Ulje hinokija

The tree and its wood

Chamaecyparis obtusa, called Japanese cypress or hinoki, is a conifer in the cypress family, Cupressaceae, native to central Japan. Hinoki grows primarily on the islands of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. It is a slow-growing tree that may reach 35 m in height. Hinoki accounts for 25% of plantation forests in Japan. The IUCN conservation status of the species is Near Threatened.

Its wood is light pinkish-brown, with a straight grain, and is highly rot-resistant. In Japan the timber is used to build palaces, temples, shrines, traditional noh theatres and baths. Horyuji Temple and Osaka Castle are built from hinoki wood. The hinoki grown in Kiso and used to build Ise Shrine is called go-shin-boku, or "divine trees".

Chemistry

The oil contains a wide range of compounds, including sabinene, elemol, myrcene, limonene and terpinen-4-ol. Among its other constituents are α-terpinyl acetate, α-pinene, α-cadinol and β-thujaplicin. Some of these compounds are fragrances or intermediates used in the fragrance industry. In oil from the branches of the plant, the main constituents were δ-cadinene and α-pinene.

Hinokitiol, or β-thujaplicin, is a natural monoterpenoid found in the wood of trees in the family Cupressaceae. Its formula is C₁₀H₁₂O₂. Chamaecyparis obtusa holds 0.02% hinokitiol, which is 0.2 mg per 1 g of dry sawdust. Hinokitiol is used in oral and skin care products.

Uses

Oil extracted from Chamaecyparis obtusa is increasingly used in cosmetology for skin care. Essential oil distilled from hinoki wood sells at a high price. In Korea the species is used to make wooden fragrance cubes, moisturizers and cushions.

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