White Lotus Aromatics Newsletter - Tamanu Seed, August 6, 2001
NewsNeNwsNNewsletter Archive ewsl
Tamanu Seed /Calophyllum
Dear Friends- Up till quite recently my entire focus has been on offering essential
oils, absolutes, traditional attars and CO2 extracts. In the coming months I
will be offering a range of fixed/carrier oils for those of you who use them
in compounding your delectable products for personal use or for your customers.
Just last week I procured a first consignment of Calophyllum inophyllum oil
from Africa which you may enjoy exploring. It certainly has a reputation for
being good for the skin. Kindly note that the information provided is selected
for your education and enjoyment. Since my work is mainly concerned with sourcing
raw materials I am not competent to say how effective Calophyllum inophyllum
is in actual practice. I am sure each one of you has far more experience than
I do on the application side of things but I always advise to use natures gifts
with a lot of discernment and discrimination.
Etymology The name Calophyllum inophyllum means "beautiful leaf," from the
Greek words, Kalos-beautifulÑand phullon-leaf.
Plant description
The tree is indigenous to Southeast Asia, but is profuse in Polynesia, where
it is traditionally known as Ati. Tamanu grows up to 25 or even 30 meters in
height, with long, spreading limbs. The tree trunk is typically thick, with
dark, cracked bark. The tamanu branches are covered with shiny, dark-green oval
leaves and small white flowers with yellow centers. The blossoms give off a
delightful, sweet perfume. The fruit of the tree, about the size of an apricot,
has a thin flesh and a large nut hull inside. http://www.healthwellexchange.com/manzone/12_00/supplier/tamanu.cfm
images
http://155.187.10.12/images/photo_cd/732131822163/084.html
tree
http://155.187.10.12/images/photo_cd/732131822163/085.html
fruit
http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/clusi.htm
images of different parts of plant
Ethnobotanical uses
Boil Calophyllum inophyllum Solomon Islands
Catarrh Calophyllum inophyllum Samoa
Chickenpox Calophyllum inophyllum Samoa
Cyanogenetic Calophyllum inophyllum Elsewhere
Debility Calophyllum inophyllum Samoa
Diarrhea Calophyllum inophyllum Samoa
Digestive Calophyllum inophyllum New Caledonia
Diuretic Calophyllum inophyllum Samoa
Emetic Calophyllum inophyllum Elsewhere
Emmenagogueue Calophyllum inophyllum Samoa
Eye Calophyllum inophyllum Fiji
Eye Calophyllum inophyllum Philippines
Eye Calophyllum inophyllum Samoa
Fever Calophyllum inophyllum Samoa
Inflammation Calophyllum inophyllum Samoa
Lactogogue Calophyllum inophyllum Samoa
Leprosy Calophyllum inophyllum Elsewhere
Orchitis Calophyllum inophyllum Elsewhere
Pain Calophyllum inophyllum Elsewhere
Pile Calophyllum inophyllum Philippines
Piscicide Calophyllum inophyllum Elsewhere
Poison Calophyllum inophyllum Samoa
Puerperium Calophyllum inophyllum Samoa
Purgative Calophyllum inophyllum Elsewhere
Rash Calophyllum inophyllum Samoa
Rheum Calophyllum inophyllum Samoa
Rheumatism Calophyllum inophyllum Elsewhere
Scabies Calophyllum inophyllum Samoa
Skin Calophyllum inophyllum Elsewhere
Soap Calophyllum inophyllum Elsewhere
Sore Calophyllum inophyllum Elsewhere
Sore Calophyllum inophyllum Solomon I
Sunburn Calophyllum inophyllum Samoa
Vermifuge Calophyllum inophyllum Samoa
Wound Calophyllum inophyllum Philippines
Tumor Calophyllum inophyllum Philippines
Cancer Calophyllum inophyllum New Caledonia
Rheumatism Calophyllum inophyllum Malaya
Stitch Calophyllum inophyllum Malaya
Stroke Calophyllum inophyllum Malaya
Vaginitis Calophyllum inophyllum Java
Parturition Calophyllum inophyllum Java
Conjunctivitis Calophyllum inophyllum Lingga
Gonorrhea Calophyllum inophyllum Java
Metrorrhagia Calophyllum inophyllum Java
http://ars-genome.cornell.edu:80/cgi-bin/WebAce/webace?seme
=2&db=ethnobotdb&class=Taxon&object
=Calophyllum%20inophyllum
TAMANU Calophyllum inophyllum
Primitive tribes utilise the leaves frequently for different kinds of skin problems.
the leaves are heated over a fire until soft and then applied to skin ulcers,
boils, cuts, sores, and pimples. In other tribes the boiled leaves and a skin
rash is washed periodically with the solution. The leaves are used for treating
skin inflammations, leg ulcers, wounds. The value the oil of the fruit is used
as a liniment for joint pains, arthritis and bruises. The oil is applied to
suppurating wounds including coral sores and is commonly used for rubbing on
the limbs of children who are slow in learning to walk. Some mothers rub the
fruit oil of Calophyllum inophyllum onto their babies to prevent nappy rash.
The oil also is occasionally used in the place of a chap stick for chapped,
parched lips. Tamanu oil can be applied on skins as well as mucous membrane
lesions. It heals small wounds such as cracks and chaps, but is also efficient
on more serious cutaneous problems: atonic wounds, physical and chemical burns,
radiodermatitis, anal fissures or post?surgical wounds. Tamanu oil activity
was studied in numerous clinical cases. http://www.dweckdata.com/Published/African1.htm
Components of Tamanu Oil
General Lipid Composition
Neutral lipids
92% Glycolipids
6.4% Phospholipids
1.6% Neutral Lipids
Monoacylglycerols
1.8% sn -1,3 ? Diaglycerides
2.4% sn -1,2 (2,3) ? Diaglycerides
2.6% Free fatty acids
7.4% Triacylglycerols
82.3% Sterols, sterolesters and hydrocarbons
3.5% Glycolipids Monogalactosyldiacylglycerol
11.4% Acylated sterolglucoside
13.1 Monogalactosylmonoacylglycerol
22.2% Acylmonogalactosyldiacylglycerol
53.3% Phospholipids Phosphatidylethanolamine
46.3% Phosphatidylcholine
33.8% Phosphatidic acid
8.1% Phosphatidylserine
6.1% Lysophosphatidylcholine
5.7%
Calophyllic acid-a novel fatty acid found only in tamanu oil.
Calophyllolide-a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory 4-phenyl coumarin. 6-desoxyjacareubin-an
antibiotic xanthone that inhibits S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, B. subtilis, and
S. typhimurium, and K. pneumoniae. Jacareubin-an antibiotic xanthone that inhibits
S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, B. subtilis, and S. typhimurium.
Calophyllum B-an antibiotic xanthone that inhibits the growth of P. aeruginosa
and B. subtilis.
Calanolide A-a coumarin that inhibits HIV reverse transcriptase.
Costatolide-a coumarin that inhibits HIV reverse transcriptase.
Calaustralin-a 4-phenylcoumarin.
Calophynic acid-a dihydro coumarin.
Summary comments on constituents: Other constituents of oil of tamanu may yet
be discovered. However, based on the known activity of known constituents, it
is clear that oil of tamanu possesses antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities.
The unique cicatrizing properties of tamanu oil are not yet explained in existing
scientific literature, though this activity is established and accepted. The
same is true for tamanu's anti-neuralgic properties. Tamanu oil is well documented
for its relief of neuritis, but the constituents responsible and their modes
of activity are yet to be determined.
http://www.healthwellexchange.com/manzone/12_00/
supplier/tamanu_s1.cfm?path=ex&zone=manzone
Calophyllum as a Flower Essence
Hawaiian name: Kamani Botanical name: Calophyllum inophyllum Common name: ...
Identity: A medicinally valued hardwood tree held sacred to the Polynesians,
which bears sweetly fragrant clusters of white blossoms.
Flower Essence Properties: To protect the sanctity and integrity of a place
from negative energies (use in spray bottle or bowl of water). Also heals trauma
and disharmony by clearing the heart center of a person.
http://www.alohafloweressences.com/70_essences_html/kamani.html
Uses: The reddish-brown timber is hard and straight, thus valued for
making boat masts (Malaysia). It is also made into planks. The beautiful tree
is planted as a wayside tree in Singapore. In Hawaii, it is also used in building
boats. Because the timber does not smell or taste bad, it was also carved into
food containers. The thick, dark green oil which exudes from the drying seeds
was used as lamp fuel and to waterproof cloth ... The fruits are also used to
make a brown dye. If the trunk is cut, it exudes a gum which solidifies. The
fragrant flowers are used in leis (garlands). Traditional medicinal uses: The
gum, bark, leaves, roots, flowers and the oil extracted from the seeds are used
in traditional medicine for a wide range of ills. The oil is used for massages,
together with coconut oil and flower fragrances. http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/alexandrine_laurel.htm
KAMANI
A member of the mangosteen family with the scientific name of Calophyllum inophyllum,
kamani was brought north to Hawai`i from the South Pacific islands in early
migrations of Polynesian settlers. Also called Alexandrian laurel, true kamani
was probably introduced by seed, which is how it is propagated. This native
of the Pacific and of tropical Africa, grows slowly along sandy shores and in
lowland forests. It was cultivated in villages, near houses and also in groves
away from villages. When found growing in windy areas it is sometimes in a picturesque,
crooked or misshapen form. True kamani is not to be confused with "false kamani",
a common tropical almond that grows profusely along the shores of Hawai`i. This
"kamani haole" was introduced after the first white settlers arrived, and has
the scientific name of Teminalia catappa. It was planted for shade and as an
ornamental, also growing from the edible seed in its corky pod that washes ashore
with waves and currents. True kamani is a large attractive spreading tree up
to 60 feet high, with a rounded head of dense foliage and rough grey bark. A
reddish-brown hardwood is derived from the trunk. From this was carved many
objects including canoes; homes; `umeke la`au, wooden containers or calabash,
specifically `umeke kamani, food bowls and trays called pa kamani. As with milo
and kou wood, there is no bad-tasting taste or odor in kamani wood, so it is
perfect for vessels that will be contacting or containing food. The leaves of
kamani are large, stiff, shiny, leathery and oblong with a blunt tip. They are
3-8 inches long, arranged opposite each other and have closely placed fine parallel
veins running from a prominent raised yellow-green midrib to the leaf margin.
The delightfully fragrant (when new) flowers are small, 1 inch wide, and white
with 4-8 petals. They smell like orange blossoms and were used to give fragrance
to kapa cloth, and also for lei making. They are waxy and showy with golden
yellow stamens and a pink pistil, and grow in clusters of a dozen or so flowers
found hanging from a long stalk. The fruit begins pinkish-green, rounds out
to about 2 inches long and becomes bright green. When mature, it has a thin
leathery dark grey-brownish skin which covers a bony shell that holds a partly
poisonous kernel or seed surrounded by a cork-like substance. A lamp oil for
light was produced from the kernel and was used at times instead of kukui nut
oil. The kernel is called a "punnai nut" in some areas of the Pacific, and the
oil is dark, green, thick and called "dilo oil". Sometimes this oil is useful
for lomi lomi, massage, especially when enhanced with coconut oil or flower
fragrances. The oil may have been useful in waterproofing tapa cloth. The seed,
leaves, gum and bark are said to have medicinal properties. In the old days
an extract from the fruit was used to make a brown dye to color tapa cloth.
Kamani was often planted around heiau, temples. Kamani was mentioned in early
chants, and considered a sacred tree in parts of Polynesia. An especially fine
grove is to be found on the island of Moloka`i.
http://www.hawaii-nation.org/canoe/kamani.html
Anti-neuralgic And Skin Healing Activity Traditionally,oil of tamanu has enjoyed
topical use for relieving the pain of sciatica, shingles, neuralgia, rheumatism
and leprous neuritis, for which it is effective. In 1918, researchers associated
with the French Pharmacopoeia began research into tamanu for topical and subcutaneous
use. In the late 1920s, oil of tamanu was employed in Fiji to relieve painful
neuritis associated with leprosy. Sister Marie-Suzanne, a nun in the Society
of Mary, administered tamanu oil (called Dolno, which means "no pain") topically
to leprosy victims for the relief of neuritis, with good results. As a result
of its effective use in Fiji, oil of tamanu was further investigated by French
researchers in the 1930s for its anti-neuralgic effects. But they quickly became
more interested in tamanu's cicatrizing properties, which subsequently received
the most attention. In the French medical literature on tamanu oil, several
instances of its successful use in cases of severe skin conditions have been
reported, with photographs showing before and after use. In one of the most
remarkable instances, a woman was admitted to the St. Louis Hospital in Paris
with a large gangrenous ulcer on her leg, which would not heal. Though doctors
were sure that amputation was inevitable, she was given regular dressings oftamanu
oil. The wound eventually healed completely, leaving a smooth, flat scar. In
other cases, tamanu oil has been employed successfully to heal severe burns
caused by boiling water, chemicals and X-rays. http://www.healthwellexchange.com/manzone/12_00/supplier/
tamanu.cfm
The whole article is excellent and one may enjoy directly accessing it A
description of the fixed oil
Tamanu Seed Carrier/Fixed Oil
Physical Apperance-Very thick green pourable oil produced from cold pressed
seeds of wild growing trees in Madagascar
Olfactory characteristics-rich, woody-spicy oil bouquet
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/CALINOA.pdf
nice information about the plant and its use in landscaping
http://www.forest.gov.my/forweb/research/fr/ip/eco/calophys.htm
calophyllum project of the Sarawak Forest Department
http://django.harvard.edu/users/jjarvie/Itemscan/Calophyllum.htm
detailed description of Calophyllum genus
http://www.newcrops.uq.edu.au/listing/calophylluminophyllum.htm
research on calophyllum