INCI name (PCPC) : Hydnocarpus wightianus

CAS No: 8001-74-9

Iodine Value: 98-103

Family: Achariaceae

Appearance/form: Pale yellow/ liquid

Saponification value: 198-204

Introduction 

Chaulmoogra oil is extracted from the seeds of the semideciduous tree that grows in tropical forests, found in South East Asia, India and parts of Africa.(1)

From the late nineteenth century until the 1940s, chaulmoogra oil was widely used in Indian and Chinese traditional medicine as a cure for leprosy. Chaulmoogric treatment was studied extensively in laboratories throughout the Western world, after it was brought to England by British surgeon, Frederick J Mouat. It was used as a mainstream treatment for leprosy until the introduction of sulfone drugs and antibiotics. (2)

It is however, still used in skin care formulations to treat eczema, vitiligo and psoriasis (3). 

Physical and Chemical Characteristics 

The trees bear fruit usually in August and September, which are brown berries containing 10-16 seeds within the pulp. The kernels contain 63% of pale yellow oil, which after extraction is semi solid at room temperature. It does not have a very strong odour, and its tastes acrid and bitter (4). The active ingredient that produces antimicrobial activity has been identified as Hydnocarpic acid, a lipophilic compound (5).  

Health Benefits of Internal Use

Physicians used to prepare ethyl esters from the oil to be used intravenously for the treatment of leprosy patients, in the 1920s. This was discontinued with the discovery of more effective drugs. . Currently the oil is used for application on the skin only, and is rarely ingested (6).

Skin and Hair Care Benefits 

Chaulmoogra oil is a common ingredient in products meant for sensitive and irritated skin, as it moisturizes the skin and supports its immunity against bacterial infections, due to the action of their constituent cyclopentenyl fatty acids.   It is also known to be beneficial in cases of hair loss and dandruff. It helps to soothe atopic and inflamed skin in eczema,  psoriasis and acne (7). 

Conclusion 

The topical application of Chaulmoogra oil helps to improve skin conditions and is an active ingredient in many cosmetic formulations.  

References 

1.      Ref : http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Jangli%20Almond.html

2.      Dos Santos FS, de Souza LP, Siani AC. O óleo de chaulmoogra como conhecimento científico: a construção de uma terapêutica antileprótica [Chaulmoogra oil as scientific knowledge: the construction of a treatment for leprosy]. Hist Cienc Saude Manguinhos. 2008;15(1):29-47.

3.      Ref: https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-621/chaulmoogra

4.       Sengupta, A.; Gupta, J. K.; Dutta, J.; Ghosh, A. (Jun 1973). "The component fatty acids of chaulmoogra oil". J Sci Food Agric. 24 (6): 669–74.

5.      Jacobsen, PL; Levy, L (March 1973). "Mechanism by which hydnocarpic acid inhibits mycobacterial multiplication". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 3 (3): 373–9

6.      Ref : Simpkin, Alice (December 1928). "The Treatment of Leprosy". British Journal of Nursing: 313–4. https://web.archive.org/web/20120425083148/http:/www.leprosyhistory.org/cgi-bin/showdetails.pl?ID=437&type=lep