- Pine oil
Pine oil is an
essential oil obtained by thesteam distillation of needles, twigs and cones from a variety of species ofpine , particularly "Pinus sylvestris".It is used in
aromatherapy , as a scent in bath oils, as a cleaning product, and as alubricant in small and expensiveclockwork instruments. It is naturally deodorizing, and antibacterial. It may also be used varyingly as adisinfectant ,massage oil and anantiseptic .Pine oil is distinguished from other products from pine such as
turpentine , the low-boiling fraction from thedistillation of pine sap, androsin , the thick tar remaining after turpentine is distilled.Chemically, pine oil consists mainly of cyclic
terpene alcohol s. It may also contain terpenehydrocarbon s,ether s, andester s. The exact composition depends on various factors such as the variety of pine it is produced from and the parts of the tree used.Industrially, pine oil is used in metal extraction from ores. For example, in
copper extraction pine oil is used to soak allcopper sulfide ores for froth flotation.Properties as a disinfectant
Pine oil is a phenolic disinfectant that is mildly antiseptic. [http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/herbaldrugs/102230.shtml PDRhealth] ] Pine oil disinfectants are relatively inexpensive and widely available. They are effective against some bacterial strains and enveloped viruses, but not generally effective against non-enveloped viruses or spores.
It will kill the causative agents of
typhoid ,gastroenteritis (some agents),rabies , enteric fever,cholera , several forms ofmeningitis ,whooping cough ,gonorrhea and several types of dysentery. [http://microvet.arizona.edu/AzVDL/infoAlerts/advanced-disinfectant.html Detailed Information On Chemical Disinfectants] University of Arizona Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, accessed June 26, 2007.] It is also effective against several of the leading causes of food poisoning.Fact|date=June 2007 It is not effective against spore related illneses such astetanus oranthrax or against non-enveloped viruses such aspoliovirus ,rhinovirus ,hepatitis B orhepatitis C .Pine oil has a relatively low human toxicity level, a low corrosion level and limited persistence; however, it irritates the skin and mucous membranes and has been known to cause breathing problems. Large doses may cause
central nervous system depression.References
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