Chemical Properties
The oil is obtained by steam distillation. The oil has a warm, sharp, spicy odor.
Physical properties
The oil distilled from the fresh plant is a green liquid, while the oil from dried leaves and flowering tops is yellow.
Occurrence
Found in the plant T. vulgare L. (Fam. Compositae).
Definition
Extractives and their physically modified derivatives. Tanacetium vulgare, Compositae.
Preparation
By steam distillation of the whole T. vulgare plant (Gildemeister & Hoffman, 1961).
Essential oil composition
The principal constituents of tansy oil are thujone, camphor and borneol
Toxicity evaluation
The acute oral LD50 value in rats was reported as 1.15 g/kg (0.58-1.72 g/kg) and the acute dermal LD50 value in rabbits as > 5 g/kg (Moreno, 1974). In mice, the LD50 of essential oils, including tansy oil, was 3-5 mg; no conjunctivitis was produced by a 1% emulsion of tansy oil given as eye drops daily for 1 wk (Rotmistrov, Gendenshtein & Matveenko, 1957).
