Induction of hepatic microsomal oxidative metabolism in mice by essential oil components from some Eucalyptus spp. and Queensland fodder trees.

Abstract

The essential oil from Eucalyptus caleyi as well as the separated monoterpene, sesquiterpene hydrocarbon and
sesquiterpene alcohol fractions of the oil, when applied orally (500 mg kg- 1 body-weight), decreased the pentobarbital sleeping time of mice by about 50% compared with a control group. Treatment with 15 sesquiterpene alcohols, with the essential oils from other Eucalyptus spp. or from certain Queensland fodder trees, produced a range of
decreases from 13 to almost 70%. Extensive ingestion of drought-fodder plants containing essential oils may similarly be expected to enhance the activity of the liver detoxication enzymes of grazing livestock and thus to increase their susceptibility to mortality from carbon tetrachloride drenches.