Butyrospermum parkii, commonly known as the Shea tree, is a large, deciduous tree native to West Africa. It is most renowned for its seeds, which produce shea butter, a valuable natural fat used extensively in skincare, cosmetics, and various medicinal applications. Shea butter is celebrated for its rich, moisturizing properties and is an integral component of many beauty and health products.

Botanical Classification:

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Order: Sapindales
• Family: Sapotaceae
• Genus: Butyrospermum
• Species: Butyrospermum parkii

Plant Characteristics:

• Growth Form: The Shea tree is a large, evergreen tree that can grow up to 15-20 meters (49-66 feet) in height. It has a broad, spreading canopy and a trunk with a rough, greyish bark.
• Leaves: The leaves of the Shea tree are leathery, elliptic to lance-shaped, and dark green. They are typically 10-20 cm (4-8 inches) long, with a glossy appearance and are arranged alternately on the branches.
• Flowers: The Shea tree produces small, fragrant flowers that are creamy white or pale yellow. These flowers are borne in clusters and are relatively inconspicuous.
• Fruit: The fruit is a green, fleshy drupe that ripens to a yellowish-brown color. It contains a single large seed, known as the shea nut, which is encased in a thick, fibrous shell.

Chemical Composition and Structure:

• Shea Butter:The primary product derived from Butyrospermum parkiiis shea butter, extracted from the seeds. Shea butter is composed of:
  • Stearic Acid: Approximately 30-50%
  • Oleic Acid: Approximately 40-60%
  • Linoleic Acid: Approximately 3-10%
  • Palmitic Acid: Approximately 4-8%
• Other Components: It also contains triterpenes, phytosterols, and vitamins A, E, and F, which enhance its skin-nourishing and antioxidant properties.

How to Cultivate It:

• Soil: Shea trees grow best in well-drained, sandy loam soils. They are adaptable to various soil types but prefer moderately fertile conditions.
• Climate: The tree thrives in a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons, preferring temperatures between 25-40°C (77-104°F). It is drought-tolerant but benefits from sufficient rainfall.
• Watering: While drought-resistant once established, young trees benefit from regular watering during dry periods. Adequate irrigation is crucial during the initial stages of growth.
• Propagation: Shea trees are usually propagated from seeds. The seeds should be collected from mature fruits and sown in prepared nursery beds. Once seedlings are large enough, they can be transplanted.

Uses and Benefits:

• Skincare: Shea butter is used in a variety of skincare products due to its moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, and emollient properties. It helps to hydrate, soothe, and improve the elasticity of the skin.
• Haircare: It is also used in hair products to condition and nourish the hair and scalp, reducing dryness and enhancing shine.
• Medicinal: In traditional medicine, shea butter is applied to treat minor burns, wounds, and skin irritations. It has anti-inflammatory and healing properties.
• Culinary: In some African regions, shea butter is used as a cooking fat and in traditional dishes.

Applications:

• Cosmetics and Personal Care: Shea butter is a common ingredient in lotions, creams, soaps, and lip balms. Its rich, hydrating qualities make it ideal for many cosmetic formulations.
• Pharmaceuticals: Its soothing and healing properties make it useful in topical treatments for conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
• Food Industry: Although less common, shea butter can be found in some food products and confections in West Africa.

Environmental and Safety Considerations:

• Environmental Impact: The Shea tree plays a vital role in its native ecosystem, preventing soil erosion and providing habitat for wildlife. Sustainable harvesting practices are crucial to minimize environmental impact.
• Safety: Shea butter is generally safe for topical use and is well-tolerated by most skin types. However, individuals with nut allergies should be cautious as it is derived from a nut.

Studies

It is mainly made up of fatty acids (1).

• 28-56% Stearic acid
• 34-61% Oleic acid
• Gallic acid

The trees that provide a higher content of these fatty acids are those from West Africa rather than from East Africa.

Medicine.

It is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases, including inflammation and fever. This is an ethyl acetate capable of exerting an anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatoid action (2).

Two derivatives, glucosylcucurbic acid and methyl glucosylcucurbate, were recently isolated from the shea kernel. These and their derivatives of cucurbic acid and cucurbate methyl, were evaluated for their melanogenesis-inhibiting cancer properties (3).

For more information:

Shea butter studies

References_______________________________________________________________________

(1) Akihisa T, Kojima N, Katoh N, Ichimura Y, Suzuki H, Fukatsu M, Maranz S, Masters ET. Triterpene alcohol and fatty acid composition of shea nuts from seven African countries. J Oleo Sci. 2010;59(7):351-60. doi: 10.5650/jos.59.351.

Abstract. The content and composition of triterpene alcohol fractions of the non-saponifiable lipids (NSL) along with the fatty acid composition of the kernel fats (n-hexane extracts) of the shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa; Sapotaceae) were determined for 36 samples from seven sub-Saharan countries: Cote d' Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroun, Chad, Sudan, and Uganda. The fat content of the kernels, proportion of NSL in the fats, and triterpene alcohols in the NSL are in the range of 30-54, 2-12, and 22-72%, respectively. The triterpene alcohol fractions contained alpha-amyrin (1), beta-amyrin (2), lupeol (3), and butyrospermol (4) as the major constituents along with minor or trace amounts of psi-taraxasterol (5), taraxasterol (6), parkeol (7), 24-methylene-24-dihydroparkeol (8), 24-methylenecycloartanol (9), dammaradienol (10), and 24-methylenedammarenol (11). Fatty acid composition is dominated by stearic (28-56%) and oleic (34-61%) acids. Shea butters from West African provenances contained in general higher levels of triterpene alcohols and stearic acid than those from East African provenances. Both stearic acid and total triterpene alcohol contents were significantly correlated to the latitude and elevation of the source population, indicating that higher levels of these compounds are found at higher ambient temperatures.

(2) Eyong KO, Foyet HS, Baïrys G, Ngosong Folefoc G, Acha Asongalem E, Lagojda A, Lamshöft M. A new ursane triterpenoic acid and other potential anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic constituents from EtOAc extracts of Vitellaria paradoxa stem bark. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015 Nov 4;174:277-86. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.08.014. 

(3) Zhang J, Kurita M, Ebina K, Ukiya M, Tokuda H, Yasukawa K, Masters ET, Shimizu N, Akihisa M, Feng F, Akihisa T. Melanogenesis-inhibitory activity and cancer chemopreventive effect of glucosylcucurbic acid from shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) kernels. Chem Biodivers. 2015 Apr;12(4):547-58. doi: 10.1002/cbdv.201400424.

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Zhang J, Kurita M, Shinozaki T, Ukiya M, Yasukawa K, Shimizu N, Tokuda H, Masters ET, Akihisa M, Akihisa T. Triterpene glycosides and other polar constituents of shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) kernels and their bioactivities. Phytochemistry. 2014 Dec;108:157-70. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2014.09.017.