Pracaxi Oil
Saponification Value (mg KOH/g oil): 175 - 195
SAP Multiplier for NaOH: 0.132
SAP Multiplier for KOH: 0.185
Origin: Central and South America
INCI: Pentaclethara macroloba (Pracaxi) Oil
Extraction Method: Expeller Pressed
Shelf Life: 18 Months
Commonly referred to as ‘miracle oil’ Pracaxi, is an exciting oil with much potential in skin care and medicinal uses. It has a very high content of behenic and lignoceric acid, which accounts for its moisturising properties. The plant is purported to have anti-bacterial (Oliveira et al 2013), anti fungal properties. The seeds and bark have multiple medicinal uses. It is used against snakebites, ulcers and insect bites. The bark is a remedy for dysentery.
Ecology
Pracaxi oil is found in the regions from Nicaragua to Amazonia, including the Guyanas and some of the West Indies. It tends to grow to about 35m high and 1.3m in diameter and lives near rivers and in swampy areas.
The seeds of the tree are edible and also produce a cooking oil (owala oil), widely used in Africa. Seeds contain 45-48% lipid, 27-28% protein and 45-48% carbohydrates. The bark is a source of tannins.
As a nitrogen fixing pioneer and has great potential for forest regeneration and reclamation of degraded lands.
The oil is extracted from the seeds of the tree and harvested from February to May each year. It is not cultivated so the supply is limited to harvesting during its harvest season. The pods of the tree are dried and boiled which releases the oil. About 35 fruits are needed to obtain one kilo of seeds.
Fatty Acid Composition
At 19%, pracaxi oil has the highest known concentration of Behenic acid, this gives it excellent moisturizing properties. Studies have reported about the insecticidal ability of pracaxi oil, specifically against the mosquito Aedes aegypti, which is the carrier of yellow fever and dengue. Fractions isolated from the oil have important bioactive compounds with anti-hemorrhagic activity, which can be used in the treatment of snakebites, or possibly as a new drug for the treatment of other diseases.
Pracaxi Oil Fatty Acid Composition
Traditional uses
Traditionally the oil is used by Amazonian people to treat stretch marks on young adults and pregnant women. The bark is ground up into a paste and used as a poultice to reduce the toxicity of snake, insect and scorpion bites. Hair is treated treated with praxaci oil to enhances shine and manageability, this is due in great part to the high levels of behenic acid found in the oil. Pracaxi oil has been called ‘miracle’ oil for its multitude of uses (Banov D, 2014).
Use in Cosmetics
Skincare
Pracaxi Oil is indicated in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products designed for wound healing and scar reduction. As one study found, “Application of a compounded anhydrous silicone base containing pracaxi oil alone or in combination with other active substances led to considerable improvements in wound healing and scar attributes and is a potentially useful option in the treatment of surgical, traumatic, or burn wounds and scars.” (Banov D, 2014) Therefore it may be helpful for skin affected by non pathogenic disease (psoriasis, eczema, acne).
Melanin, the natural pigment in skin, causes darkening as a response to sun exposure (Coelho SG et al, 2015) and scar formation (Chadwick S et al 2012). Reduction in melanin production reduces hyper-pigementation, thus brightening and evening out skin tone. Studies have shown that used at 3% it was effective at reducing melanin content in 29% of subjects after 9 days of treatment. It would therefore be useful in products for skin discolouration, and to help fade scar tissue.
Using pracaxi has been found to ‘increase the density of collagen networks’ and increase hyaluronic acid content in the skin so would also be useful in ‘plumping’ products aimed at mature skin types (Beracacare).
Hair Care
Beraca completed studies comparing hair treatments made with pracaxi oil and those made with traditional cationic materials and concluded that 3% pracaxi oil was similar to traditional methods of conditioning the hair
The significant presence of behenic acid in the active Beracare BBA Organic makes it effective in hair conditioning, improving its combability and softness. When compared to traditional conditioning agents in the same concentration, it is able to maintain an equivalent performance in the spreading, rinsing and shine attributes.
Dosage / Usual Concentration
Creams, creamy lotions and gels: 1 to 5% (3% in products for hyperpigmentation, scar treatment products and anti-ageing products)
Conditioners and hair products: 3 to 7%
Bar soaps: 3 to 7%
Makeup: 0.5 to 5%
References
Antimicrobial activity of amazonian medicinal plants. Oliveira AA, Segovia JF, Sousa VY, Mata EC, Gonçalves MC, Bezerra RM, Junior PO, Kanzaki LI.(2013) Pentaclethra macroloba inhibited the growth of Klebsiella ozaenae and Acinetobacter bauman.
Antihemorrhagic, antinucleolytic and other antiophidian properties of the aqueous extract from Pentaclethra macroloba.Jocivânia O da Silva, Juliana S Coppede, Vanessa C Fernandes, Carolina D Sant’ana, Fábio K Ticli, Maurício V Mazzi, José R Giglio, Paulo S Pereira, Andreimar M Soares, Suely V Sampaio
Banov D, Banov F, Bassani AS. Case series: the effectiveness of Fatty acids from pracaxi oil in a topical silicone base for scar and wound therapy. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2014;4(2):259-269. doi:10.1007/s13555-014-0065-y
Chadwick S, Heath R, Shah M. Abnormal pigmentation within cutaneous scars: A complication of wound healing. Indian J Plast Surg. 2012;45(2):403-411. doi:10.4103/0970-0358.101328
Coelho SG, Yin L, Smuda C, Mahns A, Kolbe L, Hearing VJ. Photobiological implications of melanin photoprotection after UVB-induced tanning of human skin but not UVA-induced tanning. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2015;28(2):210-216. doi:10.1111/pcmr.12331
BeracaCare BBA Datasheet