Multifactorial Evaluation of Relaxing Properties of Juniperus virginiana L. Essential Oil and Comparison with Salvia sclarea L. Essential Oil

Abstract

Virginian cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana L.) essential oil is an important component of a very large number of fragrances, used in cosmetics or household products. Clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.) essential oil is well known in aromatherapy for its sedative property. The essential oils of Virginian cedarwood’s crushed barks and clary sage’s leaves were analyzed by GC/MS. Respectively, seven and seventeen compounds; representing 78% and 94.13% of the essential oils, were identified. The main components of the cedar oil are cedrene alpha (25%) and cedrol (20%). The main components of the clary sage oil are linalyl acetate (69.4%) and linalool (11.9%). Cedarwood oil exhibits significant relaxing activity, influencing physiological and biochemical parameters in human. This shows repercussions on situational stress. Virginian Cedarwood essential oil activity is compared with clary sage essential oil, which proved to be less efficient on stress relief.