Description

Patchouli, Pogostemon cablin, is one of species from the Lamiaceae (mint family), and has been widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas of Asia owing to high demand for its essential oil. Chemical and pharmacological studies of patchouli over the last few decades indicated that the patchouli oil contains >40 major components. These constituents exhibit marked activities, such as antibacterial, anti-influenza virus, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, antimutagenic, anti-PAF induced platelet aggregation, insecticidal, and hepatoprotective activities; therefore, have therapeutic roles in heat and dampness elimination, nerve smoothness and fatigue alleviation, indigestion, headache, and fever.