Chemical Properties
Dwarf-pine-needle oil is obtained in Austria (Tyrol) and other
mountainous areas of Central and Southeast Europe by steam distillation of
fresh needles and twig tips of Pinus mugo Turra ssp. mugo and ssp. pumilio
(Haenke) Franco. It is a colorless liquid with a pleasant, balsamic odor.
d2020 0.858–0.868; n20D 1.474–1.478; α20D ?15 ° to ?7 °; solubility: 1 vol in
≤10 vol of 90% ethanol. Content by GC: α-pinene 10–30%;β-pinene 3–14%; 3-carene 5–25%; β-phellandrene 8–17%; limonene 8–14%; bornyl acetate 1–5%.
Chemical Properties
The essential oil is obtained by steam or steam-water distillation of the comminuted needles and twigs in yields of 0.3
to 0.4%. The oil has a pleasant aromatic odor and bitter, pungent taste.
Physical properties
It is a clear, almost colorless, mobile liquid.
Occurrence
Found in the branches and adherent leaves of P. mugo Turra var. pumilio (Fam. Pinaceae) (Guenther, 1952).
Definition
Extractives and their physically modified derivatives.
Preparation
By steam distillation of the branches and leaves of P. mugo Turra var. pumilio (Guenther, 1952).
Essential oil composition
Main constituents include l-α-pinene, β-pinene, l-limonene, dipentene, l-phellandrene, aldehydes, various
esters, and alcohols.
Composition
The main components include α-terpineol (30.2%), linalool (24.47%), limonene (17.01%), anethole (14.57%), caryophyllene (3.14%), and eugenol (2.14%).
Health effects
Pine needle essential oil is the essential oil extracted from pine needles. This oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and is an important ingredient for "melting" cholesterol and removing impurities in blood vessels. It can effectively remove excess cholesterol in blood vessels and play a great role in reducing blood viscosity. At the same time, it can also improve the elasticity of blood vessels, make blood flow smooth, it can regulate blood pressure, and has antihypertensive effect on hypertensive patients. Pine needle essential oil is also a secret factor for two-way regulation of blood pressure. Pine needle oil has inhibitory effect on the proliferation of gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells, and the inhibitory effect is significantly enhanced with the increase of pine needle oil concentration.
Pharmacology
In man. Pinus pumilio oil increased bronchial secretions (Thomas, 1958). A dose
of 500 mg/kg was reported to have no effect in vivo on the metabolism and pharmacological activity
of pentobarbitone (25 mg/kg) in rats or in vitro on the metabolism of amidopyrene, p-nitroanisole
and aniline by rat liver (Jori et al. 1969). Intravenous injection of the oil dissolved in sorbitol
monostearate water caused no toxic effects in warm-blooded animals and large doses caused no
changes in blood pressure, but it showed digitalis-like action of the isolated toad heart (Primavori.
1960).
Metabolism
Following immersion of young pigs and one human subject for 30 min in baths containing 150 ml of a pine-oil mixture (Fichtennadel-Latschenkiefer?l. Kneipp) in 450 litres of water, a- and ?-pinene and limonene (components of Latschenkiefer?l) were detected in the exhaled air within 20 min, reaching maximum levels 50-75 min after the start of the bath and remaining detectable after 1 day (R?mmelt, Zuber. Dirnagl. & Drexel. 1974).
;