Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil is a natural oil extracted from the seeds of Crambe abyssinica, a plant native to the Mediterranean region and parts of Eastern Africa. It is prized for its high content of long-chain fatty acids, which provide excellent moisturizing and protective benefits for the skin and hair. The oil is lightweight, non-greasy, and quickly absorbed, making it a popular ingredient in skincare, haircare, and cosmetic formulations. Known for its ability to enhance shine and hydration, it is often used in products designed to improve hair manageability and skin softness.
Chemical Composition and Structure
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil is rich in erucic acid, a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid that makes up the majority of its fatty acid profile. Erucic acid contributes to the oil's emollient properties, helping to form a protective barrier on the skin and hair that retains moisture. The oil also contains other beneficial fatty acids, such as oleic acid and linoleic acid, which provide additional conditioning and nourishing effects.
Physical Properties
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil is a pale yellow to golden liquid with a light, non-greasy texture. It is easily absorbed by the skin and hair, providing a smooth, silky feel without leaving an oily residue. The oil has excellent oxidative stability, meaning it is resistant to rancidity and has a long shelf life, making it suitable for various cosmetic and personal care products.
Crambe (Crambe abyssinica Hochst) is an annual herbaceous plant, native to East Africa, belonging to the Brassicaceae family. Its low cost of production and its hardiness, which also withstands adverse climatic conditions, make it an interesting crop, especially for the oil that is obtained from the kernel.
Crambe abyssinica oil is produced from the oilseed crop and is a non-food seed crop. It has a protein, fibre, oleic acid and erucic acid content.
The name defines the structure of the molecule
- "Crambe abyssinica". Refers to a plant, specifically a species of Crambe, which is native to East Africa. It's also known as "Abyssinian mustard".
- "Seed" indicates that the oil is extracted from the seeds of the plant.
- "Oil" refers to the fatty liquid obtained from the seeds.
Description of raw materials used in production
Crambe abyssinica Seeds - These are the primary source of the oil.
Step-by-step summary of industrial chemical synthesis process.
- Harvesting - The Crambe abyssinica seeds are harvested once they reach maturity.
- Cleaning - The seeds are cleaned to remove debris and other impurities.
- Drying - The seeds are dried to reduce moisture content.
- Pressing - The dried seeds are mechanically pressed to extract the oil.
- Refining - The crude oil undergoes refining processes to remove impurities and enhance its quality. This might include decolorizing, deodorizing, and filtering.
- Quality Control - The final product undergoes various quality checks to ensure it meets specifications.
It is in the form of a transparent yellowish liquid with a barely perceptible odour. Soluble in cosmetic esters and fixed oils; insoluble in water.
What it is used for and where
Main uses
Studies have found the potential of this oil as an acaricide and as a tick repellent (1).
Anti-slip agent in plastics or lubricants, nylon and cosmetics (2).
Potential for producing biofuels.
Cosmetics
Skin lubricating and nourishing agent.
Hair conditioning agent. A significant number of ingredients with specific and targeted purposes may co-exist in hair shampoo formulations: cleansers, conditioners, thickeners, matting agents, sequestering agents, fragrances, preservatives, special additives. However, the indispensable ingredients are the cleansers and conditioners as they are necessary and sufficient for hair cleansing and manageability. The others act as commercial and non-essential auxiliaries such as: appearance, fragrance, colouring, etc. Hair conditioning agents have the task of increasing shine, manageability and volume, and reducing static electricity, especially after treatments such as colouring, ironing, waving, drying and brushing. They are, in practice, dispersants that may contain cationic surfactants, thickeners, emollients, polymers. The typology of hair conditioning agents includes: intensive conditioners, instant conditioners, thickening conditioners, drying conditioners. They can perform their task generally accompanied by other different ingredients.
Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.
The enzyme omega-6 fatty acid desaturase (FAD2) is known to be involved in the biosynthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids (3).
| Appearance | Pale yellow to golden yellow colored liquid |
| Saponification Value | 160 - 175 (mgKOH/g) |
| Refraction Index | 1.465 - 1.475 @ 20°C |
| Specific Gravity | 0.900 - 0.925 @ 20°C (g/mL) |
| Peroxide | ≤ 5.0 (meq O2/kg) |
| Iodine | 85 - 95 (g I2/100g) |
| Acid value | ≤ 0.5 (mgKOH/g) |
