Calophyllum inophyllum is also known as Alexandrian laurel, Balltree, Beach touriga, Borneo-mahogany, Indian doomba oil tree, Indian-laurel, Laurelwood, Red poon, Tatin touriga, and Tacamahac-tree has a wide variety of applications in Polynesian cultures. The oil is extracted from the fruit kernels, as well as poultices made from leaves and flowers, are commonly used for traditional medicine. The chemicals responsible for medicinal properties are callophylloloid and inophyllum in addition to the other complex polyphenols. They have proven benefits to health, such as anticancer, anti-HIV, antiviral, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antineoplastic, antiplatelet, antipsychotics, antioxidant, antiaging, antileukemic, antimalarial, anticoagulant, antifeedant, analgesic, photoprotective, molluscicidal, and piscicidal agents. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, photoprotective and wound healing properties.
Most of the bioactive properties of tamanu oil are attributed to oil composition including the presence of resinous compounds in tamanu oil beside common fatty acids ( alpha linoleic acid, palmatic acid, stearic acid), which constitutes a unique characteristic of this healing oil. This oil is especially recommended for the cure of all kinds of dermal issues (burns, dermatoses, eczema, acne, psoriasis, chilblains, skin cracks, diabetic sores, hemorrhoids, dry skin, etc.). Due to its calming and relieving pain effects, the oil is used in massages, for rheumatisms and sciatica soothing, and also highly appreciated for wound healing and analgesic properties as well.
Some of the benefits include- it acts as antioxidant, provides sunprotection, helps in healing wounds adn broken skin, antibacterial, antifungal, reduces scarring, eases minor burns and sun burns. Since the oil is made from nuts, people allergic to treenuts might feel sensitive to this oil.
In such suitcases it is recommended to do a patch test before using the oil directly on the skin. Otherwise this oil makes an excellent addition to your daily care routine.
References
- Tamanu (Calophyllum inophyllum) – the African, Asian, Polynesian and Pacific Panacea. Dweck, A.C.; Meadows, T, International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2000, 24 (6): 341–348.
- David Febrilliant Susanto etal. Calophyllum inophyllum: Beneficial Phytochemicals, Their Uses, and Identification. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86991
- Phila Raharivelomanana etal. Tamanu oil and skin active properties: from traditional to modern cosmetic uses. OCLVolume 25,no:5, September 2018.
- Ansel JL etal. Biological activity of Polynesian Calophyllum inophyllum oil extract on human skin cells. Planta Medica 82(11–12): 961–966.
- Yimdjo MC et al. Antimicrobial and cytotoxic agents from Calophyllum inophyllum. Phytochemistry 2004; 65(20):2789–2795.
- Saravanan R et al. Antimicrobial activity of various extracts from various parts of Calophyllum inophyllum L. J Appl Pharma Sciences 2011; 1:1,2.
- Bhalla TN et al. Calophyllolide—a new non- steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. Indian J Med Res 1980; 72:762–765.
- What Can Tamanu Butter Do For You? – Plant Guru (theplantguru.com).
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- Cytoprotective effect against UV-induced DNA damage and oxidative stress: role of new biological UV filter Eur J Pharm Sci, 2007; Mar;30(3-4):203-10
- Anticancer Activity and Molecular Mechanism of Polyphenol Rich Calophyllum inophyllum Fruit Extract in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells. Nutr Cancer Nov-Dec 2017; 69(8):1308-1324.
- Ansel JL et al. Biological activity of Polynesian Calophyllum inophyllum oil extract on human skin cells. Planta Medica, 2016, 82(11–12): 961–966.
- Spino C et al. Anti-HIV coumarins from Calophyllum seed oil. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 1998 Dec 15;8(24):3475-8.
- The Wound Healing and Antibacterial Activity of Five Ethnomedical Calophyllum inophyllum Oils: An Alternative Therapeutic Strategy to Treat Infected Wounds. PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0138602 September 25, 201.
- Frontiers in Pharmacology: “The Enigma of Bioactivity and Toxicity of Botanical Oils for Skin Care.” NHS: “Contact dermatitis – diagnosis.”
- OCL: “Tamanu oil and skin active properties: from traditional to modern cosmetic uses.”