Essential Nose Litsea Cubeba
Litsea cubeba
Litsea cubeba (May Chang) essential oil is characterised by an exceptionally high citral content — typically ~75% combining trans-citral (geranial, ~34%) and cis-citral (neral, ~30%) — alongside d-limonene (~8%). These aldehydes underpin the oil's potent, broad-spectrum antimicrobial and antifungal activity; L. cubeba oil produced inhibition zones exceeding 50 mm against Candida albicans in vitro, with molecular docking implicating citral's interaction with fungal enzyme targets.[1] A 2024 review confirms broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy against foodborne pathogens and strong antioxidant properties.[2]
- Also Known As
- May Chang, Chinese Pepper
- Family
- Citrus
- Perfumery Note
- Top
- Intensity
- Medium
- Extraction
- Steam Distillation
- Plant Parts
- Small fruits
- Origins
- China, Taiwan, Indonesia
- Effect
- Focus & Clarity, Uplifting & Energizing
- Aroma
- Citrus, Lemony, Fresh
- Applications
- Aromatherapy, Perfumery, Cleaning, Candles & Soap
- Price
- $$$$Grown abundantly in China; the small fruits are very dense in oil
References
- [1]Litsea cubeba Essential Oil: Component Analysis, Anti-Candida albicans Activity and Mechanism Based on Molecular Docking — Li H et al. Journal of Oleo Science, 2022
- [2]Litsea cubeba essential oil: Extraction, chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties — Liu Y, Ren H, Li K. Journal of Food Science, 2024