The benefits of cedar essential oil for the skin?

Benefit No.1: Atlas Cedar Essential Oil for combating skin inflammation?

The essential oil of Atlas cedar is primarily known for its anti-inflammatory effects, which could soothe irritations and reduce redness. This action was particularly highlighted in a recent study conducted on 25 rats. Different doses of essential oil were administered to them: 12.5 mg/kg; 25 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg. Subsequently, a 0.1 mL solution of carrageenan was injected to induce oedema. A reduction in the size of the oedema was observed for all doses of essential oil. In rats that received 50 mg/kg, an average inhibition of 98.36% was noted, compared to 88.52% after taking 20 mg/kg of indomethacin. It would be interesting to see if these positive results could be replicated when the Atlas cedar essential oil is applied topically rather than ingested.

As for the mechanism by which Atlas Cedar essential oil would exert its anti-inflammatory effects, it is still poorly understood today. However, it is assumed that this ingredient would act by inhibiting the activity of the enzyme 5-lipoxygenase (LOX), a monomer protein capable of generating harmful hydroperoxides through the oxidation of fatty acids and stimulating the production of leukotrienes, pro-inflammatory mediators. This property of Atlas Cedar essential oil would come from the cedrol and himachalene it contains.

However, caution is advised, as the action of Atlas Cedar essential oil has not been confirmed through topical application. Furthermore, it has not been the subject of any clinical studies in humans.

Benefit No. 2: The antibacterial properties of Atlas Cedar essential oil?

The essential oil of Atlas cedar also appears to have antibacterial activity. According to a study in vitro by GHANMI and his team, this would be directed against Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, and Gram-positive bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus. This work carried out on an antibiogram disc showed a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.4 μL/mL for Escherichia coli and 0.2 μL/mL for Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis. It can be assumed that this antibacterial activity of the Atlas cedar essential oil extends to other microorganisms, notably to Cutibacterium acnes, a bacterium involved in the pathogenesis of acne. If this hypothesis were confirmed, it would make the use of Atlas cedar essential oil relevant for combating imperfections.

Further work is still required to measure the extent of the antibacterial activity of Atlas Cedar essential oil.

Benefit No. 3: Atlas Cedar Essential Oil, an antifungal?

The antifungal activity of Atlas cedar essential oil was tested in a 2019 study on various types of fungi, including Aspergillus niger, Thielavia hyalocarpa and four fungi derived from the genus Penicillium. The minimum inhibitory concentrations were measured and ranged from 0.5 to 1%, demonstrating that a low concentration of Atlas cedar essential oil is sufficient to achieve an antifungal effect.

The antifungal activity of Atlas cedar essential oil is attributed to its content of sesquiterpenes, particularly cedrol and himachalene. These compounds are believed to have the ability to exert a fungistatic action, meaning they could inhibit the growth of fungi. They would act at the level of the cell membranes and alter their permeability, thereby causing the leakage of components essential to fungal growth.

Further studies are still required before we can assert that Atlas Cedar essential oil can combat fungal infections.

Benefit No. 4: Does Atlas Cedar essential oil promote good healing?

In 2018, SAIDI and his team investigated the effects of Atlas Cedar essential oil on the wound healing process. In the study, the efficacy of a cream based on the essential oil was evaluated over 28 days on rabbits. The healing potential of the cream was compared to a placebo, which was the same cream but without the essential oil, and to a reference ointment containing 1% extract of Centella asiatica. According to this study, a significant reduction in the appearance of scars was observed from the first days of application for the essential oil-based cream and its effectiveness was said to be comparable to that of the reference ointment. However, no numerical data was provided and the mechanism of action of the Atlas Cedar essential oil in the wound healing process remains unknown.

It is necessary to conduct further research on the healing potential of Atlas Cedar essential oil.

Benefit No.5: Atlas Cedar Essential Oil for Pain Relief?

Beyond its healing, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial benefits, Atlas cedar essential oil is also believed to have a pain-relieving effect, as demonstrated in a study on mice in which abdominal cramps were induced by acetic acid injection. The mice were divided into several groups and had previously been orally administered 12.5 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg of essential oil or 10 mg/kg of diclofenac, a positive control. The percentages of cramp inhibition were measured and showed a dose-dependent effect of the Atlas cedar essential oil.

	Essential oil 12.5 mg/kg	Essential oil 25 mg/kg	Essential oil 50 mg/kg	Diclofenac 10 mg/kg
Percentage of inhibition measured	61 %	83 %	91 %	75 %

Évaluation de l'effet inhibiteur de l'huile essentielle de cèdre de l'Atlas sur les crampes abdominales de souris.

Source : BOUHRIM M. & al. Cedrus atlantica (Endl.) Manetti ex carrière essential oil alleviates pain and inflammation with no toxicity in rodent. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (2022).

It appears that Atlas Cedar essential oil may have a positive effect on pain levels in mice. The mechanism at play, following the injection of acetic acid, could be a peripheral nociceptive mechanism, potentially involving molecules such as histamine, prostaglandins PGE2 and PGEα, serotonin, and bradykinin. These compounds could be inhibited by certain constituents of Atlas Cedar essential oil, particularly the sesquiterpenes.

The essential oil of Atlas cedar would therefore have a potentially beneficial analgesic effect, although more scientific evidence would be needed to confirm this theory.

Benefit No. 6: Does Atlas Cedar essential oil play a role in sebum regulation?

Some sources attribute to Atlas cedar essential oil a plausible effect on oily skin, a property that would stem from its unique biochemical composition. Indeed, the sesquiterpene content of the essential oil would allow it to exert a lipolytic action leading to the breakdown of fatty substances. This would thus prevent an excessive production of sebum by the sebaceous glands, which can give the skin a shiny appearance. However, scientific evidence is currently lacking and does not allow us to confirm that Atlas cedar essential oil is an interesting ingredient for targeting hyperseborrhea.