Elecampane root

Elecampane is a handsome perennial herb up to 1.5 meters high, with stout stem covered in soft hairs. It has oval pointed leaves with velvety underneath, large, yellow, daisy-like flowers and large, freshly rhizome roots. It is native to Europe and Asia, and naturalized in North America. The essential oil is mainly produced from imported roots in southern France.

Elecampane belongs to Asteraceae (Compositae) family and it scientific name is Inula helenium. It is also named inula, scabwort, alant, horseheal, yellow starwort, elf dock, wild sunflowert, velvet dock, 'essence d'aunee'.

The essential oil is obtained by steam distillation from the dried roots and rhizomes. An absolute and concrete are also produced in small quantities. The main constituents of this essential oil are sesquiterpene lactones, including alantolactone (or helenin), isolactone, dihydroisalantolactone, dihydralantolactone, alantic acid and azulene. The essential oil is a semi-solid or viscous dark yellow or brownish liquid with a dry soft, woody, honey-like odour, often containing crystals.

The alantolactone is used as an anthelmintic in Europe (it is also an excellent bactericide). The oil and absolute are used as fixatives and fragrance components in soaps detergents, cosmetics and perfumes. It is also used as a flavour ingredient in alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, and foodstuffs, especially desserts.