Leung's Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics

BUCHU

Source: Agathosma betulina(P. J. Bergius)
Pillans (syn. Barosma betulina (Berg.)
Bartl. et Wendl.) or A. crenulata (L.)
Pillans (syn.B.crenulata(L.) Hook. and
B. serratifolia (Curt.) Willd.) (Family
Rutaceae).

Common/vernacular names:Bookoo, buchu,
bucku, bucco, buku, diosma; round buchu,
short buchu (A.betulina); buchu long buchu
(A.crenulata).

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Low, aromatic shrubs, usually less than 2 m
high with opposite and/or alternate leaves that
are finely toothed at the margin and bear oil
glands beneath and at the base of the teeth;
native to South Africa. Parts used are the dried
leaves, from which an essential oil is obtained
by steam distillation. There are two types of
buchu leaves. Round or short buchu is from
A. betulina, and long buchu is fromA.crenu-
lata; they differ in the relative compositions
of their volatile oils. Major supplies of the
leaves (from both wild and cultivated plants)
come from the Cape Province of South Africa,
which also produces some of the world’s
supply of the oil; the rest of the oil is distilled
in Europe and the United States. Buchu is
currently a threatened species.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

Contains 1.0–3.5% (usually 1.5–2.5%) vola-
tile oil composed mainly of l-pulegone,
isopulegone, diosphenol (buchu camphor),
y-diosphenol, l-isomenthone, d-menthone,
d-limonene, 8-mercapto-p-menthan-3-one, 8-
-acetylthio-p-menthan-3-one, and piperitone
epoxide, among more than 100 other identi-
fied minor compounds;1–6presence of piper-
itone epoxide disputed.^6 Relative proportions
of pulegone and diosphenols vary consider-
ably in commercial oils. In general, round
buchu (A.betulina) leaf yields oils with high

proportions of diosphenols, while long buchu

(A.crenulata) yields oils containing high

proportions of pulegone with little or no dio-

sphenols present.1,4,6In addition, round buchu

leaf contains higher concentrations of volatile

oil than long buchu leaf. Other constituents

present in buchu leaf include flavonoids (dios-

min, rutin, quercetin-3,7-glucoside, etc.), res-

in, mucilage, and others (KARRER;LIST AND

HO€RHAMMER;MERCK).

PHARMACOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL

ACTIVITIES

Buchu leaves are reported to have urinary

antiseptic, diuretic, and carminative proper-

ties. The essential oils ofAgathosma betulina

andA.crenulataleaves have shown spasmo-

lytic activity on the smooth muscle of isolated

guinea pig ileum.^7

A formulation containing 90% diosmin and

10% hesperidin has been used in the treatment

of acute hemorrhoids8–10and chronic venous

insufficiency.11–13

USES

Medicinal, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmetic.

Extensively used in diuretic preparations; also

in laxative, stomachic, and carminative

formulas.

Food. Oil is used as a component in artificial

fruit flavors, especially black currant flavor.

Round buchu oil is preferred because of its

higher contents of diosphenols and 8-mercap-

to-p-menthan-3-one,whichareconsideredtobe

the more desirable flavor components.^6 Major

categories of food products in which the oil is

used include alcoholic and nonalcoholic bev-

erages, frozen dairy desserts, candy, baked

goods, gelatins and puddings, and condiments

and relishes. Use levels reported are rather low,

with average maximum highest in gelatins and

puddings at about 0.002% (15.4 ppm).

Dietary Supplements/Health Foods. Cap-

sules, tablets, crude herb in teas reportedly as

a diuretic and urinary antiseptic (WREN).

Buchu 117