Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin Benth): Chemistry, Biology, and Anti-inflammatory Activities: A Review

Abstract

Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin Benth) is an essential oil and an aromatic medicinal plant, industrially valued due to widely used in flavours, fragrance and pharmaceuticals. Recently, researchers are showing deep interest towards patchouli alcohol. In Indonesia, patchouli is commonly known as ‘nilam’ which stand for Nederlands Indische Land ook Acheh Maatscappij. Understanding the chemistry, biology, and anti-inflammatory activities allows its utilization in medicine, toiletries, perfumery and insecticides. This review provides a comprehensive information on chemical compositions of patchouli species and its extracts by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The biological activities of patchouli towards microorganisms is also being reviewed. This review also provides an additional information on anti-inflammatory activities of Pogostemon cablin Benth.