Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) Research

Latin Name: Cupressus sempervirens

Family: Cupressaceae

Cypress has been used as a folk remedy to help with coughing and congestion.  It may also provide insecticidal and antimicrobial actions.

RESEARCH

The listings of research below represent a compilation of scientific articles found on the species, with a very brief overview description of each article/study. Research found is catalogued by therapeutic action. This categorized compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use.

GENERAL

• A review of research identified that Cupressus sempervirens possessed the following actions:  antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-parasitic, insecticidal, antioxidant, hypolipidemic, anti-coagulant, wound healing, anticancer, estrogenic, and more. From:  Al-Snafi, A. E. (2016). Medical importance of Cupressus sempervirens-A review. IOSR Journal of Pharmacy, 6(6), 66-76.
• Cypress has been used as a folk medicine for cough and respiratory ailments.  Research has demonstrated antimicrobial, antiviral, insecticidal, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, anti-platelet, hepatoprotective, and neurological activities.  From:  Orhan, I. E., & Tumen, I. (2015). Potential of Cupressus sempervirens (Mediterranean Cypress) in Health. In The Mediterranean Diet (pp. 639-647). Academic Press.
• Lis-Balchin, M.  (2006). Aromatherapy science, A guide for healthcare professionals.  Pharmaceutical Press:  London.
• Petersen, D. (2015). Aromatherapy materia medica.  Essential oil monographs.  American College of Healthcare Sciences.
• WebMD. (n.d.).  Cypress.  Retreved in December, 2015.  Retrieved from www.webmd.com

SAFETY

• Not for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding due to thujone-like compounds (Petersen, 2015).
• Avoid with hypertension (Petersen, 2015).
• Not for use with those allergic to cypress.  Those allergic to cedarwood or peaches may also have a reaction (WebMD, n.d.).
• Often adultered with other evergreens (Lis-Balchin, 2006).

IMMUNE STIMULANT

• An aromatherapy massage with lavender, cypress, and sweet marjoram reduced anxiety and boosted immunity markers in the blood in this small study with 11 participants.  From:  Kuriyama, H., Watanabe, S., Nakaya, T., Shigemori, I., Kita, M., Yoshida, N., … & Imanishi, J. (2005). Immunological and psychological benefits of aromatherapy massage. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2(2), 179-184.
• Phytoncides (like alpha pinene, carene and myrcene) found in wood essential oils significantly enhance human natural killer cell activity, important to the immune system.  From: Li, Q., Nakadai, A., Matsushima, H., Miyazaki, Y., Krensky, A. M., Kawada, T., & Morimoto, K. (2006). Phytoncides (wood essential oils) induce human natural killer cell activity. Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology, 28(2), 319-333.

RESPIRATORY COMPLAINTS

• In this placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial 246 patients with chronic bronchitis, long use (one month) of myrtol (contains alpha pinene, cineole, and d-limonene) was tolerable and effective.   From:  Meister, R., Wittig, T., Beuscher, N., & de Mey, C. (1999). Efficacy and tolerability of Myrtol standardized in long-term treatment of chronic bronchitis. Arzneimittelforschung, 49(04), 351-358.
• In this 2 week treatment of 676 patients with chronic bronchitis, myrtol (contains alpha pinene, cineole, and d-limonene) was safe and effective.  From:  Matthys, H., de Mey, C., Carls, C., Ryś, A., Geib, A., & Wittig, T. (2000). Efficacy and tolerability of myrtol standardized in acute bronchitis. Arzneimittelforschung, 50(08), 700-711.

ANTIMICROBIAL / ANTIBACTERIAL / ANTIFUNGAL / ANTIVIRAL

• Extracts of Cupressus sempervirens showed antioxidant and antibacterial activity in vitro.  From:  Rguez, S., Essid, R., Adele, P., Msaada, K., Hammami, M., Mkadmini, K., … & Ksouri, R. (2019). Towards the use of Cupressus sempervirens L. organic extracts as a source of antioxidant, antibacterial and antileishmanial biomolecules. Industrial Crops and Products, 131, 194-202.
• Extracts of C. macrocarpa leaves were antibacterial against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). From:  Harraz, F. M., Hammoda, H. M., El-Hawiet, A., Radwan, M. M., Wanas, A. S., Eid, A. M., & ElSohly, M. A. (2018). Chemical constituents, Antibacterial and Acetylcholine esterase inhibitory activity of Cupressus macrocarpa leaves. Natural product research, 1-7.
• The oils from juniper and cypress exhibited moderate antibacterial and antifungal activities.  From:  Mazari, K., Bendimerad, N., & Bekhechi, C. (2010). Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils isolated from Algerian Juniperus phoenicea L. and Cupressus sempervirens L. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 4(10), 959-964.
• Plant oils of 52 species were tested against key bacteria. Lemongrass, oregano and bay inhibited all organisms, and rosewood, coriander, palmarosa, tea tree, niaouli, peppermint, spearmint, sage and marjoram inhibited all organisms except P. aeruginosa.  Carrot, patchouli, sandalwood and vetiver inhibited Gram-positive bacteria and C. albicans. Myrrh and cypress inhibited only Gram-positive organisms and mandarin oil inhibited only C. albicans.  From:  Hammer, K. A., Carson, C. F., & Riley, T. V. (1999).
• Along with other Yemen plants tested, Cupressus sempervirens (cypress), demonstrated a growth inhibitory effect against all cancer cell lines tested, was active against gram positive bacteria, and showed noteworthy radical scavenging activity.  From:  Mothana, R. A. A., Gruenert, R., Bednarski, P. J., & Lindequist, U. (2009). Evaluation of the in vitro anticancer, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of some Yemeni plants used in folk medicine. Die Pharmazie-An International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 64(4), 260-268.
• Two terpenoids in cypress showed antifungal activity.  From:  Madar, Z., Gottlieb, H. E., Cojocaru, M., Riov, J., Solel, Z., & Sztejnberg, A. (1995). Antifungal terpenoids produced by cypress after infection by Diplodia pinea f. sp. cupressi. Phytochemistry, 38(2), 351-354.
• Eugenol and nerolidol from Japanese cypress oil was topically antifungal against Microsporum gypseum on a guinea pig.  From: Lee, S. J., Han, J. I., Lee, G. S., Park, M. J., Choi, I. G., Na, K. J., & Jeung, E. B. (2007). Antifungal effect of eugenol and nerolidol against Microsporum gypseum in a guinea pig model. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 30(1), 184-188.
• Cypress extracts were antibacterial in vitro against the following: Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella typhimurium.  From:  Chaudhary, H. J., Shahid, W., Bano, A., Ullah, F., Munis, F., Fahad, S., & Ahmad, I. (2012). In vitro analysis of Cupressus sempervirens L. plant extracts antibaterial activity. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 6(2), 273-276.
• Extracts of cypress showed antimicrobial and anti-parasitic activities in vitro.  From:  Zhang, J., Rahman, A. A., Jain, S., Jacob, M. R., Khan, S. I., Tekwani, B. L., & Ilias, M. (2012). Antimicrobial and antiparasitic abietane diterpenoids from Cupressus sempervirens. Research and reports in medicinal chemistry, 2(1), 1-6.
• Extracts and essential oils from Cupressus sempervirens were antibacterial in vitro against food spoilage pathogens.  From:  Selim, S. A., Adam, M. E., Hassan, S. M., & Albalawi, A. R. (2014). Chemical composition, antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of the essential oil and methanol extract of the Mediterranean cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.). BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 14(1), 179.  
• Tested extracts from various plant parts of cypress were antiviral against herpes in vitro.  From:  Emami, S. A., Tayarani-Najaran, Z., Sabouri Ghannad, M., Khajeh Karamadini, P., & Khajeh Karamadini, M. (2009). Antiviral activity of obtained extracts from different parts of cupressus sempervirens against Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1. Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, 12(3), 133-139.
• An extract of Cupressus sempervirens was antiviral against retroviruses, HIV and HTLV III B in vitro.  From:  Amouroux, P., Jean, D., & Lamaison, J. L. (1998). Antiviral activity in vitro of Cupressus sempervirens on two human retroviruses HIV and HTLV. Phytotherapy Research: An International Journal Devoted to Pharmacological and Toxicological Evaluation of Natural Product Derivatives, 12(5), 367-368.
• Against the oral bacteria: Streptococcus mutans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus, the 13 most effective essential oils were: myrrh, ginger, basil, carrot seed, tea tree, patchouli, ylang ylang, cypress, lemongrass, cinnamon, peppermint, lavender, and eucalyptus. From: Park, C., & Yoon, H. (2018). Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oil against Oral Strain. International Journal of Clinical Preventive Dentistry, 14(4), 216-221.

PRESERVATIVE

• Extracts and essential oils from Cupressus sempervirens were antibacterial in vitro against food spoilage pathogens.  From:  Selim, S. A., Adam, M. E., Hassan, S. M., & Albalawi, A. R. (2014). Chemical composition, antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of the essential oil and methanol extract of the Mediterranean cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.). BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 14(1), 179.  

HEPATOPROTECTIVE

• C. sempervirens and its constituents had hepatoprotective, antioxidant activity.  From:  Ibrahim, N. A., El-Seedi, H. R., & Mohammed, M. M. D. (2007). Phytochemical investigation and hepatoprotective activity of Cupressus sempervirens L. leaves growing in Egypt. Natural product research, 21(10), 857-866.

ANXIOLITIC

• Chamaecyparis obtusa has has both anxiolytic-like and stress mitigation effects in mice.  From: Kasuya, H., Hata, E., Satou, T., Yoshikawa, M., Hayashi, S., Masuo, Y., & Koike, K. (2013). Effect on emotional behavior and stress by inhalation of the essential oil from Chamaecyparis obtusa. Natural product communications, 8(4), 515-518.
• An aromatherapy massage with lavender, cypress, and sweet marjoram reduced anxiety and boosted immunity markers in the blood in this small study with 11 participants.  From:  Kuriyama, H., Watanabe, S., Nakaya, T., Shigemori, I., Kita, M., Yoshida, N., … & Imanishi, J. (2005). Immunological and psychological benefits of aromatherapy massage. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2(2), 179-184.
• Chamaecyparis obtusa decreases maternally separated anxiety related behaviors, and modulates cytokines in the hippocampus of mother rats.  From:  Park, H. J., Kim, S. K., Kang, W. S., Woo, J. M., & Kim, J. W. (2013). Effects of essential oil from Chamaecyparis obtusa on cytokine genes in the hippocampus of maternal separation rats. Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology, 92(2), 95-101.​
• In a study with 498 people, spending time in the forest improved emotions and reduced stress. From: Morita, E., Fukuda, S., Nagano, J., Hamajima, N., Yamamoto, H., Iwai, Y., … & Shirakawa, T. (2007). Psychological effects of forest environments on healthy adults: Shinrin-yoku (forest-air bathing, walking) as a possible method of stress reduction. Public health, 1.
• This paper reviewed research on 24 studies with 12 subjects each across Japan, totaling 280 people. Each subject walked in a forest one day, and walked in the city another day. Results showed that the forest walking resulted in lower concentrations of cortisol, pulse rate, blood pressure, and improved parasympathetic nerve activity, with lowered sympathetic nerve activity compared to the city environments. From: Park, B. J., Tsunetsugu, Y., Kasetani, T., Kagawa, T., & Miyazaki, Y. (2010). The physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing): evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan. Environmental health and preventive medicine, 15(1), 18.

INSECTICIDAL / PESTICIDAL / REPELLENT

• Eucalyptus saligna and Cupressus sempervirens leaves  and the constituent cymol were tested against Sitophilus zeamais and Tribolium confusum and results suggested they might be used in grain storage against insect pests. From: Tapondjou, A. L., Adler, C., Fontem, D. A., Bouda, H., & Reichmuth, C. H. (2005). Bioactivities of cymol and essential oils of Cupressus sempervirens and Eucalyptus saligna against Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky and Tribolium confusum du Val. Journal of Stored Products Research, 41(1), 91-102.
• Essential oils from Chenopodium ambrosioides and Cupressus sempervirens were active against the weevil that destroys harvested maize crops.  From:  Langsi, D. J., Tofel, H. K., Fokunang, C. N., Suh, C., Eloh, K., Caboni, P., & Nukenine, E. N. (2018). Insecticidal activity of essential oils of Chenopodium ambrosioides and Cupressus sempervirens and their binary combinations on Sitophilus zeamais.
• Cypress extracts were insecticidal and repellent against house flies.  From:  Hasaballah, A. I., Shehata, A. Z., Fouda, M. A., Hassan, M. I., & Gad, M. E. (2018). The Biological Activity of Cupressus sempervirens Extracts against Musca domestica. Asian Journal of Biology, 1-12.
• Australian plants demonstrated varying degrees of insect (mosquito) repellency and included: eucalyptus, tea tree, cajuput, manuka, balm mint bush, fragonia, myrtle, cypress, and niaouli. From: Webb, C. E. (2014). Insect repellents derived from Australian plants and implications for public health messages. Insect repellents handbook, 213.

ANTI-PARASITIC

• Extracts of cypress showed antimicrobial and anti-parasitic activities in vitro.  From:  Zhang, J., Rahman, A. A., Jain, S., Jacob, M. R., Khan, S. I., Tekwani, B. L., & Ilias, M. (2012). Antimicrobial and antiparasitic abietane diterpenoids from Cupressus sempervirens. Research and reports in medicinal chemistry, 2(1), 1-6.

STIMULANT

• Inhalation of lavender and hyssop oil decreased mobility in mice that were treated with caffeine. Inhalation of ginger, thyme, peppermint, and cypress oil increased mobility.  From:  Lim, W. C., Seo, J. M., Lee, C. I., Pyo, H. B., & Lee, B. C. (2005). Stimulative and sedative effects of essential oils upon inhalation in mice. Archives of pharmacal research, 28(7), 770-774.

ANTI-CANCER

• Extracts of cypress possessed cytotoxic activity against human basal cells in vitro.  From:  Amirnia, M., Mokhtari, F., Rezabakhsh, A., Nabat, E., Khodaiani, E., Khalilzadeh, S., … & Rahbarghazi, R. (2017). Cupressus sempervirens extract inhibited human basal cell carcinoma tumorigenesis, local invasion, and angiogenic property. Comparative Clinical Pathology, 26(1), 203-211.
• Along with other Yemen plants tested, Cupressus sempervirens (cypress), demonstrated a growth inhibitory effect against all cancer cell lines tested, was active against gram positive bacteria, and showed noteworthy radical scavenging activity.  From:  Mothana, R. A. A., Gruenert, R., Bednarski, P. J., & Lindequist, U. (2009). Evaluation of the in vitro anticancer, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of some Yemeni plants used in folk medicine. Die Pharmazie-An International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 64(4), 260-268.
• Platycladus orientalis, Prangos asperula and Cupressus sempervirens ssp. pyramidalis essential oils were studied and β-caryophyllene and linalool exhibited comparable anti-cancer values to the commercial drug vinblastine.  From:  Loizzo, M. R., Tundis, R., Menichini, F., Saab, A. M., & Statti, G. A. (2008). Antiproliferative effects of essential oils and their major constituents in human renal adenocarcinoma and amelanotic melanoma cells. Cell Proliferation, 41(6), 1002-1012.
• Extracts from cypress showed antioxidant and anticancer activities in vitro and in vivo.  From:  Fayed, S. A. (2015). Chemical composition, antioxidant, anticancer properties and toxicity Evaluation of leaf essential oil of Cupressus sempervirens. Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, 43(2), 320-326.

ANTIOXIDANT

• Leaf extracts of C. sempervirens showed the strongest antioxidant activity of the three tested plant parts.  From:  Tumen, I., Senol, F. S., & Orhan, I. E. (2012). Evaluation of possible in vitro neurobiological effects of two varieties of Cupressus sempervirens (Mediterranean cypress) through their antioxidant and enzyme inhibition actions. Turkish Journal of Biochemistry/Turk Biyokimya Dergisi, 37(1).
• Essential oil from the branches and fruit of cypress showed antioxidant and antiglycation activities in vitro.  From:  Asgary, S., Naderi, G. A., Shams Ardekani, M. R., Sahebkar, A., Airin, A., Aslani, S., … & Emami, S. A. (2013). Chemical analysis and biological activities of Cupressus sempervirens var. horizontalis essential oils. Pharmaceutical biology, 51(2), 137-144.
• Extracts of Cupressus sempervirens showed antioxidant and antibacterial activity in vitro.  From:  Rguez, S., Essid, R., Adele, P., Msaada, K., Hammami, M., Mkadmini, K., … & Ksouri, R. (2019). Towards the use of Cupressus sempervirens L. organic extracts as a source of antioxidant, antibacterial and antileishmanial biomolecules. Industrial Crops and Products, 131, 194-202.
• Extracts from cypress showed antioxidant and anticancer activities in vitro and in vivo.  From:  Fayed, S. A. (2015). Chemical composition, antioxidant, anticancer properties and toxicity Evaluation of leaf essential oil of Cupressus sempervirens. Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, 43(2), 320-326.
• Along with other Yemen plants tested, Cupressus sempervirens (cypress), demonstrated a growth inhibitory effect against all cancer cell lines tested, was active against gram positive bacteria, and showed noteworthy radical scavenging activity.  From:  Mothana, R. A. A., Gruenert, R., Bednarski, P. J., & Lindequist, U. (2009). Evaluation of the in vitro anticancer, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of some Yemeni plants used in folk medicine. Die Pharmazie-An International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 64(4), 260-268.
• C. sempervirens and its constituents had hepatoprotective, antioxidant activity.  From:  Ibrahim, N. A., El-Seedi, H. R., & Mohammed, M. M. D. (2007). Phytochemical investigation and hepatoprotective activity of Cupressus sempervirens L. leaves growing in Egypt. Natural product research, 21(10), 857-866.

GREEN GARDENING

• Essential oils from cypress were effective against tested weeds and crop fungi.  From:  Ismail, A., Lamia, H., Mohsen, H., Samia, G., & Bassem, J. (2013). Chemical composition, bio-herbicidal and antifungal activities of essential oils isolated from Tunisian common cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.). Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 7(16), 1070-1080.
• Essential oil from Pinus pinaster and Cupressus sempervirens were active against 10 crop fungi and 4 tested weeds.  From:  Amri, I., Hanana, M., Gargouri, S., Jamoussi, B., & Hamrouni, L. (2013). Comparative study of two coniferous species (Pinus pinaster Aiton and Cupressus sempervirens L. var. dupreziana [A. Camus] Silba) essential oils: chemical composition and biological activity. Chilean journal of agricultural research, 73(3), 259-266.

ANTI-DIABETIC

• Saponins and phenolic constituents from the cones and seeds of Cupressus sempervirens demonstrated antidiabetic activity in vitro.  From:  Boussoussa, H., Khacheba, I., Berramdane, T., Maamri, A., Bendahgane, H., & Yousfi, M. (2018). In vitro Antidiabetic Effect of Saponins and Phenolic Extracts from Fruits and Seeds of Algerian Cypress Tree: Cupressus sempervirens L. Current Enzyme Inhibition, 14(2), 92-96.
• Essential oil from the branches and fruit of cypress showed antioxidant and antiglycation activities in vitro.  From:  Asgary, S., Naderi, G. A., Shams Ardekani, M. R., Sahebkar, A., Airin, A., Aslani, S., … & Emami, S. A. (2013). Chemical analysis and biological activities of Cupressus sempervirens var. horizontalis essential oils. Pharmaceutical biology, 51(2), 137-144.

MOUTH COLD SORES

• Tested extracts from various plant parts of cypress were antiviral against herpes in vitro.  From:  Emami, S. A., Tayarani-Najaran, Z., Sabouri Ghannad, M., Khajeh Karamadini, P., & Khajeh Karamadini, M. (2009). Antiviral activity of obtained extracts from different parts of cupressus sempervirens against Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1. Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, 12(3), 133-139.

ORAL HEALTH

• Against the oral bacteria: Streptococcus mutans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus, the 13 most effective essential oils were: myrrh, ginger, basil, carrot seed, tea tree, patchouli, ylang ylang, cypress, lemongrass, cinnamon, peppermint, lavender, and eucalyptus. From: Park, C., & Yoon, H. (2018). Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oil against Oral Strain. International Journal of Clinical Preventive Dentistry, 14(4), 216-221.

SKIN / WOUND

• Eugenol and nerolidol from Japanese cypress oil was topically antifungal against Microsporum gypseum on a guinea pig.  From: Lee, S. J., Han, J. I., Lee, G. S., Park, M. J., Choi, I. G., Na, K. J., & Jeung, E. B. (2007). Antifungal effect of eugenol and nerolidol against Microsporum gypseum in a guinea pig model. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 30(1), 184-188.

ANTI-UCLER

• Extracts of cypress were healing to ulcerative colitis wounds in vivo.  From:  Sepehrimanesh, M., Samimi, N., Koohi-Hosseinabadi, O., Mokhtari, M., Amiri-Zadeh, S., & Farjam, M. (2018). Effects of Cupressus sempervirens extract on the healing of acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in rat. Journal of Coloproctology.

By: Kathy Sadowski

Updated: 8/14/19​