Tegetes Oil

This oil has an anti-parasitic property and helps to eliminate bed bugs, lice, mosquitoes and fleas

The plant is grown in India. The largest producers of Tagetes minuta oil are South Africa and France.

Tagetes is harvested in short duration from the month of December to January. The plant is best harvested under dry weather conditions. It is an annual herb and attains height about 1-2 meters.

Tagetes has been known since the Spanish colonization. It was introduced around the world including Asia, Europe, and Africa. The plant is called as "Khaki Bush" in Africa. The plant was brought by Australia from South Africa after the Boer War.

Tagetes oil is extracted from the flowering plant through steam distillation. The oil is yellow to reddish- amber in colour with a wild, citrus-like smell. Worldwide production of the oil was about 1.5 tonnes in 1984.

 

Health benefits:

 

Tagetes essential oil is potent against microbes. It stops the growth of microbes both internally and externally. It provides relief from microbial infections such as food poisoning, cholera, athlete's foot, tetanus, septic, malaria, dermatitis, and skin diseases.

The oil is a good insect repellent. When applied topically, the oil kills maggots in open wounds.

The oil is beneficial in respiratory issues such as chest infections, catarrh, coughs, cold, bronchitis and also facilitates the flow of mucus and clears congestion.

It improves blood circulation and has a healing effect on cuts, wounds, bruises, bunions, and calluses.

The oil has anti-parasitic property and helps to get rid of harmful parasites such as fleas, lice, mosquitoes, and bed bugs.

The oil is lethal against Staphylococcus aureus and gets rid of the septic's caused by the bacteria.

Tagetes oil is a natural relaxant and relieves the body from muscle pains, spasms, backaches, and provides relief from cramps, convulsions, spasmodic cough, and diarrhea.

The oil's sedative property relieves from sedative inflammations, and treats stress and anxiety.

It also sedates irritations in the excretory system, digestive and nervous systems, depression, anger, panic, afflictions, and hyper reactions.

The other therapeutic properties of Tagetes oil include carminative, stomachic, diaphoretic, emmennagogue, antispasmodic, and disinfectant.

 

Other benefits:

 

The oil is used in Peru, Ecuador, Chile, and Bolivia as a culinary herb.

The oil is used in perfumes, and as a flavoring agent in food products, alcoholic beverages, candy, tobacco, baked goods, frozen dairy products, relishes, puddings, and gelatins.

The oil is used in facial cleansers and foot lotions for its antimicrobial properties to keep the skin clean.

The oil is known as "huacatay" in Peru and in used in making purees and in seasonings

 

Physico Chemical Properties:

 

Specification	Limit
Botanical Name	Tagetes minuta
Family Name	Asteraceae
Common Name	Southern Cone Marigold
Part used	Flowering Top
Specific Gravity	0.845 - 0.890 at 20°C
Optical Rotation	+ 2 to +10
Refractive Index	1.470 - 1.500 at 20°C