• Pine (Pinus Sylvestris)
  • Pine (Pinus Sylvestris)

Pine (Pinus Sylvestris)

  • Scientific Name
    Pinus sylvestris
  • Family
    Pinaceae
  • Origin
    Europeetc.

CONTENTS

Plant description

Pines are evergreen conifers belonging to the Pinaceae family and can grow up to a towering height of 40 meters. They are characterized by their long, stiff, dark green, needle-like leaves. These trees bear orange or yellow flowers that give way to oval-shaped fruits. Their bark is scaly and ranges in color from brown to orange. A mature pine tree can reach a circumference of up to 1 meter and has the remarkable ability to live for up to 500 years. Pines hold a special place as the national tree of Scotland and find various uses, including the production of pulp and tar. Numerous species of pine exist, each with its own scientific name, such as “Pinus pinaster Soland” and “Pinus sylvestris.”

Essential oil composition

パイン

  • パイン

  • INCI
    PINUS SYLVESTRIS LEAF OIL
  • Parts of Plant Used
    Leaf
  • Extraction Method
    Steam Distillation
  • Extraction Rate
    0.2 - 0.3%
  • Notes
    Top - Middle
  • Aroma Family
    Woody / Herbal

パイン Essential Oil Properties & Uses

About 0.5% of essential oil is extracted from Pine leaves through steam distillation and exhibits a colorless to pale yellow color. Its primary constituents are α-pinene and β-pinene, renowned for their relaxing properties. The aroma is described as green, clean, and refreshing, with subtle hints of sourness and resinous undertones. The delightful fragrance evokes images of wandering through a pine forest, surrounded by the invigorating scent of pine needles. With a harmonious blend of woody and herbal qualities, it pairs seamlessly with either of these aromatic notes. Pine essential oil also complements herbal oils like Citrus and Rosemary, as well as sweet oils such as Geranium and Lavender. Due to its relatively mild fragrance, it is advisable to add a bit more of this essential oil to maintain a well-balanced aroma blend.

Essential oil composition

Essential oil composition

※An example of one batch production is shown here.

  • α-Pinene　34.66%
  • Limonene　16.12%
  • β-Pinene　13.72%
  • δ-3-Carene　13.52%
  • Camphene　5.80%
  • Bornyl acetate　3.86%
  • Myrcene　2.93%
  • p-Cymene　1.62%
  • Terpinolene　1.53%

Functions and Efficacies

α-Pinene

α-Pinene
  • IUPAC Name
    (+)-α-Pinene: (1R,5R)-2,6,6-trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]hept-2-ene
    (-)-α-Pinene: (1S,5S)-2,6,6-trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]hept-2-ene
  • Molecular Formula
    C10H16
  • Molecular Weight
    136.23 g/mol
  • CAS No.
    (+)-α-Pinene: 7785-70-8
    (-)-α-Pinene: 7785-26-4
  • Structure
    Bicyclic monoterpene

Functions and Efficacies of α-Pinene

in slico in vitro ex vivo in vivo
Non-clinical Clinical
Mice Rats Guinea Pigs Insects Rabbits Human
Stress Reduction ○
Anti-bacterial Effects ○
Anti-inflammatory Effects ○

Stress Reduction

A study reported that brain tumors in mice that inhaled the fragrance of α-pinene became smaller. However, no melanoma cell growth was observed with the addition of α-pinene, indicating a potential psychological effect .1)

Anti-bacterial Effects

A study reported that α-pinene had an inhibitory effect on the growth of blue staining fungi, both when exposed to gas and when added to the culture medium2)

Anti-inflammatory Effects

It is known that the addition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW264.7 cells induces the production of nitric oxide (NO), a substance that causes inflammation. A study reported that the production of NO was suppressed by the addition of α-pinene.3)

  • 1)Kusuhara et al., Biomedical Research, 2012
  • 2)岡村、木材保存、
  • 3)Kwak et al., Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation, 2019

Limonene

Limonene
  • IUPAC Name
    1-methyl-4-prop-1-en-2-ylcyclohexene
  • Molecular Formula
    C10H16
  • Molecular Weight
    136.23 g/mol
  • CAS No.
    138-86-3
  • Structure
    Monocyclic monoterpene

Functions and Efficacies of Limonene

in slico in vitro ex vivo in vivo
Non-clinical Clinical
Mice Rats Guinea Pigs Insects Rabbits Human
Stress Reduction ○
Memory Improvement ○ ○
Anti-cancer Effects ○ ○ ○

Stress Reduction

A study reported that mice subjected to cold stress at 4°C (41°F) exhibited reduced elevations in blood corticosterone levels when treated with limonene. Furthermore, the same report demonstrated that limonene effectively lowered corticosterone levels in the blood of mice exposed to both physical and mental stress.1)

Memory Improvement

A study reported that when acetylcholinesterase reacts with acetylthiocholine in phosphate-buffered saline, the introduction of limonene inhibits the degradation by acetylcholinesterase. Acetylcholinesterase plays a role in the breakdown of acetylcholine, a hormone associated with memory and learning. In the same report, it was also noted that limonene suppressed memory impairment induced by scopolamine administration in rats.2)

Anti-cancer Effects

A report indicated that the consumption of limonene by breast cancer patients resulted in reduced expression of Cyclin D1, a protein crucial for cell division, within tumors.3)Furthermore, numerous other studies have also documented the anticancer properties of limonene.4)5)

  • 1)Fukumoto et al., Stress and Health, 2008
  • 2)Zhou et al., Nutritional Neuroscience,, 2013
  • 3)Miller et al., Cancer Prevntion Research, 2013
  • 4)Ajikumaran Nair S et al., Phytomedicine, 2018
  • 5)Chaudhary et al., Human & Experimental Toxicology, 2012

IFRA

Pine (Pinus Sylvestris)：
No restrictions applied

※Only information for selected components are shown here.

References
Jennie Harding [Handbook of Essential Oil and Plant Oil] Tokyo-do Publishing, 2010.
Shinichiro Otsuki/Yukiko Ozaki [Scientific Name Etymology Dictionary of Herbs] Tokyo-do Publishing, 2009.
Jennie Harding [Illustrated Reference Book of Herbs] Sancho Publishing, 2012.
Freddy Ghozland/Xavier Fernandez [L’Herbier Parfume] Hara Publishing, 2013.
Kyohei Mikami [Comprehensive Guide to Essential Oils] Fragrance Journal, 2010.
Yuzuru Ogura [Dictionary of Plants] Tokyo-do Publishing, 1957.
Nobuo Ohashi [Dictionary of Medical Herbs] Tokyo-do Publishing, 2016.
Wanda Sellar [The directory of essential oils] Fragrance Journal, 1992.
Aroma Environment Association of Japan [AEAJ Aromatherapy Certification Official Textbook grade1&2] Sekaibunka, 1999.
Robert Tissearand [Essential Oil Safety] Fragrance Journal, 2018.
Ayako Berg [Aromatherapy Essential Oil Dictionary] Seibido Shuppan, 2022.
Azusa Annells [Enjoying Fragrance: An Illustrated Book of Aromas with Characteristics]Natsumesha CO.,LTD., 2023
(All written in or translated to Japanese.)
Supervisor
Yamamoto Perfumery co., ltd.

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