Chapter 2

Review Related Literature:

The first modern air freshener, as we know it, was introduced in 1948. Its original

function was based on a military technology for dispensing insecticides. It was

adapted into a pressurized spray using a propellant. The idea behind the product was

to deliver a fine mist of aroma compounds to remain suspended in the air for an

extended period of time. The air freshener was born and this first type of dispenser

became the industry standard.In the 1980s, the air freshener market shifted away

from aerosols, due to concerns over the destruction of the ozone layer. Many other

air freshener delivery methods have become popularsince, including scented

candles, solid gels, reed diffusers, liquid wick air fresheners, potpourri, and heat

release air freshening products such as scented oils.In Southeast Asian cooking

pandanus amaryllifolius is used as a flavoring. It’s a tropical plant known as pandan leaves.

Air fresheners can include fragrances, aerosol propellants, and solvents. As fragrances, air

freshener preparations often include terpenes such as limonene. Also, many air freshener
products

emit allergens and toxic air pollutants including benzene, formaldehyde, terpenes, styrene,
phthalate

esters, and toluene, plus formaldehyde, hydroxyl radical, and secondary ultrafine particles.
Defining

the substances will be importanto to find the references. We have some studies on the effects of

solvents such as toluene in humans and animal models.

A. Air Freshener

Air fresheners are consumer products used in homes or commercial products used in restrooms

that typically emit fragrance. There are many different methods and brands of air freshener.
Some of the different types of air fresheners include sprays, candles, oils, gels, beads, and plug-

ins. Some air fresheners have been known to have chemicals that provoke allergy and asthma

symptoms raising argument about how safe it is to use. Air freshening is not only limited to

modern day sprays; air freshening also can involve the use of organic and everyday house hold

items. Although air freshener is primarily used for odor elimination some people simply use air

freshener for the pleasant odors they emit. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_freshener)

B. Lemon Grass

Lemon grass oil is extracted by steam distillation. Lemongrass oil has a lemony, sweet smell and
i
s dark yellow to amber and reddish in color, with a watery viscosity. It is also known as

‘choomanapoolu’ and is also referred to as ‘Indian Verbena’ or ‘Indian Melissa oil’. Lemon

grass oil is a valuable ingredient in cosmetics, perfumes and as fragrances for soaps and insect

repellants. (http://www.medicalhealthguide.com)

As Lemongrass has anti bacterial properties you can just leave you’re cleaning utensils to soak

which will leave them fresh and clean ready for the next use.

(http://www.naturallythinking.com/pages/Lemongrass-Essential-Oil-Properties.html)

The health benefits of Lemongrass Essential Oil can be attributed to its many beneficial

properties as an analgesic, antidepressant, antimicrobial, antipyretic, antiseptic, astringent,

bactericidal, carminative, deodorant, diuretic, febrifuge, fungicidal, galactogogue, insecticidal,

nervine, sedative and tonic substance.

Antimicrobial and Antibacterial: Lemongrass has antimicrobial properties which makes it an i

nhibitor of microbial and bacterial growth in the body, both internally and externally. It is also

known to be effective in inhibiting bacterial infections in the colon, stomach, urinary tracts,
 wounds, respiratory system, and other organ systems. While also helping to cure diseases

resulting from bacterial or microbial infections such as typhoid, food poisoning, skin diseases,

body odor, and malaria (caused due to protozoon). (http://www.organicfacts.net/health-

benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-lemongrass-essential-oil.html)

b.1) Chemical Composition

The main chemical components of lemongrass oil are myrcene, citronellal, geranyl acetate,

nerol, geraniol, neral and traces of limonene and citral.

(http://www.essentialoils.co.za/essential-oils/lemongrass.htm)

C. History of Lemon Grass

The oldest known text about lemon grass oil had been found from the Philippines in 17th

century. It had been introduced to Jamaica in 1799 and to Haiti and USA in 1917. It is not

known when or by who introduced lemon grass to Sri Lanka. According to the reports available

at the national herbarium in 1905 a Sri Lankan researcher called Mr. J.F Jovit had acquired

several plants of “Kochin Sera” (Cymbopogon citrates) several large scale cultivations of lemon

grass had been existed in Sri Lanka in several decades ago but currently only a few small

cultivations exists.

(http://www.exportagridept.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=135&

Itemid=159&lang=en)
D. Sampaguita

Sampaguita’s distinct sweet, heady fragrance is its unique feature. The essential oil from the
 flowers is similar to jasmin (Jasminum grandiflores). Sampaguita flowers do not bear seeds;

therefore the plant is cultivated by cuttings. Sampaguita was imported into the Philippines in the

17th century from Himalayan areas. The Sampaguita is a native part of the Philippine landscape

for centuries. The plant is originally from India and is grown throughout India today.

(http://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/aboutflowers/tropicalflowers/sampaguita)

The constituents of sampaguita are iron, glycoside, tannin, fats, silicon and calcium oxalate,

because of which it can be used for various cosmetic and medicinal purposes.

The sampaguita is used as an herbal medicine; many people used it for alleviation of ailments,

such as headaches, fever, cough, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Sampaguita petals are used for

preparing herbal tea. Sampaguita roots are used for treatment of cuts and snakebite. The leaves

and flowers also contain ingredients for use as antipyretic agents and decongestants.

(http://www.buzzle.com/articles/study-of-sampaguita-flower.html)
E. Antibiotics

Antibiotics are a group of medicines that are used to treat infections caused by bacteria and

certain parasites. They are sometimes called antibacterial. Antibiotics are also available as

creams, ointments, or lotions to apply to the skin to treat certain skin infections.

To evaluate whether emissions of a commercial air freshener produced acute toxic effects in a

mammalian species, the authors allowed male Swiss-Webster mice to breathe the emissions of

one commercial-brand solid air freshener for 1 h. Sensory irritation and pulmonary irritation

were evaluated with the ASTM-E-981 test. A computerized version of this test measured the
duration of the break at the end of inspiration and the duration of the pause at the end of

expiration–two parameters subject to alteration via respiratory effects of airborne toxins.