Carapa guaianensis seed powder is derived from the seeds of the Carapa guaianensis tree, commonly known as andiroba, native to the Amazon rainforest and other tropical regions of South America. The seeds of the tree are rich in bioactive compounds that have been traditionally used by indigenous populations for their medicinal and insect-repellent properties. The powder is obtained by grinding the dried seeds into a fine or coarse powder and is used in various applications, ranging from cosmetics to medicinal treatments. It is valued for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and skin-soothing properties.
Chemical Composition and Structure
Carapa guaianensis seed powder contains a variety of bioactive compounds, including limonoids, triterpenoids, fatty acids, and flavonoids. These compounds contribute to the powder's broad range of therapeutic properties. Limonoids such as andirobin provide anti-inflammatory and insect-repellent effects, while the triterpenoids and fatty acids offer emollient and moisturizing benefits for the skin. The powder also contains proteins, polysaccharides, and micronutrients, making it a multifunctional ingredient in health and beauty formulations.
Physical Properties
Carapa guaianensis seed powder is typically light to dark brown in color and has a slightly bitter, earthy scent. The texture of the powder can vary from fine to coarse depending on the method of grinding and processing. It is insoluble in water but can be mixed into oils, creams, and lotions for topical applications. The powder has a high oil content, contributing to its emollient properties when applied to the skin.
Production Process
The production of Carapa guaianensis seed powder follows several key steps:
Seed Collection: The seeds are harvested from the fruit of the Carapa guaianensis tree after they fall naturally. Each fruit contains several seeds, which are collected and prepared for drying.
Drying: The seeds are thoroughly dried, either by sun-drying or through controlled drying processes, to reduce moisture content and prevent spoilage.
Grinding: Once dried, the seeds are ground into a fine or coarse powder. Traditional methods involve manual grinding, but modern techniques may include mechanical grinding for more consistent particle size distribution.
Sieving and Packaging: The ground powder is sieved to ensure uniform particle size, then packaged for use in various formulations, such as cosmetics or medicinal treatments.
Applications
Medical: Carapa guaianensis seed powder is used in traditional medicine for treating skin conditions, wounds, and inflammation. It has natural anti-inflammatory properties that make it effective for alleviating muscle pain and arthritis. It is also used topically to promote the healing of cuts, bruises, and insect bites.
Cosmetics: In the cosmetic industry, the powder is used in formulations for skincare products such as body scrubs, masks, and creams. Its exfoliating properties help remove dead skin cells while nourishing the skin with essential fatty acids. The bioactive compounds in the powder provide additional benefits like anti-aging, hydration, and protection against environmental damage. Its use in haircare products helps with scalp health and can aid in the reduction of dandruff.
INCI Functions:
Abrasive agent. It contains abrasive particles to remove stains or biofilm that accumulate on the stratum corneum or teeth. Baking soda, kieselguhr, silica and many others have abrasive properties. Peeling or exfoliating products used in dermatology or cosmetic applications contain abrasive agents in the form of synthetic microspheres, however, these microspheres, or abrasive particles may not be biodegradable and create pollution in aquatic ecosystems.
CAS: 352458-32-3 906347-26-0
Insect Repellent: Thanks to its limonoid content, Carapa guaianensis seed powder is often used as a natural insect repellent in lotions and creams, providing protection against mosquitoes and other pests without the need for synthetic chemicals.
Traditional and Alternative Medicine: In traditional practices, the powder is applied as a poultice or paste to treat skin ailments and joint inflammation. It is also used in holistic treatments for its detoxifying properties when applied externally.
Environmental and Safety Considerations
Carapa guaianensis seed powder is generally regarded as safe for topical use, especially in cosmetic and medicinal applications. However, as with all plant-derived ingredients, it should be used in accordance with established guidelines to avoid potential allergic reactions, particularly in individuals with sensitive skin.
Sustainable harvesting practices are crucial to ensure that the extraction of seeds does not negatively impact the environment, especially in fragile ecosystems like the Amazon rainforest. The use of sustainably sourced seed powder supports local economies and helps preserve biodiversity.
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.
