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

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

Contains civetone (9-cis-cycloheptadece-

none) as its major aromatic principle; others

include butyric acid, skatole, cycloheptadeca-

none, cyclononadecanone, and various satu-

rated and unsaturated cyclic ketones and

alcohols.1,5,6

TOXICOLOGY

Limited available data indicate civet (abso-

lute) to be nontoxic.^7

USES

Medicinal, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmetic.

Civet absolute and tincture are extensively

used as fixatives and fragrance components

in perfumes (especially Oriental and rose

types), with maximum use level of 0.4%

reported for the absolute. Other cosmetic

products in which the absolute is reported to

be used include soaps, detergents, creams, and

lotions.^7

Food. Civet absolute has been reportedly

used as a flavor component in most major

food products, which include alcoholic and

nonalcoholic beverages, frozen dairy desserts,

candy, baked goods, and gelatins and pud-

dings. Average maximum use levels reported

are very low, less than 0.0014% (14.2 ppm).

Traditional Medicine. Used in Chinese

medicine for centuries to relieve pain and as

cardiac and neural; sedatives, among others

(JIANGSU).

COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONS

Crude and extracts; crude has been reported

to be frequently adulterated (ARCTANDER).^4

Regulatory Status. GRAS (§182.50).

REFERENCES

See the General References forARCTANDER;FEMA;GUENTHER;JIANGSU;YOUNGKEN.

1. E. Shiftan in A. Standen, ed.,Kirk-Othmer
   Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology,
   Vol. 14, 2nd ed., Wiley–Interscience,
   New York, 1976, p. 717.


2. The Larousse Encyclopedia of Animal Life,
   McGraw-Hill, New York, 1967, p. 564.


3. R. F. Ewer, The Carnivores, Cornell
   University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1972, p. 400.
   4. C. L. Fischbeck,Am. Perfum. Cosmet.,
   82 (12), 45 (1967).
   5. Y. Ohno and S. Tanaka,Bunseki Kagaku,
   26 , 232 (1977).
   6. D. A. Van Drop et al.,Recl. Trav. Chim.
   Pays-Bas, 92 , 915 (1973).
   7. D. L. J. Opdyke,Food Cosmet. Toxicol.,
   12 (Suppl.), 863 (1974).

CLARY SAGE

Source: Salvia sclareaL. (Family Labiatae

or Lamiaceae).

Common/vernacular names: Clary, clary

wort, muscatel sage, clear eye, see bright, and

eyebright.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Erect biennial or perennial aromatic herb with

large hairy leaves and stout hairy stem; up to

about 1 m high; native to southern Europe;

cultivated worldwide (e.g., Mediterranean

region, central Europe, Russia, the United

Kingdom, and the United States). Parts used

204 Clary sage