Helichrysum Essential Oil

Analgesic

The essential oil has pain relieving actions. Voinchet and Giraud-Robert (2007) suggested that neryl acetate, a principal constituent, contributed to this effect.

• Voinchet, V. and Giraud-Robert, A.-M. (2007) Utilisation de l’huile essentielle d’hélichryse italienne et de l’huile végétale de rose musquée après intervention de chirurgie plastique réparatrice et esthétique. Phytothérapie 2, 67-72.

Antibacterial

The essential oil significantly reduced the multidrug resistance of the Gram-negative Enterobacter aerogenes, E.coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acetobacter baumanni

• Lorenzi, V., Muselli, A., Bernardini, A.F., Berti, L., Pagès, J.-M., Amaral, L. and Bola, J.-M. (2009) Geraniol restores antibiotic activities against multidrug-resistant isolates from Gram-negative species. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 53, 5, 2209-2211.

Anti-hematomal

Antihaematomal action is the ability to prevent and alleviate bruising after soft tissue trauma. Helichrysum is notable in this respect. Bowles (2003) suggests that this could be due to the presence of italidiones (diketones).

• Bowles, E.J. (2003) The Chemistry of Aromatherapeutic Oils 3rd Edition. Crows Nest: Allen and Unwin.

Anti-inflammatory

The anti-inflammatory effect is thought to be due, in part, to neryl acetate.

• Voinchet, V. and Giraud-Robert, A.-M. (2007) Utilisation de l’huile essentielle d’hélichryse italienne et de l’huile végétale de rose musquée après intervention de chirurgie plastique réparatrice et esthétique. Phytothérapie 2, 67-72.

Helichrysum reduces inflammation through multiple pathways (reduced proinflammatory enzyme activity, enhanced free-radical-scavenging activity, and corticoid steroid-like properties) according to in vitro research.

• Sala A, Recio M, Giner RM, et al. (2002) Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Helichrysum italicum. J Pharm Pharmacol. 54(3):365-71.

Helichrysum moderately inhibits proinflammatory enzyme.

• Baylac S, Racine P. (2003) Inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase by essential oils and other natural fragrances. Int J Aromatherapy 13(2-3):138-42.

Antimicrobial

Helichrysum was also included in a study investigating the antimicrobial activities of essential oils whose principal constituents have floral rosy aromas. All of the oils and most of the principal aroma compounds showed medium-to-high antimicrobial activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

• Jirovetz, L., Eller, G., Buchbauer, G., Schmidt, E., Denkova, Z., Stoyanova, A.S., Nikolova, R., Geissler, M. (2006) Chemical composition, antimicrobial activities, and odor descriptions of some essential oils with characteristic floral rosy scent and of their principal aroma compounds. Recent Developments in Agronomy & Horticulture 2, 1-12.

The essential oil of Helichrysum italicum significantly reduces the multidrug resistance of Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii.

• Lorenzi V, Muselli A, Bernardini AF, et al. (2009) Geraniol resotres antibiotic activities against multidrug-resistant isolates from gram-negative species. Antimicrobial Agents Chemother. May;53(5):2209-11.

Wound Healing

Voinchet and Giraud-Robert (2007) investigated the therapeutic effects and potential clinical applications of Helichrysum italicum var. serotinum diluted in a macerated oil of musk rose (Rosa rubiginosa) after cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. This combination reduced inflammation, edema, and bruising. They attributed these effects to italidiones.

• Voinchet, V. and Giraud-Robert, A.-M. (2007) Utilisation de l’huile essentielle d’hélichryse italienne et de l’huile végétale de rose musquée après intervention de chirurgie plastique réparatrice et esthétique. Phytothérapie 2, 67-72.