Carapa guaianensis seed oil, commonly known as andiroba oil, is a vegetable oil extracted from the seeds of the Carapa guaianensis tree, a tropical species native to the Amazon and other regions of South America. This oil has been traditionally used by indigenous populations for its medicinal, cosmetic, and insect-repellent properties. The oil is thick in consistency and ranges in color from yellow to light brown, with a characteristic slightly bitter odor.
Chemical Composition and Structure
Carapa guaianensis seed oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, including oleic acid (45-60%), linoleic acid (8-13%), and palmitic acid (25-30%). It also contains limonoids, terpenes, and other bioactive compounds that contribute to its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and insect-repellent properties. These components not only nourish the skin but also provide protection against pathogens and mosquitoes. The lipid profile of the oil makes it an effective emollient suitable for various cosmetic and therapeutic applications.
Physical Properties
Carapa guaianensis seed oil is a dense, viscous oil with a melting point that varies depending on purity and processing, typically around 25°C. It solidifies at lower temperatures but can easily be liquefied with slight heating. The oil is soluble in lipophilic solvents like oils and lipids but insoluble in water. It has a distinctive, slightly bitter odor, a result of the natural compounds present in the oil.
Production Process
Carapa guaianensis seed oil is obtained using both traditional and modern methods. The traditional process used by local populations includes the following steps:
Seed Collection: Mature seeds are harvested from nuts that have fallen from the trees. Each nut contains between 4 and 16 seeds.
Drying: The seeds are dried to reduce moisture content, improving preservation and facilitating oil extraction.
Extraction: In traditional methods, the dried seeds are boiled and then crushed to release the oil. Modern techniques include mechanical pressing or solvent extraction for higher yields and purity.
Filtration: The crude oil is filtered to remove solid impurities. The final product is a natural oil, rich in active principles, ready for use in various industries.
Applications
Medical: Andiroba oil is used in traditional medicine for treating inflammation, joint pain, wounds, and insect bites. Due to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, it is often applied as a natural remedy for arthritis and muscle inflammations.
Cosmetics: Carapa guaianensis seed oil is an excellent emollient and is commonly used in skincare and haircare products. Its moisturizing and regenerative properties make it effective for treating dry, cracked, or damaged skin. It is also used in scalp treatments to prevent dandruff and promote hair growth. The bioactive compounds in the oil also serve as a natural mosquito repellent in lotions and creams.
INCI Functions:
Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment by 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.
Denaturant. The ionic or polar molecules of this ingredient included in formulations that interact with protein groups, modulate the properties of the solution to suit specific needs.
CAS: 352458-32-3 906347-26-0
Food: Although not commonly used as a food oil, andiroba oil is sometimes employed in traditional South American cuisine for medicinal purposes.
Industrial: Andiroba oil is also used in the production of artisanal soaps and insect-repellent candles, leveraging its natural mosquito-repellent properties.
Environmental and Safety Considerations
Carapa guaianensis seed oil is generally regarded as safe for topical use. However, as with all natural oils, it should be used according to established guidelines to avoid potential allergic reactions or skin irritations, especially in individuals with sensitive skin or allergies.
Due to its bioactive properties, proper use is important, and contact with mucous membranes should be avoided.
Environmentally, it is crucial that the oil is sourced sustainably to ensure that extraction does not contribute to deforestation or depletion of natural resources. Sustainable harvesting of andiroba seeds can support local economies without harming forest ecosystems.
Applications of Carapa guianensis plant
- Medicinal: Carapa guianensis oil is applied topically to relieve skin irritation and inflammation (1), and orally to treat fever and parasites (2).
It was also found a hepatoprotective effect due to the limonoids present in the seeds and flowers of this plant (3).
- Cosmetic: Used in soaps, lotions, and creams for its moisturizing and skin-protective qualities.
INCI Functions:
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.
- Industrial: The wood is used in carpentry and construction due to its strong and resistant nature.
For more information:
Carapa guaianensis
References__________________________________________________________________________
(1) Henriques Md, Penido C. The therapeutic properties of Carapa guianensis. Curr Pharm Des. 2014;20(6):850-6. doi: 10.2174/13816128113199990048.
Abstract. Carapa guianensis Aublet (Meliaceae), also known as andiroba, is used in popular medicine in Brazil and other countries encompassing the Amazon rainforest. Virtually all parts of the andiroba tree are utilized, including the seed's oil, which is employed to treat inflammation and infections. The medicinal properties of C. guianensis have been attributed to the presence of limonoids, which are tetranortriterpenoids. We have previously demonstrated that the oil obtained from C. guianensis seeds contains different tetranortriterpenoids, including 6α-acetoxygedunin, 7-deacetoxy-7-oxogedunin, andirobin, gedunin and methyl-angolensate. The seeds oil and this fraction of tetranortriterpenoids present marked anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties, by inhibiting edema formation in different experimental models in rodents, via the impairment of signaling pathways triggered by histamine, bradykinin and platelet-activating factor. Tetranortriterpenoids also impaired the production of inflammatory mediators that trigger leukocyte infiltration into the inflammatory site, including the eosinophilotactic mediators interleukin (IL)-5 and CCL11/eotaxin, as well as the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-1β. This phenomenon seems to depend on the inhibition of nuclear factor κB (NFκB) activation. We have further demonstrated that each one of the five tetranortriterpenoids listed above presented inhibitory effects on the activation of different cell populations, including mast cells, eosinophils and T lymphocytes, through which they impaired allergy and inflammation. This review will discuss the therapeutic effects of C. guianensis oil and its compounds, focusing on the scientific evidences that support its traditional use in inflammatory conditions and its anti-allergic properties.
Araujo-Lima CF, Fernandes AS, Gomes EM, Oliveira LL, Macedo AF, Antoniassi R, Wilhelm AE, Aiub CAF, Felzenszwalb I. Antioxidant Activity and Genotoxic Assessment of Crabwood (Andiroba, Carapa guianensis Aublet) Seed Oils. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2018 May 2;2018:3246719. doi: 10.1155/2018/3246719.
Abstract. The seed oil of Carapa guianensis (Aublet), a tree from the Meliaceae family commonly known as andiroba, is widely used in Brazilian traditional medicine because of its multiple curative properties against fever and rheumatism and as an anti-inflammatory agent, antibacterial agent, and insect repellant. Since there is no consensus on the best way to obtain the C. guianensis oil and due to its ethnomedicinal properties, the aim of the present research was to evaluate the chemical composition, free-radical scavenging activity, and mutagenic and genotoxicity properties of three C. guianensis oils obtained by different extraction methods. The phenolic contents were evaluated by spectrophotometry. Oil 1 was obtained by pressing the dried seeds at room temperature; oil 2 was obtained by autoclaving, drying, and pressing; oil 3 was obtained by Soxhlet extraction at 30-60°C using petroleum ether. The oil from each process presented differential yields, physicochemical properties, and phenolic contents. Oil 1 showed a higher scavenging activity against the DPPH radical when compared to oils 2 and 3, suggesting a significant antioxidant activity. All oils were shown to be cytotoxic to bacteria and to CHO-K1 and RAW264.7 cells. At noncytotoxic concentrations, oil 2 presented mutagenicity to Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and induced micronuclei in both cell types. Under the same conditions, oil 3 also induced micronucleus formation. However, the present data demonstrated that oil 1, extracted without using high temperatures, was the safest for use as compared to the other two oils, not showing mutagenicity or micronucleus induction.
(2) Oliveira IDSDS, Moragas Tellis CJ, Chagas MDSDS, Behrens MD, Calabrese KDS, Abreu-Silva AL, Almeida-Souza F. Carapa guianensis Aublet (Andiroba) Seed Oil: Chemical Composition and Antileishmanial Activity of Limonoid-Rich Fractions. Biomed Res Int. 2018 Sep 6;2018:5032816. doi: 10.1155/2018/5032816.
Abstract. Leishmaniasis is a complex of diseases caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania and affects millions of people around the world. Several species of plants are used by traditional communities for the treatment of this disease, among which is Carapa guianensis Aubl. (Meliaceae), popularly known as andiroba. The objective of the present work was to conduct a chemical study of C. guianensis seed oil and its limonoid-rich fractions, with the aim of identifying its secondary metabolites, particularly the limonoids, in addition to investigating its anti-Leishmania potential. The chemical analyses of the C. guianensis seed oil and fractions were obtained by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The cytotoxic activity was tested against peritoneal macrophages, and antileishmanial activity was evaluated against promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis. All the C. guianensis seed oil samples analyzed exhibited the same pattern of fatty acids, while the limonoids 7-deacetoxy-7-hydroxygedunin, deacetyldihydrogedunin, deoxygedunin, andirobin, gedunin, 11β-hydroxygedunin, 17-glycolyldeoxygedunin, 6α-acetoxygedunin, and 6α,11β-diacetoxygedunin were identified in the limonoid-rich fractions of the oil. The C. guianensis seed oil did not exhibit antileishmanial activity, and cytotoxicity was higher than 1000 μg/mL. Three limonoid-rich oil fractions demonstrated activity against promastigotes (IC50 of 10.53±0.050, 25.3±0.057, and 56.9±0.043μg/mL) and intracellular amastigotes (IC50 of 27.31±0.091, 78.42±0.086, and 352.2±0.145 μg/mL) of L. amazonensis, as well as cytotoxicity against peritoneal macrophages (CC50 of 78.55±1.406, 139.0±1.523, and 607.7±1.217 μg/mL). The anti-Leishmania activity of the limonoid-rich fractions of C. guianensis can be attributed to the limonoids 11β-hydroxygedunin and 6α,11β-diacetoxygedunin detected in the chemical analysis.
(3) Ninomiya K, Miyazawa S, Ozeki K, Matsuo N, Muraoka O, Kikuchi T, Yamada T, Tanaka R, Morikawa T. Hepatoprotective Limonoids from Andiroba (Carapa guianensis). Int J Mol Sci. 2016 Apr 19;17(4):591. doi: 10.3390/ijms17040591.
Abstract. Three gedunin-type limonoids, gedunin (1), 6α-acetoxygedunin (2), and 7-deacetoxy-7-oxogedunin (3), which were isolated from the seed and flower oils of andiroba (Carapa guianensis Aublet, Meliaceae), exhibited hepatoprotective effects at doses of 25 mg/kg, p.o. against d-galactosamine (d-GalN)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury in mice. To characterize the mechanisms of action of 1-3 and clarify the structural requirements for their hepatoprotective effects, 17 related limonoids (1-17) isolated from the seed and/or flower oils of C. guianensis were examined in in vitro studies assessing their effects on (i) d-GalN-induced cytotoxicity in primary cultured mouse hepatocytes, (ii) LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in mouse peritoneal macrophages, and (iii) tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced cytotoxicity in L929 cells. The mechanisms of action of 1-3 are likely to involve the inhibition of LPS-induced macrophage activation and reduced sensitivity of hepatocytes to TNF-α; however, these compounds did not decrease the cytotoxicity caused by d-GalN. In addition, the structural requirements of limonoids (1-17) for inhibition of LPS-induced NO production in mouse peritoneal macrophages and TNF-α-induced cytotoxicity in L929 cells were evaluated.
