Professional Documents
Culture Documents
From www
From www.cropwatch.org
http://www.cropwatch.org/crop3b.htm
Cropwatch Three b
OPINION: Methyl eugenol-containing essential oils.
Tony Burfield May 2004
Worries about possible risks due to the methyl eugenol content of natural materials herbs,
essential oils - have surfaced in the recent past but there is a dearth of information on the
subject directly available in the public domain to aromatherapists or complementary health
practitioners. The following feature is an attempt to add some background information to this
subject.
The warm, musty-mild-spicy odoured aromatic compound Methyl Eugenol (aka eugenol
methyl ether, or 4-allyl-1,2-diomethoxybenzene) is prohibited from being directly added as
an ingredient to fragrances intended for retailed cosmetic products, due to worries about its
potential carcinogenicity.
As it occurs naturally in many essential oils and extracts, the addition of these ingredients is
not restricted outright, but on provision that the methyl eugenol content does not exceed the
following concentration in the following finished products according to the IFRA standards
(see www.ifraorg.org/):
Fine Fragrances 0.020%*
Eau de Toilette 0.008%
Fragrance Cream 0.004%
Rinse off products 0.001%
Leave-on products/
Oral hygiene products 0.0004%
Non skin (as defined on IFRA website) 0.010%*.
*The limit of 0.02% for the starred items applies to the concentration in the fragrance
compound.
In effect this means that there is an obligation on ingredient suppliers, under the
http://www.cropwatch.org/crop3b.htm
1/11
4/10/2015
From www
requirements of due diligence, to supply information to customers, to make sure that they
receive the necessary information in order for them to comply with the above requirements
of the IFRA Standards. To spell this out in more detail, reporting the methyl eugenol content
of the specific batch of the ingredient will then allow the customer to further calculate final
levels of methyl eugenol appearing in the finished product. It is difficult to see how many
small essential oil suppliers, without resort to internal analytical expertise, will be able to
perform this function. Additionally, it is relatively easy to find plants for sale on the Internet,
whos essential oils contain high levels of methyl eugnol e.g. Black tea tree plants can be
ordered at http://www.hotkey.net.au/~macs_oils/plant01.htm. No warning about the potential
toxicity of methyl eugenol is presented.
It has long been established that methyl eugenol occurs in essential oils such as Canadian
Snake root, Bay, Citronella, Laurel, Emodia, Fennel, Betel, Brisbane Sassafras, Pimento,
Hyacinth etc., and its occurrence often coincides with the additional presence of eugenol
(Poucher 1991). And so, purely as a guide, here below is presented a snapshot guide to
the reported methyl eugenol content of several further essential oils.
Published data on Methyl Eugenol Contents of Essential Oils.
1. FEMA have published data to members on methyl eugenol contents of essential oils
(no geographic origins specified).
2. The BFA on 12.02.02 circulated BEOA data from 09.11.01 on the methyl eugenol
content of a number of analysed commercial oils. Oils were classified by botanical
name (no chemotypes were distinguished) and by origin. There are no particular
surprises, although methyl eugenol contents on rose otto seemed low-ish compared
with other published data, and the range of methyl eugenol contents of the 23 basil
oils (all apparently from Egypt) was relatively large. No data on fennel oil (identified by
the EU Scientific Committee on Food as a dietary source of methyl eugenol) was
included. The BEOA data document makes comment that expert analysis of genuine
essential oils shows how widely essential oils vary in composition, and makes
comment that the BACIS commercial data-base of essential oils shows methyl
eugenol contents of 258 oils, that some of this data is misleading, and not
representative of genuine high volume essential oils used in commerce.
3. IFRA data on methyl eugenol contents of essential oils, as presented on the IFRA
website www.ifraorg.org in May 2004 does not define the plant source species, the
geographical origins of oils or any chemotype information. A document circulated by
IFRA (to members only not in the public domain but most of the information the
same as on the IFRA website) on April 6th 2004 lists 21 essential oils, again giving no
botanical identification, only giving geographic origins for two types of oils (citronella
and rose), and giving chemotype information for basil only. As has been observed
previously by this author, the standard of botanical reporting in IFRA documents, and
in EU legislation leaves a great deal to be desired.
4. A list of plants containing methyl eugenol, duplicating the species names of many of
the entries below, can be found on the Agricultural Research Services data-base at
http://www.ars-grin.gov:8080/npgspub/xsql/duke/chemdisp.xsql?chemical=METHYL-
EUGENOL
Table I - Various References re: Methyl Eugenol content of EOs.
Essential oil
Remarks
Acorus calamus
Calamus Indian
http://www.cropwatch.org/crop3b.htm
Methyl eugenol
content
1.0%
Reference key
(see below)
Shiva et al.
2/11
4/10/2015
Acorus calamus
Acorus calamus (?)
From www
Calamus
Mediterranean
Calamus oil
0.9% max
BEOA
<1.0%
IFRA website
Anasarum canadense
Aniba rosaedora
Artemisia
Snakeroot oil
Rosewood oil
Tarragon oil Russian
36.0- 45.0%
0.11%
11.5%
IFRA 06.04.04
EOS
TQ
TB
dracuncunculus
Artemisia
type
Tarragon oil Russian
5 29%
EOS
dracuncunculus
Artemisia
type
Tarragon oil French
0.8%
TB
dracuncunculus
Artemisia
type
Tarragon oil French
0.1 to 1.5%
EOS
dracuncunculus
Artemisia
type
Estragon oil
<1.5%
IFRA website
Essential oil
Elemi oil Philipines
Cananga oil
300-750 ppm
0.44%
0.17% max
IFRA 06.04.04
Duke 2
TQ
BEOA
Cananga oil
<0.5%
IFRA website
dracuncunculus (?)
Canarium indicum
Canarium lucozonium
Cananga odorata
subsp. macrophylla
Cananga odorata
subsp. macrophylla (?)
Cananga odorata
subsp. genuina
Cananga odorata
IFRA 06.04.04
TB
Ylang ylang. No
details.
0.154%
TQ
0.2% max
<1.0%
BEOA
IFRA website
Cinnamomum
camphora
Cinnamomum cassia
Cinnamomum cassia
(?)
Not detected
IFRA 06.04.04
BEOA
0.03% max.
<0.1%
BEOA
IFRA website
Cinnamomum tamala
Citrus paradisi
Citrus sinensis
Cymbopogon
citratus
Cymbopogon nardus
Cympopogon nardus
Cymbopogon nardus
(?)
Cymbopogon
Tejpat oil
Grapefruit oil
Sweet? orange oil
geraniol chemotype
0.5%
0.0002%
0.0004%
to 18.0%
IFRA 06.04.04
Lawr
TQ
TQ
TB
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Citronella oil Sri Lanka
1.8% max.
3.0%
<0.2%
BEOA
FEMA
IFRA 06.04.04
0.2% max.
BEOA
subsp. genuina
Croton elutaria
Croton elutaria (?)
http://www.cropwatch.org/crop3b.htm
3/11
4/10/2015
From www
winterianus
(Java type)
Cymbopogon sp.
Cymbopogon
winterianus (?)
Dacrydium franklinii
Daucus carota
Daucus carota
Citronella oil
Citronella oil Java
<2.0%
<2.0%
IFRA website
IFRA 06.04.04
to 98.0%
TB
0.165%
1.23%
TQ
Kam
<0.5%
IFRA website
Daucus carota
Daucus carota
Echinophora
tenuifolia
Elettaria
cardamomum
Eucalyptus (globulus?)
Hyssop
Hyssopus officinalis
(?)
0.1%
17.5 50.0%
IFRA 06.04.04
IFRA
TB
tr. to 0.1%
TB
1.07%
0.55%
<1.0%
TQ
TQ
IFRA website
Illicium verum
Laurus nobilis
Laurus
nobilis
Laurus
nobilis
Levisticum officianale
Levisticum officianale
(?)
0.11%
2.8% max.
4.0%
IFRA 06.04.04
TQ
BEOA
TB
4.62%
TQ
Lovage Leaf
Lovage leaf oil
1.3% max.
<1.5%
BEOA
IFRA website
Lippia
citriodora
Magnolia
Verbena oil
2.3%
IFRA 06.04.04
TB
Michaelia or Magnolia
spp. ??
2.64%
TQ
trace
to >40%
IS
TB
Brophy et al.
Brophy JJ
Melaleuca alternifolia
Melaleuca
bracteata
Melaleuca
bracteata
Melaleuca
leucadendron
Melaleuca
leucadendron
Michelia alba
Myrstica
fragrans
http://www.cropwatch.org/crop3b.htm
6.7% respectively
0.38 & 0.22%
respectively
0.8%
TB
Kam.
TB
4/11
4/10/2015
From www
Myrstica
fragrans
Myrstica
fragrans
Myrstica fragrans
(?)
tr 1.2%
EOS
EOS
Nutmeg oil
< 1.0%
IFRA website
< 0.5%
IFRA 06.04.04
IFRA website
Myrstica fragrans
(?)
Mace oil
1.21%
2.3%
Often below
IFRA 06.04.04
TQ
Mazza
Myrtus communis
Myrtus communis
Ocimum basilicum
Myrtle oil
Myrtle berry oil
Sweet basil oil
0.2%, Comores
(exotic type) to
1.6%
5.6% max
< 6.0%
BEOA
IFRA website
Basil Oil
Described by F & P as
Exotic type Basil oil
Described by F & P. as
European type Basil oil
2.6%
1.6%
IFRA 06.04.04
FEMA
F & P.
2.5 to 7%
F & P.
Oil
55-65%
F & P.
Described by F & P. as
Small Basil
55-65%
F & P.
Described by F & P. as
Basil oil thymol type
1.7%
F & P.
> 50.0%
TB
Pelargonium
(Brazilian Sassafras
oil- methyl eugenol
type)
Geranium oil China
Not detected in
BEOA
graveolens
Pelargonium
either oil
Not detected
BEOA
odoratissum
Peumus boldus
Pimenta dioica
Pimenta dioica
Pimenta dioica
Pimenta dioica
Pimenta dioica
Pimenta dioica
Pimenta dioica (?)
Leaf
Pimento leaf oil
Pimento leaf oil
Pimento leaf oil
Pimento leaf oil
Pimento berry oil
Pimento berry oil
Pimento berry oil
100-125 ppm
to 2%
2%
15.4%
3.9%
to 8%
15.0%
< 15.0%
Duke
TB
FEMA
TQ
BEOA
TB
BEOA
IFRA website
Ocimum basilicum
Ocimum spp.
Ocimum basilicum
Ocimum basilicum var.
basilicum
Ocimum basilicum var.
feuilles de laitre
Ocimum basilicum var.
grand vert
Ocimum basilicum var.
minimum
Ocimum gratissimum
var. thymoliferum
Ocotea pretiosa
http://www.cropwatch.org/crop3b.htm
5/11
4/10/2015
Pimenta dioica
Pimenta racemosa
var. racemosa
Pimenta racemosa-
Pimenta racemosa-
Pimenta racemosa (?)
Pimpinella anisum
Piper cubeba
Ravensara aromatica
Rosa
centifolia
Rosa
centifolia
Rosa
damascena
Rosa
damascena
Rosa spp.
Rosa sp.
Rosa
damascena
Rosa sp.
Rosa
damascena
Rosa sp.
Rosa sp.
Rosa
damascena
Rosa damascena
Rosa spp.
Rosa rugosa
Rosmarinus officinalis
Rosmarinus officinalis
Satureia hortensis
Satureia montana
Satureia montana
Satureia montana (?)
Syzygium-
aromaticum
Syzygium-
http://www.cropwatch.org/crop3b.htm
From www
<15.0%
1.2 4.4%
IFRA 06.04.04
F & P.
48.1%
Aurore et al.
4.6%
TQ
Bay leaf
oil
Bay oil
0.4 to 12.6%
TB
< 4.0%
IFRA website
Anise oil
Cubeb oil
Ravensara oil
Madagascar
Rose absolute
0.11%
Not detected
0.10%
IFRA 06.04.04
TQ
BEOA
F. & P.
0.6% to 1.9%
TB
Rose otto
1.1 to 3.0%
TB
Rose otto
1.1 to 3.0%
TB
1.6% max
BEOA
< 2.5%
IFRA 06.04.04
< 3.5%
0.5% max
IFRA 06.04.04
BEOA
<2.6%
0.5% max
IFRA 06.04.04
BEOA
<3.0%
<3.5%
0.8 to 1.6%
IFRA 06.04.04
IFRA website
TB
2.0-2.5%
Shiva et al.
<0.1%
0.10%
0.011%
>0.01%
0.88%
0.11%
0.7%
TBb
SCIB
TQ
TBa
TQ
TQ
BEOA
<1.0%
IFRA website
to 0.15%
IFRA 06.04.04
TB
0.2%
Shiva et al.
Methyl chavicol/methyl
eugenol chemotype
6/11
4/10/2015
aromaticum
Syzygium-
aromaticum
Syzygium-
aromaticum
Tagetes minuta
Trachyspermum
From www
TB
Clove oil
<0.5%
IFRA website
0.03%
0.03%
IFRA 06.04.04
Lawr. a
TBb
Tagete oil
Ajowan oil, India
ammi
N.B. Question marks in the above table appear when the author has had to make an
intelligent guess at the botanical origin of the oil because the original source failed to reveal
it.
Remarks on the Toxicity of Methyl Eugenol.
Similarities of methyl eugenol to the structure of safrole, a known carcinogen, have not gone
un-noticed.
Following the RIFM/FEMA workshop in May 2000, the FEMA expert panel issued a report
entitled Safety Assessment of Allylalkoxybenzene Derivatves Used as Flavouring
Substances Methyl Eugenol and Estragole. This included a description of the 2-year
bioassay with methyl eugenol by the National Toxicity Program (NTP) whose aim was to
establish the carcinogenic potential of methyl eugenol regardless of route of administration.
The NTP study found that the present exposure to methyl eugenol from food (mainly
intentional addition of essential oils, spices and spice isolates) presents no hazard to
human health. The report finds that although very high doses are carcinogenic, they are
such that they must have first induced a hepatotoxic effect. We also subsequently learned
from the RIFM/FEMA workshop write-up, that one serving of pesto contains from 10-100
times the average daily human consumption of methyl eugenol, although even this level was
100 times lower than the lowest dose forcibly given to animals in the NTP assay.
The NTP technical study on the 2 year toxicology and carcinogenisis studies on methyl
eugenol in F334/N rats and B6C3F1 mice was published in July 2000. It showed clear
evidence of carcinogenic activity of methyl eugenol in the tested rodents, and can be
viewed at http://ehis.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/docs/tr491/tr491abs.pdf
The German Bundesrat decided on May 11th 2001 not to market flavourings and foodstuffs
containing added methyl eugenol (or methyl chavicol) after June 30th 2001, although this
ruling did not apply to methyl eugenol naturally present in flavourings or foodstuffs.
The EUs Scientific Committee on Food expressed an opinion on methyl eugenol on
http://www.cropwatch.org/crop3b.htm
7/11
4/10/2015
From www
8/11
4/10/2015
From www
mls of massage oil containing 2-2.5% e.o., although some practitioners apparently have
been known to use even higher concentrations (Guba 1998). Unknown amounts of methyl
eugenol are therefore absorbed by the therapist throughout the week, via skin absorption
through the hands, and by inhalation of vapour. Harris doesnt mention the fact that diet is
additionally adding to the therapists body burden of methyl eugenol.
The above factors may eventually allow a more realistic calculation of daily human body
loading from methyl eugenol for aromatherapists, but interpretation of the data revolves
around interpretations of the NOEL (no-effects) level in the longer-term and appropriate
safety factors (IFRA used a factor of 1000 X). Since aromatherapeutic treatments such as
whole body massage are vastly different from animal dosing studies, drawing direct
conclusions about possible toxicological effects is distinctly risky. Further, it is already known
from human liver microsomal preparations that metabolism rates by human cytochrome
P450 isozymes for methyl eugenol varies more than 37-fold (Gardner et al. 1997) suggesting
a wide range of serum concentrations will occur in the general population following methyl
eugenol exposure.
Meanwhile Schecter et al. (2004) have produced a study on human consumption of methyl
eugenol and its elimination from serum under a mandate from the National Toxicology
Program of the US Department of Health and Human Services. In particular the team
investigated the consumption of methyl eugenol from a brand of gingersnaps, found to
contain a relatively high concentration of methyl eugenol at 3.3mg/g (a number of other
foodstuffs containing lower concentrations of methyl eugenol are also listed in the article &
cigarette tobaccos were identified as another possible source of methyl eugenol exposure!).
Serum peak levels of methyl eugenol were found to be within range of a concurrent study of
213 non-fasting subjects in the third Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988-1994).
However in this latter study, the authors found that methyl eugenol levels in the blood of the
general US population were higher than expected (but the highest concentration found,
390pg/g, was still 2000 X lower than the lowest dose used in the NTP rodent studies referred
to above). Nevertheless, as Schecter et al. remark, the significance of the elevated levels
with respect to any toxicological consequences, still remains to be determined.
It may well eventually turn out that a working aromatherapist, constantly using basil and rose
oils, and with a fondness for pesta and flavoured cigarettes is more likely to be hit by a
meteorite than to contract a toxicological problem due to daily methyl eugenol exposure from
all these routes. Its just that it would be nice to think that those entrusted with a duty of care
towards working people in our society were actively investigating this topic. The situation
being as it is, assessments on this topic are more likely to be made by self-educated laymen,
than by formerly qualified toxicologists and to this end, Cropwatch has written to some
toxicologists for some learned opinions on this matter. Any replies will be published in further
editions of this organ.
STOP PRESS!
Professor Arnold Schecter (see reference above) kindly read my piece on methyl eugenol
above and hinted from the tone of the article above that I might have understated the risk
slightly, commenting further as follows:
What my work followed during a year I worked at NIH was that methyl eugenol is extremely
carcinogenic to rodents and causes cancers in rats and mice, two species, and in multiple
tissues. The human levels may or may not be of concern, both those we reported and the
higher levels we alluded to in the general US population, so high for unknown reasons. ME
does not occur by itself in humans but in combination with many other toxic chemicals so
potential human health effects might be from ME alone or in combination with others.
http://www.cropwatch.org/crop3b.htm
9/11
4/10/2015
From www
And further: In combination with other carcinogens (methyl eugenol) might be harmful at
lower levels than those derived dosing animals with one chemical only. Many chemicals in
our bodies.
I take these points on board, and suggest even louder now, that the aromatherapy
profession needs to take this issue seriously, perhaps appealing for outside help to more
properly evaluate the risk.
Glossary
BFA: British Fragrance Association
IFEAT: International Federation of Essential Oils and Aroma Trades
IFRA: International Fragrance Research Association
http://www.cropwatch.org/crop3b.htm
10/11
4/10/2015
From www
TBc: Tony Burfield & Sylla Sheppard-Hanger (2002) Basil Oils Monograph AIA UK 2002.
TQ: trade suppliers questionnaire (IFF 2003)
Poucher (1991) Pouchers Perfumes, Cosmetics and Soaps - Vol 1 The Raw Materials of Perfumery 9th edn. Blackie Academic & Professional.
Zhu Liangfu et al. (1993) Aromatic Plants & Essential Constituents South China Inst of Botany.
Text References.
tienne et al. (2000) New and unexpected cosmetic properties of perfumes. Effects upon free radicals and enzymes induced by essential oils,
absolutes and fragrant compounds. International Journal of Cosmetic Science 22, 317-328.
Gardner et al. (1997) Cytochrome P450 mediated bioactivation of methyleugenol in Fisher 344 rar and human liver microsomes. Carcinogenesis
18, 1775-1783.
Harris B. (2002) Methyl eugenol the current bete noir of aromatherapy. Int. J. of Aromatherapy 12(4), 193-201.
Lawrence B.W. Progress in Essential Oils (1998-2002).
NHANES III 1988-94 National Centre for Health Statistics (1994). Plan and Operation of the Third National Health & Nutrition Examination Survey,
1988-94. Series 1: Program & Collection Procedure No 32.
Schecter A et al. (2004) Human Consumption of Methyleugenol and Its Elimination from Serum Environmental Health Perspectives 112(6), 678-
680.
http://www.cropwatch.org/crop3b.htm
11/11