Description:
Litsea cubeba is commonly called May Chang is an evergreen tree that grows up to 10-12 meters with a smooth trunk measuring 3 to 8 inches high in the family Lauraceae. It is native to China, Indonesia, Taiwan, and other parts of Southeast Asia. It has simple, alternate, and evergreen leaves. It is cultivated for its essential oil mainly in China, Taiwan, and Japan.

Litsea cubeba is propagated by wildlings or nursery-grown seedlings. Fertilizers and insecticides are required for the proper growth of the plant. The fruit is harvested when it turns red, becomes fully ripe, and dried.

The essential oil is extracted by steam distillation from dried fruit. When dried, these small fruits look like large, dried black peppers and provide Litsea Cubeba essential oil. The essential oil can also be extracted from the flowers, branches, bark, roots, and leaves. The quality of essential oil derived from these parts are not up to the mark as extracted from essential oil.

Essential oil yields from the fruit are 2–5%. The major constituent of essential oil is citral, it ranges from 70–80%.

Litsea cubeba oil is effective in skincare, particularly as an astringent for oily skin.

Odor profile:
Citrus smell, compared to lemongrass

Major Constituents:
Citronellol, linalool, citronellal, eucalyptol, Phellandrene citronellol, linalool, Camphene, citronellal, Pinene, Methyl heptenone, Myrcene, Cineole, isopulegone, caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, and terpineol.

Application:
~ Litsea Cubeba herb and its oil has also been used and proved effective in the treatment of nervous disorders, asthma, back pain, regulate blood pressure heart rate, arrhythmia, coronary heart diseases.
~ Litsea cubeba oil has stimulating, refreshing, and uplifting action.
~ The antiseptic, antibacterial, astringent, and antiviral properties of this oil can be utilized to keep away from acne, blemishes, eczema, dermatitis, allergies, psoriasis, and cellulite.