Baobab
Other Names: Abebrødstræ, Adansonia, Adansonia bahoba, Adansonia baobab, Adansonia digitata, Adansonia situla, Adansonia somalensis, Adansonsia sphaerocarpa, Adansonia sulcata, Adansonie d' Afrique, Affenbrotbaum, African Baobab, Afrikaanse Kremetart, Afrikanischer Baobab, Albero Bottiglia, Albero di Mille Anni, Apebroodboom, Apenbroodboom, Arbre à Palabre, Arbre Bouteille, Arbre de Mille Ans, Bao Báp Châu Phi, Baob, Baoba, Baobab Africain, Baobaba, Baobabu, Baobab Afrykanski, Baobab Agaci, Baobab del África, Baobab Africain, Baobab Africano, Baobab de Mahajanga, Baobab de Mozambique, Baobab Fruit, Baobab Milk, Baobab of Mahajanga, Baobab Prstnatý, Baobab Seed, Baobab Seed Oil, Baobab Tree, Baobab Wlasciwy, Baobab Yemisi, Baovola, Bawbab, Boab, Boaboa, Boringy, Bottle Tree, Boy, Bozobe, Calebassier du Sénégal, Cream-Tartar Tree, Dead Rat Tree, Dton Baobab, Ethiopian Sour Bread, Fruit de Baobab, Graine de Baobab, Gros Mapou, Harilik Ahvileivapuu, Hou Mian Bao Shu, Huile de Graines de Baobab, Imbondeiro, Judas Fruit, Judas Fruit Trees, Kremetart, Kremetartboom, Lait de Baobab, Maymun Ekmegi Agaci, Mboio, Mboy, Monkey Bread Tree, Noce d'Egitto, Pain de Singe, Rainiala, Reniala, Ringy, Sefo, Shagar El Bawbab, Shagar Khubz El Qurud, Sour Gourd, Upside-Down Tree, Vanoa, Vontana.
Baobab (Adansonia digitata) is a tree native to certain tropical regions in Africa, including South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique. Baobab trees produce fruit with a powdery pulp found to contain high amounts of vitamin C. Often consumed as a food or added to beverages, baobab fruit is sometimes used for medicinal purposes. Inside the fruit is where the Seeds are found. These are simply cold-pressed and in a very straightforward, natural process Baobab oil is gained.
Special Precautions of Baobab
- Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) warns in a strongly-worded statement against drinking baobab oil, saying it contains substances that have carcinogenic effects. TFDA expert notes that the use of baobab oil as food is limited by the presence of Cyclopropene fatty acids, one of the anti-nutritionals that are toxic to humans, who consume unrefined baobab oil.The food and drug watchdog says baobab oil contains high degree of Cyclopropenoid fatty acids (CPFA) which are dangerous to human health. Baobab oil contains CPFA at the range between 10 and 12.8 per cent, depending on the nature of a baobab product. The level of CPFA, which cannot harm (tolerate limit) consumers of baobab oil, is 0.4 per cent. According to TFDA, people who consume/drink baobab oil are at risk of developing cancer. “According to laboratory tests, mixing baobab oil with animal feeds has many adverse health effects. In animals this includes retarded growth, decreased egg production in hens and disruption of smooth functioning of enzymes. Similar side effects could also face human beings consuming/drinking baobab oil,” said TFDA director-general Hiiti Sillo in a statement. Small and medium-scale entrepreneurs (SMEs) and vendors involved in the baobab oil business claim that a dose of baobab oil normally administered using a tea-spoon is highly potent in treating various conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, obesity and abdominal ailments. But Mr Sillo said after testing the baobab oil it was found to contain harmful chemicals, which should not be orally taken by human beings, until the chemical was extracted. TFDA says there are two ways of reducing the level of Cyclopropenoic fatty acids (CPFA) from baobab oil - one is through boiling the baobab oil at the temperature of 180 degrees Celsius for eight hours and second by using extracting technology known as hydrogenation. At the moment, according to the TFDA, the technology of extracting harmful chemicals is not available in many countries, urging members of the public to stop drinking the baobab oil.
- There is some suggestion in the scientific literature that baobab can contain some potential anti-nutrients in its dried fruit pulp. These are cyanide and organic acids. However, in both cases it has been subsequently shown that these are below the level of detection.
- Additionally, it is also suggested that the oil of baobab seeds contain cyclopropene fatty acids which can negatively effect fatty acid synthesis. However, the use of baobab seed oil has shown no ill effects in humans as when the oils is cooked the negative components (malvalic and sterculic acid) are destroyed.
Benefits and uses of Baobab are
When in season the Baobab tree grows huge fruit. This is also the reason the tree is sometimes known as the ‘monkeybread tree’. The fruit already dries inside the shell and can be eaten. It is extremely rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, which gives the fruit a pleasant, sour taste. In areas where Baobab grows the fruit is very popular with children.
- In traditional African medicine, baobab fruit is used to treat a number of illnesses (including asthma, fever, diarrhea, malaria and smallpox).
- In addition, practitioners of traditional African medicine often use baobab fruit to curb inflammation.
- Anti-Oxidant : Baobab-containing products are often marketed as a rich source of antioxidants. Some proponents claim that, due to their antioxidant content, products made with baobab fruit can help slow the aging process and protect against major illnesses like heart disease and cancer. Baobab is also said to protect against inflammation-related conditions (including type 2 diabetes, arthritis, and allergies, as well as heart disease and cancer). In recent years, manufacturers have begun adding baobab fruit to juices, energy drinks, energy bars and dietary supplements. Often marketed as a "superfruit," baobab is typically touted as a rich source of antioxidants. For instance, baobab is sometimes said to contain greater amounts of vitamin C than oranges and other citrus fruits.
- Skin-Care : Additionally, baobab fruit is sometimes used as an ingredient in skin-care, hair-care and body-care products. Some personal-care products contain baobab oil, which is extracted from the seeds of the baobab tree. Research shows that baobab seeds are rich in essential fatty acids (such as linoleic acid) that may help improve the skin.
- Fruit and leaves of the tree are used medicinally for asthma and for allergic skin conditions.
- Baobab oil is a viscous, smooth oil that is extremely fast absorbing. This makes it a great moisturizer and even when applied to face or hands no greasy look or feel can be observed. Also electronic appliances, etc. can be used without having to fear smudging oil on the screen. It is just that quickly absorbed. It is also odorless, allowing completely discrete application even on large areas.
- Baobab oil is one of the, if not the antioxidant-richest oil in the world and is even able to beat Moringa oil in this regard. This makes it extremely beneficial in terms of reducing the signs of aging and any kind of stretch marks. Additionally, Baobab oil also contains some vitamins and minerals that help nourish the skin, as well as some anti-inflammatory benefits that can help reduce skin irritations. It should however be added that if you are looking for stronger anti-inflammatory benefits, we recommend the Moringa oil, which is a lot stronger in this regard.
- Apart from the skin, Baobab oil is also extremely beneficial when applied to dry and split hair.
