Sal fat, Sal oil and Sal butter are derived from from cold pressing berries from a plant native to India, Shorea robusta belonging to the Dipterocarpaceae family.
The synthesis process takes place in different steps:
- Sal seed extraction. Sal fat is obtained from the seeds of the Sal tree (Shorea robusta). The first step in the production process is to extract the Sal seeds from the fruit or cone of the tree. The seeds are collected and separated from the surrounding material of the fruit or cone.
- Drying and cleaning. Once separated, the seeds are usually dried to remove excess moisture. Drying can be done by exposing the seeds to sunlight or by using mechanical drying methods. After drying, the seeds are cleaned to remove any impurities such as dirt, debris or damaged seeds.
- Grinding and heating. The dried and cleaned Sal seeds are then ground or crushed into a powder or small particles. This grinding process helps to break down the seeds and release the oil they contain. The ground Sal seeds are then heated, usually with a mechanical expeller or hydraulic press, to extract the oil.
- Filtration and purification. After extraction, the raw Sal fat obtained may contain impurities, such as solids or sediments. The crude oil is usually subjected to filtration to remove these impurities. Filtration methods, such as the use of filter papers or centrifugation, can be used to obtain a clearer and purer Sal fat.
- Refining and processing. Filtered Sal fat can undergo further refining and processing to improve its quality and stability. This may involve processes such as degumming, neutralisation, bleaching and deodorisation to remove unwanted substances and improve the appearance, flavour and aroma of Sal fat.
What it is for and where
Cosmetics: Sal fat is often used in the cosmetic industry, especially in the production of soaps and creams. Due to its texture and moisturizing properties, it can be a useful ingredient in skincare products.
Food: Sal butter, when refined, can be used as an alternative to cocoa butter in the chocolate industry, though it's not as commonly utilized for this purpose.
This plant has traditionally and intensively been used, by traditional Indian medicine, to treat wounds and to recover several disorders andit is the most used plant for medicinal use in India.
Commercial applications:
Food Industry. Traditionally used in some cultures for cooking, similar to the use of butter or other animal fats.
Cosmetics Industry. Employed in skincare products like creams and lotions for its moisturizing and emollient properties.
Pharmaceutical Products. Used as a base for ointments and as an excipient in some pharmaceutical formulations.
Saponification. Can be turned into soap, offering moisturizing and nourishing properties similar to coconut oil soap.
Sustainability. The production of Sal fat can be considered sustainable, as it comes from trees and not from animal sources.
Form and Color.
Appears as a solid at room temperature, with a color ranging from white to light yellow.
Sal oil has scarring properties and repairs wounds by restoring blood vessels (1) and other studies have confirmed and demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activity in conditions of painful inflammation and fever (2).
Its ethanol extract has demonstrated central and peripheral analgesic properties (3).
Shorea robusta studies
References________________________________________________________________________
(1) Yaseen Khan M, Ali SA, Pundarikakshudu K. Wound healing activity of extracts derived from Shorea robusta resin. Pharm Biol. 2016;54(3):542-8. doi: 10.3109/13880209.2015.1052886.
Abstract. Context: Shorea robusta Gaertn.f. (Dipterocarpaceae) resin is used for treating infected wounds and burns by tribals in India. Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate wound-healing activity of S. robusta resin extracts and essential oil in rats. Materials and methods: Methanol extract (SRME), petroleum ether, benzene insoluble fraction of methanol extract (SRPEBIME), and essential oil (SREO) of S. robusta resin were incorporated in soft yellow paraffin (10% w/w) and applied once daily ....Discussion and conclusion: SRPEBIME and SREO have significant wound-healing activities on incision and excision wounds.
(2) Gaertn. f. resin. Wani TA, Chandrashekara HH, Kumar D, Prasad R, Sardar KK, Kumar D, Tandan SK. Anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities of the ethanolic extract of Shorea robusta Indian J Biochem Biophys. 2012 Dec
Abstract. Shorea robusta Gaertn. f. (Sal) is one of the most important traditional Indian medicinal plants. The resin of the plant has been used in the treatment of inflammation in folklore medicine. In the present study, ethanolic extract (70%) of S. robusta resin (SRE) was investigated for its anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities. Acute inflammation was produced by carrageenan-induced hind paw edema and sub-acute by cotton pellet-induced granuloma in male Wistar rats. The antipyretic activity of SRE was studied using Brewer's yeast-induced pyrexia in rats. The rats were divided into five groups with five animals in each group. Group I was treated with vehicle i.e. 1% v/v Tween-80 and served as control. Groups II to IV were treated with three different doses of SRE (30, 100 and 300 mg/kg orally). Group V was treated with standard drug etoricoxib (10 mg/kg orally). The anti-inflammatory activity of SRE was assessed by per cent reduction in edema volume of carrageenan-induced hind paw edema and by per cent decrease in granuloma formation in cotton pellet-induced granuloma test. SRE (100 and 300 mg/kg) produced a significant reduction in edema volume and decrease in granulation tissue formation in rats. Significant reduction in pyrexia was observed at all the dose levels of SRE i.e. 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg. The results of the present study demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities of S. robusta resin and supported its traditional therapeutic use in painful inflammatory conditions and fever.
(3) Wani TA, Kumar D, Prasad R, Verma PK, Sardar KK, Tandan SK, Kumar D. Analgesic activity of the ethanolic extract of Shorea robusta resin in experimental animals. Indian J Pharmacol. 2012 Jul-Aug
Abstract. Aim: Shorea robusta (Sal), an important traditional Indian medicinal plant used in various ailments and rituals and the indigenous use of the resin of this plant as a medicament for treatment of various inflammatory conditions is well documented in literature. In the present study, ethanolic extract of S. robusta resin (SRE) was evaluated for its analgesic activity by making use of different central and peripheral pain models....Results: The extract produced significant central and peripheral analgesic effects, as is evident from increase in reaction time in hot plate and tail flick tests, inhibition in writhing counts in acetic acid-induced writhing test, inhibition of licking time in formalin-induced hind paw licking, increased pain threshold in paw withdrawal latency in carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia and increased paw withdrawal threshold in post-surgical pain. Conclusion: The results of the present study demonstrate marked antinociceptive effects of SRE.
Sal fat 
