Cedar / Deodar (Cedrus Deodara)

Cedarwood is a plant native to cold climates, it is normally found at high altitudes. The chief components of cedarwood essential oil are alpha cedrene, beta cedrene, cedrol, widdrol, thujopsene, terpineol, linalool, limonene, anethole, caryophyllene, eugenol, taxifolin, cedeodarin, wikstromal, deodarone, cedrinoside and flavonoids.C. and a group of sesquiterpenes, which contribute a great deal to its medicinal value and health benefits. Extraction and purification of total flavonoids from pine needles of Cedrus deodara contribute to anti-tumor in vitro.

Cedrus deodara is a species of cedar native to the western Himalayas in eastern Afghanistan, northern Pakistan (especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and India (Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Darjeeling and Uttarakhand states), southwesternmost Tibet and western Nepal, occurring at 1,500–3,200 m (4,921–10,499 ft) altitude. It is a large evergreen coniferous tree reaching 40–50 m (131–164 ft) tall, exceptionally 60 m (197 ft) with a trunk up to 3 m (10 ft) in diameter. It has a conic crown with level branches and drooping branchlets.

Pine needle of C. deodara is recognized as a healthy plant with an abundant protein content as well as important vitamins and minerals. It has been normally used for different treatments: involuntary twitch, fever, cough, bronchitis, ulcer and tuberculosis.deodara has different pharmacological activities such as: anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-ulcer,antispasmodic, antibacterial, insecticidal, molluscicidal and anti-cancer. Chemical composition: antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of essential oil from pine needle (Cedrus deodara).

Ref. NCBI 10. Zhang J, Shi XF, Fan B. Chemical composition and pharmacological activities of Cedrus deodara. Chin Tradit Plant Med. 2008;3:928–33.Zeng WC, Zhang Z, Gao H, Jia LR, He Q. J Food Sci. 2012 Jul; 77(7):C824-9. Shi X, Liu D, Zhang J, Hu P, Shen W, Fan B, Ma Q, Wang X.