Buchu Agathosma betulina under cultivation in the western cape - early 1920’s

Buchu - Agathosma crenulata under cultivation in the western cape - early 1920’s

Buchu was subsequently exported to Europe and the Americas where it was recorded and used as an antiseptic and diuretic.

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Essential oil of Buchu

Introduction

Buchu (Agathosma betulina & Agathosma crenulata) belongs to the Rutacea (Citrus) family of plants and is a well-known South African medicinal plant.

Used by the indigenous people and later introduced to the European settlers of the Cape, Buchu was subsequently exported to Europe and the Americas where it was recorded and used as an antiseptic and diuretic.

Both are highly aromatic shrubs, with conspicuous oil glands on the underside of the leaves. A. betulina has smaller, rounder leaves and occurs in the more northerly mountain ranges of the western Cape. A. crenulata has larger, oval shaped leaves and is found in the more southerly mountain ranges.

Although the essential oil of the two species contains similar chemical compounds, the concentration of individual compounds varies considerably.

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Agathosma betulina (P.J.Bergius) Pillans

Synonyms: Buchu betulina, barosma betulina, round leaf buchu
Origin: Product of South Africa
Description: Essential oil produced by steam distillation

Main chemical components:

Limonene, Menthone, Isomenthone, isoPulegone, pulegone, diophenol, p-diosphenol, c-Mercaptone, t-Mercaptone.

Distribution

Agathosma betulina has a natural distribution limited to the mountains of the Cederberg, Olifantsrivier and Piketberg.

Two chemotypes have been recognised within the species:

Diosphenol chemotype (high in diosphenols, low in isomenthones), found further north in the Cederberg mountains.
Isomenthone chemotype (high in isomenthones, low in diosphenols) found more southerly in the Piketberg Mountains.

Agathosma crenulata (L.) Pillans

Synonyms: Buchu crenulata, barosma crenulata, oval leaf buchu
Origin: Product of South Africa
Description: Essential oil produced by steam distillation

Main chemical components:

Limonene, Menthone, Isomenthone, isoPulegone, pulegone, diophenol, p-diosphenol, c-Mercaptone, t-Mercaptone, c-Acetylthiol, t-Acetylthiol

Distribution

Agathosma crenulata has a natural distribution limited to the southerly mountain ranges of the Cape. Is has similar characteristics to Agathosma betulina but contains a much higher pulegone content.

Agathosma serratifolia (Curtis) Spreeth

There has been little interest shown in this buchu species, though up to know has not been commercially viable. It occurs naturally in the mountainous regions of the southern coast of South Africa.

Other Buchu species

There are many other species of aromatic buchu’s, all occurring wild in South Africa. A few of them have been investigated, but none have progressed beyond this initial stage.