Atractylone, often listed as atractylon, is a sesquiterpene from Atractylodes rhizomes with a much deeper preclinical literature than most archive constituents. Live sources support its identity, occurrence, oral absorption, and several cell and animal findings related to antiviral, anti-inflammatory, gastrointestinal, and oncology research. Even so, the evidence remains largely preclinical, so AromaForge should present atractylone as a research-active sesquiterpene rather than a clinically established therapeutic.
Chemical identity and composition
PubChem maps atractylone to CID 3080635 and notes the common synonym atractylon. The archive already includes atractylone in myrrh oil at 0.12% typical, but the larger published literature centers on Atractylodes rhizomes rather than classic essential-oil perfumery sources. A recent systematic review also notes favorable intestinal absorption and recurring instability/autoxidation issues in handling and storage contexts.
Aroma and practical use
- Use the recorded characteristic, woody, herbal, herbaceous descriptors to explore a blend's scent character; perceived strength also depends on the other ingredients.
- Read the route, preparation and experimental context before using a study finding to choose an oil.
Reported benefits and effects
Findings retain their study context. An animal or laboratory result describes that experiment.
antiviral related research
Atractylone treatment at 10-40 mg/kg for 5 days attenuated influenza A-induced pulmonary injury, lowered IL-6, TNF-alpha, and IL-1beta, increased IFN-beta, and shifted TLR7-pathway markers in infected mice.
Measured: pulmonary injury, cytokines, and TLR7-pathway expression
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
anti inflammatory related research
A full-text Molecules study identified atractylone as the primary active compound in Atractylodes macrocephala rhizoma oil and reported lower TNF-alpha and ROS, higher SOD and GSH, reduced MDA, and preservation of tight-junction proteins, with symptom improvement in DSS-colitis mice.
Measured: TNF-alpha, ROS, antioxidant markers, and barrier proteins
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
gastroprotective related research
Atractylone reduced ethanol-induced gastric lesion area in rats, lowered inflammatory factors and oxidative-stress markers, increased SOD, and was also reported to inhibit H. pylori-induced gastric mucosal injury in a zebrafish model.
Measured: ulcer area, inflammatory factors, oxidative stress, and microbiota shifts
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
Use concerns and concentration limits
Sensitization concernNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
Phototoxicity concernNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
Oxidation concernNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
Penetration enhancementNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
A recorded constituent reference, not a recommended oil dilution. Product category, source applicability and all contributing oils must be checked before use.
unverified reference · No source provenance attachedThe recent systematic review explicitly notes that current evidence is still limited for pharmacodynamics, safety margins, and toxicity thresholds, so safety claims should remain conservative.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
Atractylone is reported as unstable at room temperature in one full-text anti-inflammatory paper, with conversion toward atractylenolides under some storage conditions; that matters for research handling and interpretation.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
No human clinical safety trials specific to isolated atractylone were verified in this pass.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
Constituents it may interact with
No constituent-pair interaction is recorded for this identity. The report does not assume either amplification or incompatibility.
How the effects were investigated
tlr7 myd88 traf6 ifn beta axis
In an influenza A mouse model, atractylone was reported to upregulate TLR7, MyD88, TRAF6, and IFN-beta while downregulating NF-kappaB p65 in lung tissue, consistent with host-response modulation rather than direct clinical antiviral proof.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
pi3k akt and barrier protection context
A colitis-oriented study identified atractylone as the main active constituent in Atractylodes macrocephala rhizoma oil and linked its effects to lower TNF-alpha and ROS plus preservation of barrier proteins such as claudin, ZO-1, and occludin.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
What this report cannot establish
- A reported constituent percentage does not establish an effective human therapeutic dose or the amount absorbed into the body.
- The presence of a constituent does not guarantee a clinical benefit, rash treatment or sleep improvement from a custom blend.
- An unflagged concern or missing use limit does not establish safety for ingestion, inhalation, skin exposure or a particular person.
- A candidate constituent interaction does not establish that two oils amplify one another at the selected proportions.
- Constituent descriptors alone do not establish a precise top, heart or base lifetime in a finished blend.
Known data gaps (6)
- Human clinical evidence for isolated atractylone was not verified in this pass.
- Despite extensive preclinical literature, constituent-specific safety thresholds and topical-use guidance remain unclear.
- Some mechanistic claims in the newer review literature are broad syntheses of mixed model systems and should be interpreted as preclinical, not consumer-use proof.
- 2026-07-13 re-verification (worker c3): a targeted search for atractylone (CAS 6989-21-5) IFRA dermal limit and sensitization/phototoxicity data found only supplier identity pages and a systematic review noting limited safety-threshold evidence; no numeric dermal limit located, dermal_limit_verified remains false.
- The numeric dermal reference lacks source provenance; a verified flag alone is insufficient.
- Some findings do not record an explicit exposure route; consult the linked study before applying them to a use.