Adansonia Digitata Oil  is a product of natural origin derived from the seeds of the baobab tree belonging to the Malvaceae family.

The name describes the structure of the molecule:

• Adansonia Digitata is the scientific name for the baobab tree, a tree native to Africa known for its longevity and nutritious fruits.
• Oil indicates that the product is a concentrated form obtained from processing the seeds of Adansonia Digitata.

Industrial Production Process

• Seed collection. Adansonia Digitata seeds are harvested from the mature fruits of the baobab tree, which naturally crack open when dried.
• Cleaning. After harvesting, the seeds are cleaned to remove any fruit debris and impurities.
• Drying. The seeds are dried to reduce their moisture content, facilitating the oil extraction process.
• Oil extraction. Oil extraction can be achieved through cold pressing to preserve the oil’s nutritional properties, or via solvent extraction. Cold pressing is preferred to maintain the quality and purity of the oil.
• Filtration. The extracted oil is filtered to remove solid particles and impurities, ensuring a pure final product.
• Quality control. Adansonia Digitata oil undergoes quality testing to confirm its purity, fatty acid profile, and the absence of contaminants.

What it is used for and where

Adansonia Digitata is valued for its moisturizing and nourishing properties (1). It is rich in essential fatty acids, such as linoleic acid and oleic acid, which are important for maintaining skin elasticity and hydration. Baobab seed extract also contains natural antioxidants that help protect the skin from free radical damage. It is commonly used in cosmetics for formulations intended to nourish and rejuvenate the skin, such as creams, lotions, and masks. It promotes softer, younger-looking skin, improving the skin barrier and increasing moisture retention.

Cosmetics - INCI Functions

• Skin conditioning agent - Emollient. Emollients have the characteristic of enhancing the skin barrier through a source of exogenous lipids that adhere to the skin, improving barrier properties by filling gaps in intercorneocyte clusters to improve hydration while protecting against inflammation. In practice, they have the ability to create a barrier that prevents transepidermal water loss.  Emollients are described as degreasing or refreshing additives that improve the lipid content of the upper layers of the skin by preventing degreasing and drying of the skin. The problem with emollients is that many have a strong lipophilic character and are identified as occlusive ingredients; they are oily and fatty materials that remain on the skin surface and reduce transepidermal water loss. In cosmetics, emollients and moisturisers are often considered synonymous with humectants and occlusives.
• 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.

Main uses and benefits of Adansonia Digitata

Moisturizing Properties. Rich in essential fatty acids, baobab seed extract helps to keep the skin hydrated, improving its elasticity and reducing dryness.

Antioxidant Effects. Contains natural antioxidants such as vitamins C and E (2), which protect the skin from free radical damage and promote a youthful appearance.

Skin Regeneration. It promotes cell regeneration (3), helping to repair damaged skin and promote a more even and radiant complexion.

Deep Nourishment. It provides intense nourishment to the skin due to its rich composition of vitamins and minerals, improving the overall appearance of the skin.

Soothing Effects. Baobab extract can have soothing properties, helping to calm irritated skin and reduce redness.

Versatile Applications. This extract can be used in a variety of skincare products, including creams, lotions, serums, and lip balms, leveraging its numerous skin benefits.

Medical

Adansonia Digitata is believed to be a source of natural antioxidants and hypoglycemic agent (4) and can be used as a nutraceutical inhibitor of alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase, angiotensin-converting enzyme (5).

Safety

This ingredient is generally considered safe.

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Silva ML, Rita K, Bernardo MA, Mesquita MF, Pintão AM, Moncada M. Adansonia digitata L. (Baobab) Bioactive Compounds, Biological Activities, and the Potential Effect on Glycemia: A Narrative Review. Nutrients. 2023 May 1;15(9):2170. doi: 10.3390/nu15092170. 

Abstract. Adansonia digitata L. fruit, also known as baobab, has been used traditionally throughout the world for its medicinal properties. Ethnopharmacological uses of various plant parts have been reported for hydration, antipyretic, antiparasitic, antitussive, and sudorific properties and also in the treatment of diarrhea and dysentery in many African countries. Several studies have revealed that in addition to these applications, baobab has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antimicrobial activities. The health benefits of baobab have been attributed to its bioactive compounds, namely phenols, flavonoids, proanthocyanins, tannins, catechins, and carotenoids. Baobab fruit is also an important source of vitamin C and micronutrients, including zinc, potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium, and protein, which may reduce nutritional deficiencies. Despite scientific studies revealing that this fruit has a wide diversity of bioactive compounds with beneficial effects on health, there is a gap in the review of information about their mechanisms of action and critical analysis of clinical trials exploring, in particular, their effect on glycemia regulation. This work aims to present a current overview of the bioactive compounds, biological activities, and effects of A. digitata fruit on blood glucose, highlighting their potential mechanisms of action and effects on glycemia regulation, evaluated in recent animal and human trials.

(2) Braca A, Sinisgalli C, De Leo M, Muscatello B, Cioni PL, Milella L, Ostuni A, Giani S, Sanogo R. Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Activities of Adansonia digitata L. (Baobab) from Mali, as a Source of Health-Promoting Compounds. Molecules. 2018 Nov 27;23(12):3104. doi: 10.3390/molecules23123104. 

Abstract. Background: Adansonia digitata L. (Malvaceae), also known as baobab, is a tree attracting recent interest especially due to the high nutritional value of the fruit pulp. However, few studies are reported on the secondary metabolite content, showing high variability depending on the geographic region....Conclusions: This study confirmed the variability of baobab with different origins and indicated Malian species baobab as a promising source of health-promoting substances.

(3) Zeitoun H, Michael-Jubeli R, El Khoury R, Baillet-Guffroy A, Tfayli A, Salameh D, Lteif R. Skin lightening effect of natural extracts coming from Senegal botanical biodiversity. Int J Dermatol. 2020 Feb;59(2):178-183. doi: 10.1111/ijd.14699. 

(4) Rita K, Bernardo MA, Silva ML, Brito J, Mesquita MF, Pintão AM, Moncada M. Adansonia digitata L. (Baobab Fruit) Effect on Postprandial Glycemia in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2022 Jan 17;14(2):398. doi: 10.3390/nu14020398. 

Abstract. Baobab fruits have been traditionally used in Africa due to their therapeutic properties attributed to their high polyphenol content. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of baobab fruit on postprandial glycaemia in healthy adults and to measure its bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity. The study (NCT05140629) was conducted on 31 healthy subjects. The participants were randomly allocated in the control group (oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT); n = 16) and in the intervention group (OGTT, followed by administration of 250 mL baobab aqueous extract (BAE); n = 15). Total phenols, proanthocyanins, hydrolyzable tannins, and antioxidant activity (FRAP, DPPH, ABTS, and inhibition of O2•- and NO• methods) were quantified. Repeated measures ANOVA of mixed type and independent samples t-test were used. Glycemia incremental area under the curve (p = 0.012) and glucose maximum concentration (p = 0.029) was significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control group. The BAE revealed high total contents of phenols, proanthocyanins, and hydrolyzable tannins, as well as a strong capacity to scavenge superoxide anions and nitric oxide radicals and a high antioxidant activity. In conclusion, this study encourages the use of this food component as a promising source of natural antioxidants and a hypoglycemic agent under glucose load acute conditions.

(5) Cicolari S, Dacrema M, Tsetegho Sokeng AJ, Xiao J, Atchan Nwakiban AP, Di Giovanni C, Santarcangelo C, Magni P, Daglia M. Hydromethanolic Extracts from Adansonia digitata L. Edible Parts Positively Modulate Pathophysiological Mechanisms Related to the Metabolic Syndrome. Molecules. 2020 Jun 21;25(12):2858. doi: 10.3390/molecules25122858.

Abstract. Metabolic syndrome includes a cluster of risk factors for many pathological conditions, including hyperglycemia, abdominal obesity, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. Adansonia digitata L. (also known as baobab) is used in traditional African Medicine and recent studies showed that it improves the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanisms of action associated with the beneficial effects of extracts from the edible parts of baobab (fruit pulp, leaves, raw and toasted seeds), evaluating their inhibitory activity against: alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase, angiotensin-converting enzyme, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, and pancreatic lipase. Baobab fruit pulp and leaf extracts resulted to be the most active ones and were then tested on the differentiation process of SW-872 human liposarcoma cells to mature adipocytes. The addition of these latter extracts did not affect triglyceride accumulation, indicating a neutral impact on this parameter. The findings here reported help to explain the growing amount of evidence on the biological properties of baobab and provide suggestions about their use in food and nutraceutical fields.