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

roses and may sometimes have an undesirable
‘‘smoked ham’’ note.
Guaiac wood oil is different fromguaiac
resinorguaiac gumproducts. The latter are
obtained from the wood of other trees (Guai-
acum officinaleL. andG. santumL. (Family
Zygophyllaceae)). This guaiac contains a
small amount of a-guaiaconic acid mixed
with large amounts of other phenolic lignans
(formerly collectively called guaiaconic acid)
and other substances. It was formerly used in
treating rheumatism and gout but currently is
mainly used as a diagnostic reagent (e.g., in
testing for occult blood).^1 Nevertheless, it has
been approved for food use as an equivalent of
guaiac wood oil or products derived fromB.
sarmienti; it is used in foods mainly as an
antioxidant and is official in F.C.C.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

Guaiac wood oil contains 42–72% guaiol,
bulnesol,d-bulnesene (d-guaiene),b-bulne-
sene,a-guaiene,b-patchoulene, and guaiox-
ide (LIST AND Ho ̈RHAMMER).

PHARMACOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL
ACTIVITIES

One available report indicates guaiac wood oil
to be nonirritating, nonsensitizing, and non-
photatoxic to human skin.^2 Another report
indicates guaiac wood oil to be nontoxic to
rats on short-term feeding.^3
Guaiazulene, obtained from guaiac wood
by dehydration of guaiol, has been demon-
strated to have anti-inflammatory activity in
animal studies. It has been used in Germany as
an ingredient in combination bath products,
claimed for efficacy in a wide variety of skin

conditions and inflammation, but without

clear demonstration of pharmacological or

clinical efficacy.^4

USES

Medicinal, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmetic.

Guaiac wood oil is used as a fixative, modifier,

or fragrance component in soaps, detergents,

creams, lotions, and perfumes, with maximum

use level of 0.8% reported in perfumes.

Food. Guaiac wood oil is used as a flavor

component in most categories of food pro-

ducts, including alcoholic and nonalcoholic

beverages, frozen dairy desserts, candy, baked

goods, gelatins and puddings, and meat and

meat products, with highest average maxi-

mum use level of about 0.002% (22 ppm)

reported in meat and meat products.

Dietary Supplements/Health Foods. Guaiac

wood preparations are occasionally used in

formulation for anti-inflammatory activity,

mostly in Europe, including gout and rheuma-

tism formulations (WREN).

COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONS

Oil.

Regulatory Status. Has been approved for

food use (§172.510); gum guaiac is

GRAS when used in edible oils or fats in

accordance with good manufacturing practice

(§182.3336).

Guaiac wood is the subject of a German

therapeutic monograph, used for supportive

therapy for rheumatic complaints.^4

REFERENCES

See the General References forARCTANDER;BLUMENTHAL1;FEMA;GUENTHER;MERCK;TERRELL;UPHOF;
WREN.

1. J. F. Kratochvil et al.,Phytochemistry, 10 ,
   2529 (1971).
   2. D. L. J. Opdyke,Food Cosmet. Toxicol.,
   12 (Suppl.), 905 (1974).

346 Guaiac wood oil