Coleus leaf essential oil

General introduction

Coleus amboinicus, is a semi-succulent perennial plant in the family Lamiaceae with a pungent oregano-like flavor and odor.

Coleus amboinicus is a plant that grows up to 1 meter tall. The stem is flesh, either with long rigid hairs (hispidly villous) or densely covered with soft, short and erect hairs (tomentose). Leaves are fleshy, undivided (simple), broad, oval-shaped with a tapering tip (ovate). Flowers are on a short stem (shortly pedicelled), pale purplish in dense, 10-20 (or more) flowered dense whorls (cymes) at distant intervals in a long slender spike-like raceme. Small spherical, brown. The tree has very small feathers and fragrance like lemon.

Coleus leaf essential oil is native to eastern India and Moluques Island, which is grown throughout Vietnam for leafy, pleasant aromas such as lemon, and  used like spice.

 

Chemical composition

Coleus leaf essential oil leaves contain the major component is carvacrol 40-60%, in addition to α-terpinen, γ-terpinen.

Uses

There are not many studies on the pharmacological effects of lemon basil. In 1961, the Central Institute of Microbiology has studied the antibiotic effect of lemon basil essential oil for the Rudat method and found  Coleus leaf essential oil has strong antimicrobial effect on Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherchia coli, Klebsiella, pneumoniae and Proteus species.

In addition to the use of spices,  Coleus leaf essential oil is also used to treat flu, cough, sore throat, bloody cough, high fever, fever not sweating, vomiting blood, nosebleed. Usually use the leaves with a dose of 10-16 g per day, decoction, rinse or crush the drink. Cough syrup with lemon juice: Use 5-7 lemongrass leaves, wash in brine, then chew and lick. For young children, take freshly washed leaves, cut small with sugar, bring steamed rice and give 2-3 times a day.