The eucalyptus tree, known as the "virtuous tree", has been misunderstood! Eucalyptus is actually an excellent tree species with a wide range of uses and high economic value. The trunk can be used for pulping and papermaking and as wood materials for construction, mine bridges, and wood-based panels. The bark and leaves can be used as medical materials to treat diarrhea, fever, and toothache. It can also produce essential oils, citral and eucalyptol.
Eucalyptus oil has good antibacterial and bactericidal properties, and is widely used as a flavor raw material for deodorants, insecticides, cough suppressants, soaps, toothpastes, perfumes, candies, etc. In recent years, with the development of antibiotic-free feed and breeding, the application of eucalyptus essential oil in animal husbandry has become more and more extensive, and it has been included in the EU feed additive certification catalog as a feed additive.
Under the current situation of crazy raw material prices and complex and changeable market, feed companies and farms must choose high-quality raw materials in order to truly reduce risks and costs, and improve efficiency and benefits. At present, there are many eucalyptus essential oil products on the domestic market, and the quality and effect are also very different. How to identify the authenticity and pros and cons of eucalyptus essential oil when purchasing raw materials?
1. Look at the price. Eucalyptus essential oil is mainly extracted by distillation. For common Eucalyptus globulus, 1-2 kg of essential oil can be extracted from 100 kg of fresh leaves, so the price of real eucalyptus essential oil will not be too cheap, and the imported price will be higher. Is it true? The price of eucalyptus essential oil speaks for itself.
2. Smell. Pure eucalyptus essential oil has a soft and mellow natural plant aroma (though not necessarily good), because it is 100% distilled from eucalyptus leaves. The eucalyptus essential oil in the fragrance will have a pungent smell of chemicals. Pure eucalyptus essential oil is not very strong when it first enters the nose, but it has an aftertaste, and when it reaches the back of the head, there will be a feeling of wilderness. Everyone has different feelings about him, and its first, middle, and aftertastes are different.
3. Look at the appearance. The pure eucalyptus essential oil extracted from fresh leaves will have the unique color of the original plant. The essential oil extracted from Eucalyptus cyanus is generally almost colorless and pale yellow, while the essential oil extracted from Eucalyptus lobulata is slightly yellow in color and thicker in sense. Diffusion is slow. You can also place it in a transparent container and shake it to see the foam. The pure eucalyptus oil foam spreads quickly. If there are chemical ingredients or impure essential oils, the foam spreads slowly or even for a long time.
4. Look at the place of origin. The quality of the eucalyptus from which the essential oil is extracted will vary depending on the origin and species. The quality of the land, temperature, humidity, planting level, harvest time and processing methods all directly affect the quality of its essential oil, so you should pay attention to its origin when choosing eucalyptus essential oil.
Eucalyptus blue, Eucalyptus lemon, Eucalyptus multibracts are the main varieties used to extract eucalyptus oil.
Eucalyptus globulus leaves and young branches can be used to steam oil, and the oil content accounts for 0.75-1.5% of the fresh leaf weight. The time for steaming the leaves is appropriate from April to September, and the average oil yield is 1-1.7%. Eucalyptus oil The content of eucalyptol accounts for 63-73%.
The essential oil content of lemon eucalyptus leaves and twigs accounts for 0.5-0.75%, other oil content can reach 1-1.5%, and the oil yield of a high single plant can reach 2%. The chemical composition of lemon eucalyptus oil is mainly citronellal, generally accounting for 65-85%.
The essential oil content of fresh leaves of Eucalyptus multibracts accounts for about 2%, and the content of eucalyptol in eucalyptus oil accounts for 80-90%, and is rich in monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, alcohols, esters, aldehydes, ketones and other various The natural active ingredient has excellent antibacterial, insect repellent, and antioxidant effects in and out of the body. It is a eucalyptus essential oil with good texture.