Patchoulol is an alcohol, as found in patchouli.
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 Patchoulol
RESEARCH
The listings of research below represents 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-CANCER
- Patchouli alcohol suppressed cell growth and induced apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cells. From: Jeong, J. B., Choi, J., Lou, Z., Jiang, X., & Lee, S. H. (2013). Patchouli alcohol, an essential oil of Pogostemon cablin, exhibits anti-tumorigenic activity in human colorectal cancer cells. International immunopharmacology, 16(2), 184-190.
ANTI-NAUSEA
- Pogostemon cablin, and its components: patchouli alcohol, pogostol, stigmast-4-en-3-one, retusin, and pachypodol demonstrated anti-emetic (prevent vomiting) activity in chickens. From: Yang, Y., Kinoshita, K., Koyama, K., Takahashi, K., Tai, T., Nunoura, Y., & Watanabe, K. (1999). Anti-emetic principles of Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. Phytomedicine, 6(2), 89-93.
SKIN HEALING
- Patchouli alcohol found in the plant’s essential oil improved skin healing caused by sun exposure in mice. From: Feng, X. X., Yu, X. T., Li, W. J., Kong, S. Z., Liu, Y. H., Zhang, X., … & Lin, Z. X. (2014). Effects of topical application of patchouli alcohol on the UV-induced skin photoaging in mice. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63, 113-123.
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
- Patchouli alcohol possessed potent anti-inflammatory activity in rat paw edema. From: Li, Y. C., Xian, Y. F., Ip, S. P., Su, Z. R., Su, J. Y., He, J. J., … & Lin, Z. X. (2011). Anti-inflammatory activity of patchouli alcohol isolated from Pogostemonis Herba in animal models. Fitoterapia, 82(8), 1295-1301.
- Patchouli alcohol showed anti-inflammatory activities in vitro. From: Xian, Y. F., Li, Y. C., Ip, S. P., Lin, Z. X., Lai, X. P., & Su, Z. R. (2011). Anti-inflammatory effect of patchouli alcohol isolated from Pogostemonis Herba in LPS-stimulated RAW264. 7 macrophages. Experimental and therapeutic medicine, 2(3), 545-550.
- Patchouli alcohol demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. From: Jeong, J. B., Shin, Y. K., & Lee, S. H. (2013). Anti-inflammatory activity of patchouli alcohol in RAW264. 7 and HT-29 cells. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 55, 229-233.
ANTI-ULCER
- Patchouli alcohol reduced ulcers in vivo with mucus forming activity. From: Zheng, Y. F., Xie, J. H., Xu, Y. F., Liang, Y. Z., Mo, Z. Z., Jiang, W. W., … & Su, Z. R. (2014). Gastroprotective effect and mechanism of patchouli alcohol against ethanol, indomethacin and stress-induced ulcer in rats. Chemico-biological interactions, 222, 27-36.
ANTI-VIRAL
- Patchouli alcohol possessed anti-influenza A activity in vitro and in vivo. From: Wu, H., Li, B., Wang, X., Jin, M., & Wang, G. (2011). Inhibitory effect and possible mechanism of action of patchouli alcohol against influenza A (H2N2) virus. Molecules, 16(8), 6489-6501.
- Patchouli alcohol was antiviral against influenza in vivo. From: Li, Y. C., Peng, S. Z., Chen, H. M., Zhang, F. X., Xu, P. P., Xie, J. H., … & Su, Z. R. (2012). Oral administration of patchouli alcohol isolated from Pogostemonis Herba augments protection against influenza viral infection in mice. International Immunopharmacology, 12(1), 294-301.
- Patchouli alcohol showed anti-influenza virus activity in vitro. From: Wu, X. L., Ju, D. H., Chen, J., Yu, B., Liu, K. L., He, J. X., … & Chen, X. Y. (2013). Immunologic mechanism of patchouli alcohol anti-H1N1 influenza virus may through regulation of the RLH signal pathway in vitro. Current microbiology, 67(4), 431-436.
- Patchouli alcohol showed dose dependent anti-influenza activity against certain strains. From: Kiyohara, H., Ichino, C., Kawamura, Y., Nagai, T., Sato, N., & Yamada, H. (2012). Patchouli alcohol: in vitro direct anti-influenza virus sesquiterpene in Pogostemon cablin Benth. Journal of natural medicines, 66(1), 55-61.
Compiled by: Kathy Sadowski
Updated: 2/19/2020
