Myrtenol

Myrtenol is a monoterpene alcohol.  It may be found in citrus oils, ginger, peppermint, hops, black tea, black pepper, raspberries, blackberries, and myrtle.

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 Myrtenol

Fragonia

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.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

• Myrtenol reduces the inflammatory response and nociception in mice.  From:  Silva, R. O., Salvadori, M. S., Sousa, F. B. M., Santos, M. S., Carvalho, N. S., Sousa, D. P., … & Almeida, R. N. (2014). Evaluation of the anti‐inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of myrtenol, a plant‐derived monoterpene alcohol, in mice. Flavour and Fragrance Journal, 29(3), 184-192.

ANXIOLYTIC

• Myrtenol showed anxiolytic activity.  From:  Moreira, M. R. C., Salvadori, M. G. D. S. S., de Almeida, A. A. C., de Sousa, D. P., Jordán, J., Satyal, P., … & de Almeida, R. N. (2014). Anxiolytic-like effects and mechanism of (−)-myrtenol: A monoterpene alcohol. Neuroscience letters, 579, 119-124.

ANALGESIC

• 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.

By: Kathy Sadowski

Updated: 9/13/19