Biological Forum – An International Journal 13(1): 342-349(2021) ISSN No. (Print): 0975-1130 ISSN No. (Online): 2249-3239 Eucalyptus: A Review on Agronomic and Medicinal Properties Parul, Ankita Panigrahi, Nikhil Chandra Jena, Sudhir Tripathi, Vipin Tiwari and Vikas Sharma* Department of Molecular Biology & Genetic Engineering, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, India. (Corresponding author: Vikas Sharma*) (Received 27 February 2021, Accepted 16 April 2021) (Published by Research Trend, Website: www.researchtrend.net) ABSTRACT: Eucalyptus belongs to the family Myrtaceae which is cultivated worldwide but native to Australia. Eucalyptus is widely cultivated all over the world for its medicinal and agronomic properties. Eucalyptus is extensively used in agroforest industry as it provides raw material for various industries. Eucalyptus is also used to curtail carbon dioxide emissions. This review paper discusses about the use of eucalyptus oil as it consists numerous compounds which manifest herbicide and pesticide properties. Extraction of eucalyptus oil by steam distillation process is also discussed. Eucalyptus oil contains 1,8-cineole, citronellyl acetate and other compounds which expresses medicinal properties such as antiseptic, anti- inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal and numerous other properties. Primary use of Eucalyptus oil in treatment of diseases like asthama, bronchitis, and sinus depicts the importance of eucalyptus in our healthcare system. Keywords: 1, 8- cineole, SARC-CoV-2, aromatherapy, eucalyptus, antimicrobial. INTRODUCTION antifungal property against fungi like yeast (Marzoug et al., 2011). These are the studies that supported potential From the ancient time product obtained from the plants use of eucalyptus oil in pharmaceutical industries has been used for the curing many disease. One of such because of its medicinal property and as natural important category plant named eucalyptus has been preservatives for food as it prevents the development of grown in the country like China, India, South Africa, the yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in fresh juices Portugal, Brazil and Tasmania (Vecchio et al., 2016) (Kumar et al., 2014). for the various purposes. Eucalyptus oil can be used as imnunoregulate agent Eucalyptus is an evergreen tall tree first discovered against infectious disease as it improves the innate cell- from Australia and Tasmania. Eucalyptus belongs to the mediated immunity. From Eucalyptus polybractea a Myrtaceae family under which there are 900 species bioactive compound named eucalyptus oil extracted and and subspecies present. After Acacia it is the largest can be used as an antiviral activity against the influenza genera. In more than 90 countries it is grown today. The virus and inhibit the avian influenza virus H11N9 in oil extract from the different parts of the plant (leaves, aerosol and vapor form. Enveloped virus like mumps fruits, buds and bark) shows antibacterial, antiseptic, and herpes can also be inhibited according, to a report antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer activity. Due eucalyptus oil exhibit in vitro antiviral activity (Asif et to presence of these properties this is used for treatment al., 2020). of respiratory disease, common cold, influenza, sinus Eucalyptus plant is an important source of the dye, and congestion. The widely used species is E. globulus tannin, and protein. Isoprenoids (a volatile due to its various propose of uses like perfume, phytochemical) are present in the leaves part of the cosmetics, food, beverages, aromatherapy, and eucalyptus plant. This isoprenoid having the medicinal phytotherapy (Vecchio et al., 2016). property. From the leaves of this plant various product The anti-microbial activity of eucalyptus oil from E. like flavonoid, alkaloid, saponins and tannins are globulus affects both gram-negative (Salmonella extracted (Kaur et al., 2018). One of the active enteritidis, Escherichia coli and pseudomonas constituents of eucalyptus oil named 1,8-cineole along aeruginosa) and gram-positive bacteria with it found to exhibit the muscle relaxation by (Staphylococcus aurans, Enterococcus faecium, decreasing the muscle contraction (Asif et al., 2020). Listeria monocytogens 4b and Listeria monocytogens Eucalyptus oil has been a prominent agent against EGD-e). (Bachir and Benali 2012; Lu et al., 2016; respiratory disease such as asthma and bronchitis. Vecchio et al., 2016). eucalyptus oil also shows the Parul et al., Biological Forum – An International Journal 13(1): 342-349(2021) 342 According to various researches this antiviral efficiency Jeanroy on 6th May 2020 said that a unique menthol like can also be used to prevent SARC-CoV-2. Technique fragrance is produced from Eucalyptus plant for which such as in vitro assay and molecular docking depicts the it can be most often used as ornamental plant efficacy of eucalyptus oil against viral activity of (Buchbauer, 2000). SARC-CoV-2 (Asif et al., 2020). Agroforestry gives benefits to the farmer as well as For pulp mills eucalyptus is one of the important other those who are directly or indirectly related to hardwood resources. This tree grows fast and easily farmer. It supplies raw material generate employment, adapt to the different climate fluctuation and soil type beneficial for transportation corporation, wholesale and (Carrillo et al., 2017). retail (Gomes et al., 2015). The state board of forestry introduced a program in 1887. Established experimental A. Agronomic properties of Eucalyptus station at six different station (Santa Moriah, Chico, Eucalyptus tree has properties like fast growth, straight Merced, Hesperia, San Jacinto and Lake Hemet). The form, valuable wood properties, and wide adoptability main objective behind this project is to enhance the to soil and climate and at last but not the least easy plantation of different Eucalyptus species. management due to presence of those properties Latter after some years these sites are converted into Eucalyptus species become an important hardwood for college of agriculture under university of California at the pulp industries (Turnbull and Pryor 1984; Turnbull Berkeley. After this event the ship manufacturing 1999; Myburg et al., 2007; Gomes et al., 2015). Beside industries paid attention to this kind of tree and such this these woods are also used for smooth writing and fast-growing hardwood tree is lottery for them. From all printing paper, as these contain many small fibers, and these new product and energy production from the these are smaller than other hardwood (Clarke et al., single tree attracted all the investor, scientists, 2008; Dutt and Tyagi 2011). From all this it is said that industrialist, to focus on it. After half a century after the the pulpability factor of the Eucalyptus is better than introduction of the Eucalyptus tree in the California, other than hardwood species. other events are organized in 1950s and 1960s. In this Eucalyptus oil has many commercial uses such as time era the fireboard became an essential commodity perfume, cosmetics, food, beverages, aromatherapy and in construction of house and manufacturing of phytotherapy in large scale in many countries its oil has furniture’s. some magical properties which is used for different Product from tree is good but for a limited period, as propose like antibacterial, antiseptic, antioxidant, anti- forest helps in balancing the carbon dioxide content in inflammatory and anticancer activity (Dixit et al., 2012; the atmosphere against pollution and global warming. Egawa et al., 1997). As seen mostly on water logging areas many farmers B. Eucalyptus oil use as herbicide plant this tree and earn money. Due to shortage of There are various species of Eucalyptus species whose popular wood in the world, the Eucalyptus is used in oil when applied in unessential herbs or weed kills them the furniture industries. The charcoal is one of the most (Kohli et al., 1998; Singh et al.,2005; Batish et al., essential renewable energy source in the world. The 2007; Setia et al., 2007). It is reported that the species charcoal of the Eucalyptus plant is very efficient such as E. citriodora and E. tereticornis oil when because it provides more energy than the other applied in Parthenium hysterophorus in the form of hardwood charcoal. As the Eucalyptus plant are very vapors decrease their germination (Kohli et al., 1998). tall in nature in some places these are use as electric Further this experiment was conducted in Raphanus poles. sativus, Amaranthus viridis, Zea mays etc. the essential This plant plays a great role in the decreasing of global oil is more effective on A. viridis because of its small warming and climate change. Now a days the pollution size comparing to R. sativus because of its larger seed. is one of the greatest problems in the world. The E. citriodora oil is more toxic than E. tereticornis vehicles, industries produce lots of pollutants as a result (Batish et al., 2004). Fumigation is the process of using of which it hampers the ozone layer balance. Due to gases to destroy the unwanted pests in the plant. Here this the sunlight directly fall on the earth surface, from fumigation using Eucalyptus oil is done which result in the direct sunlight the people suffer from skin cancer plant destruction by chlorosis, decreased cellular and irritation. At present the deforestation of timber tree respiration, necrosis (Kohli et al., 1998). The secondary are done very frequently in the places like Ethiopia metabolites