Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil is a product of natural origin obtained from the fruits of the Marula plant, Sclerocarya birrea, botanical family Anacardiaceae.

The name describes the structure of the ingredient:

• "Sclerocarya Birrea" is the botanical name for a tree commonly known as Marula. It is native to Africa and produces fruits from which seeds are extracted.
• "Seed Oil" indicates that the product is an oil extracted from the seeds of the Marula tree.

Description of raw materials used in production.

• Sclerocarya Birrea Seeds. The seeds are harvested from the Marula plant, a tree that grows in many parts of Africa.

Detailed summary of the production process.

• Harvesting of Marula Fruits. Ripe fruits are collected from the Marula plant.
• Extraction of Seeds. Once collected, the fruits are opened, and the seeds are manually extracted.
• Cold Pressing. The cleaned seeds are then cold-pressed to extract the oil, thereby preserving all its beneficial properties.
• Filtration. The oil is filtered to remove any residual particles.

What it is for and where

Medical

 The phytochemical analysis of Sclerocarya birrea revealed polyphenols, tannins, coumarins, flavonoids (1), triterpenoids, and phytosterols that play antidiarrheal, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiplasmodial, antihypertensive, anticonvulsant, antinociceptive, antioxidant (2), and antidiabetic (3) properties.

Cosmetics

Hair conditioning agent. A significant number of ingredients with specific and targeted purposes may co-exist in hair shampoo formulations: cleansers, conditioners, thickeners, matting agents, sequestering agents, fragrances, preservatives, special additives. However, the indispensable ingredients are the cleansers and conditioners as they are necessary and sufficient for hair cleansing and manageability. The others act as commercial and non-essential auxiliaries such as: appearance, fragrance, colouring, etc. Hair conditioning agents have the task of increasing shine, manageability and volume, and reducing static electricity, especially after treatments such as colouring, ironing, waving, drying and brushing. They are, in practice, dispersants that may contain cationic surfactants, thickeners, emollients, polymers. The typology of hair conditioning agents includes: intensive conditioners, instant conditioners, thickening conditioners, drying conditioners. They can perform their task generally accompanied by other different ingredients.

Humectant. Hygroscopic compound used to minimise water loss in the skin and to prevent it from drying out by facilitating faster and greater absorption of water into the stratum corneum of the epidermis.  The epidermis is the most superficial of the three layers that make up human skin (epidermis, dermis and hypodermis) and is the layer that maintains hydration in all three layers. In turn, the epidermis is composed of five layers: horny, the most superficial, granular, spinous, shiny, and basal. Humectants have the ability to retain the water they attract from the air in the stratum corneum and have the function of moisturising the skin. They are best used before emollients, which are oil-based.

Commercial Applications

Cosmetics and Skin Care. Marula oil is prized for its moisturizing and antioxidant properties, making it a popular choice for creams, lotions, and facial oils.

Hair Care Products. This oil is used in conditioners, hair masks, and hair oils to nourish and moisturize the hair and to protect from damage.

Makeup Products. Marula oil can be found in some makeup items due to its emollient properties.

Sunscreens. Owing to its antioxidant properties, it can be used in sunscreens to provide added protection against environmental damage.

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Abdallah MS, Mustafa M, Nallappan MA, Choi S, Paik JH, Rusea G. Determination of Phenolics and Flavonoids of Some Useful Medicinal Plants and Bioassay-Guided Fractionation Substances of Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich) Hochst Stem (Bark) Extract and Their Efficacy Against Salmonella typhi. Front Chem. 2021 Jul 27;9:670530. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2021.670530. 

(2 )Ojewole JA, Mawoza T, Chiwororo WD, Owira PM. Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich) Hochst. ['Marula'] (Anacardiaceae): a review of its phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology and its ethnomedicinal uses. Phytother Res. 2010 May;24(5):633-9. doi: 10.1002/ptr.3080. PMID: 20013815.

(3) Maharaj V, Ezeofor CC, Naidoo Maharaj D, Muller CJF, Obonye NJ. Identification of Antidiabetic Compounds from the Aqueous Extract of Sclerocarya birrea Leaves. Molecules. 2022 Nov 21;27(22):8095. doi: 10.3390/molecules27228095.