Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) (Eucalyptus globulus)

Eucalyptus globulus leaves and derived products contain a distinctive profile dominated by volatile and bioactive compounds rather than conventional macronutrients. Key bioactive: 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) is the primary constituent, comprising 60–85% of the essential oil by weight, with concentrations of approximately 20–30 mg/g in dried leaf material. Flavonoids present include quercetin, rutin, and hyperoside at approximately 5–15 mg/g dry weight total. Tannins (ellagitannins and condensed tannins) contribute 5–12% of dry leaf weight. Phenolic acids include gallic acid, caffeic acid, and chlorogenic acid at 1–8 mg/g dry weight. Terpenoids beyond eucalyptol include alpha-pinene (~2–5% of essential oil), limonene (~1–3%), and globulol (~1–3%). Macronutrient profile of dried leaf: crude fiber 15–25% dry weight, crude protein 5–10% dry weight (limited digestibility), crude fat 2–5% dry weight (largely essential oil fraction). Minerals detected: potassium (~8–12 mg/g dry weight), calcium (~10–18 mg/g dry weight), magnesium (~2–4 mg/g dry weight), iron (~0.1–0.3 mg/g dry weight). Vitamin E (tocopherols) present at trace levels (~0.1–0.5 mg/g). Bioavailability note: eucalyptol is highly bioavailable via inhalation and oral routes due to its lipophilic nature; polyphenol bioavailability is moderate and subject to gut microbial metabolism; the leaf is not consumed directly as food in standard diets but used medicinally as tea, tincture, or essential oil. Essential oil is toxic if ingested undiluted. Data is most robust for essential oil composition; mineral and polyphenol data reflects dried leaf studies of variable geographic origin.