Bisabolol

Bisabolol is a sesquiterpene alcohol found in German chamomile, balsam fir, and Australian sandalwood.  It is also found in the Brazilian tree, Vanillosmopsis erythropappa.

Alcohols are the most therapeutically beneficial type of component in an essential oil, and have a low toxicity for safer use with fragile populations (like the elderly).  Alcohols can be sensitizing when oxidized, so proper storage is important.

Links to Plants Containing Bisabolol

Chamomile German

RESEARCH

The listings of research below represent a compilation of scientific articles found on the topic, with a very brief overview description of each article/study.  This compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use of any herb listed.

GENERAL

• Pharmacological uses of bisabolol were discussed, including: anti-inflammatory, analgesic, absorption enhancement, antibiotic, and anticancer capabilities. From:  Kamatou, G. P., & Viljoen, A. M. (2010). A review of the application and pharmacological properties of α-bisabolol and α-bisabolol-rich oils. Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 87(1), 1-7.

ANTIBACTERIAL

• These sesquiterpenoids sensitized bacteria to antibacterial drugs and may be useful as a combination treatment:  nerolidol, bisabolol, apritone, and farnesol.  From:  Brehm-Stecher, B. F., & Johnson, E. A. (2003). Sensitization of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli to antibiotics by the sesquiterpenoids nerolidol, farnesol, bisabolol, and apritone. Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy, 47(10), 3357-3360.

ANALGESIC AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

• Analgesic, anti-inflammatory activities of bisabolol were demonstrated in vivo.  From:  Rocha, N. F. M., Rios, E. R. V., Carvalho, A. M. R., Cerqueira, G. S., de Araújo Lopes, A., Leal, L. K. A. M., … & de Sousa, F. C. F. (2011). Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of (−)-α-bisabolol in rodents. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s archives of pharmacology, 384(6), 525-533.
• Essential oil constituents with an analgesic activity are reviewed. Included are p-cymene, carvacrol, linalool, eugenol, menthol, alpha-bisabolol, cinnamaldehyde, citronellal, citronellol, citronellyl acetate, alpha-phelandrene, alpha-terpeneol, vanillin, borneol, myrtenol, pulegone, citral, thymol, limonene, nerol, anethole, nerolidol, carvone, farnesol, and beta-caryphyllene. From: Lima, T., da Nóbrega, F., de Brito, A., & de Sousa, D. (2017). Analgesic-like activity of essential oil constituents: an update. International journal of molecular sciences, 18(12), 2392.

GASTROPROTECTIVE

• Gastroprotective activity of the bisabolol constituent was reviewed.  From:  Rocha, N. F. M., de Oliveira, G. V., de Araújo, F. Y. R., Rios, E. R. V., Carvalho, A. M. R., Vasconcelos, L. F., … & de Sousa, F. C. F. (2011). (−)-α-Bisabolol-induced gastroprotection is associated with reduction in lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase activity and neutrophil migration. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 44(4), 455-461.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

• Chamomile constituents may interact with drug metabolizing enzymes and include chamazulene, cis-spiroether, trans-spiroether and bisabolol.  From:  Ganzera, M., Schneider, P., & Stuppner, H. (2006). Inhibitory effects of the essential oil of chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) and its major constituents on human cytochrome P450 enzymes. Life sciences, 78(8), 856-861.

Kathy Sadowski

Updated: 9/13/19