i.e. light or dark
2) Allelopathy (plant-plant competition) – Many monoterpenes in essential oils turn out to be cytotoxic to neighbouring plants’ cells, impairing respiration and photosynthesis, and decreasing cell membrane permeability – thus inhibiting germination of competitor plants.
3) Defence against herbivorous insects and animals: certain terpenoid compounds are offensive to the plants’ predator species, and hence ‘repel’ them away
4) Prevent microbial attacks: other terpenoid compounds have been identified which inhibit microbial and fungal growth (and therefore prevent infection).
5) Antitranspirant - essential oils on the leaves of plants have been demonstrated to reduce the loss of water through transpiration.
What is an isoprene? What is its significance?
An Isoprene is the basic building block of all of the terpenes (which make up most of the variety of essential oil constituents). It consists of five carbon atoms and is a double alkene.
What three parts do atoms consist of?
1) Protons
2) Electrons
3) Neutrons
Explain ‘bonding’ with regard to atoms.
Even though atoms are neutrally charged (therefore are not attracted to, and do not bond with, charged ions), atoms have electrons orbiting the nucleus in different energy shells (levels) called “valencies”. In order to be electronically stable, each shell must be saturated with its capacity for electrons. If it is not (which is often the case), it will “seek out” other atoms and “share” electrons with that atom, so as to fill up its valencies to capacity and become stable. This is the nature of ‘covalent bonding’ (as opposed ionic bonding). Single bond = 1 pair of electrons shared, double bond = 2 pairs of electrons shared, triple bond = 3 electron pairs shared between two atoms.
What is the branch of chemistry that essential oils belong to?
Organic chemistry
Which three elements are essential oils mostly made up of?
Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and.
What active group does a monoterpenol have?
A hydroxyl group, -OH
What properties do aldehydes have in common, and what is their suffix ending?
Aldehydes tend to be anti-inflammatory, sedative, and antifungal. Their names usually end in -al
How many carbon atoms do monoterpenes have?
10
What are some safety considerations with regard to phenols?
Because of their heating action, phenols should be used in small amounts, and always with the carrier oil. There is a slight risk of liver toxicity associated with all phenolic compounds, which would apply to high doses used over extended period of time.
What is 1,8-Cineole? What are the main properties of essential oils containing 1,8-Cineole?
1,8-Cineole is an oxide (which is an ether functional group incorporated into a cyclic carbon ring). It is anesthetic, antiseptic, and works as an expectorant. 1,8-cineole is the principal constituent in eucalyptus oil (also found in cinnamon, rosemary, Melissa, basil, cardamom, and ravensara).
What is the suffix for ketones?
They end in -one
What are the main properties of phenols?
Phenols are:
- antibacterial/antimicrobial,
- tonic/stimulant,
- immune boosting,
- invigorating and warming,
- circulatory-supporting and vasodilating,
- analgesic and anti-inflammatory.
Which group of essential oil constituents is most often associated with abortifacient properties?
Ketones
