Baobab Oil: Evidence and Safety

Quick safety points

• The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) expert panel judged a group of 244 plant-derived fatty acid oils safe as used in cosmetics. A seller page says baobab seed oil is on that list, but we could not read the report's table ourselves, and the abstract we read does not mention irritation or allergy. [1]
• Baobab seed oil naturally contains two unusual fats called cyclopropene fatty acids (malvalic and sterculic acid). In rats fed fresh baobab oil, these fats strongly reduced the liver's ability to make some fats, including arachidonic acid. No study in people was found, and this was feeding, not skin use. [2][3]
• Oils sold as baobab oil are sometimes not pure. In one study of commercial samples, some had no cyclopropene fats at all and looked like soybean oil. [4]
• Pregnancy, breastfeeding, babies, pets, medicines and seed or tree-nut allergy: these points are not described for baobab seed oil in the sources we read. Do a small patch test first and see patch testing.

What baobab oil is

Baobab oil is the fatty oil pressed or extracted from the seeds of Adansonia digitata L., the African baobab tree. The seeds are often thrown away after the fruit pulp is removed. [5] The pulp has its own page: baobab fruit powder. That page covers the food powder only, not the seed oil.

In the one extraction study that reported it, the oil was made of three main fats: oleic acid (37%), linoleic acid (29%) and palmitic acid (30%). [6] A Tanzanian study also found palmitic, oleic and linoleic as the most abundant, plus the two cyclopropene fats mentioned above. [3] Another paper found myristic, palmitic and stearic acids in a seed oil sample. [7] So the makeup differs between samples and methods.

How much oil you get depends on how it is made. A Ghanaian study got about 5.4% oil from the seeds by mechanical pressing and about 27.8% by solvent (hexane) extraction. [5] Another study got 9.3% using supercritical carbon dioxide (a solvent-free method), compared with 37% by hot pressing. [6] Solvent-free oil is what you want if you care about residues. How it feels on skin: the sources we read do not describe the feel of the oil, so we do not.

How it is used

The Ghanaian paper says baobab seeds have industrial and household uses for topical oils. [5] Several papers say baobab oil is of interest to cosmetic makers, and one says the solvent-free oil suits cosmetic and nutraceutical use. [6] We found no source describing how the oil is used day to day, so we give no routine here. The fruit pulp, not the oil, is the usual baobab food product; see the baobab page. For other plant oils on skin, see carrier oils explained.

Traditional use (not proof)

The baobab tree is used in traditional African medicine for fever, diarrhea, malaria and infections, according to a dental literature review that also notes the seeds are a good source of protein and fat. [8] A review of the fruit lists hydration, fever, parasites, cough and diarrhea. [9] Neither source describes a traditional use of the seed oil itself. The Ghanaian paper only says seed oil is used on the skin in homes. [5] Long use of a tree does not show that its oil works.

What research shows

Human studies of baobab seed oil: none found. We searched Europe PMC and found no trial or systematic review of the oil on skin, hair, wounds or anything else. Proper evidence not found in the sources we read.

In the lab, a Sudanese study measured seed oil and seed cake from three Malvaceae trees. Baobab seed oil showed the strongest block of two enzymes (acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase) of the oils tested. Those are test-tube readings, not effects in people. [10] Seed extracts also showed antioxidant activity in a lab test. [7] Test-tube antioxidant results do not show that an oil protects skin.

Claims checked

• "Baobab oil is a rich anti-aging, skin-repairing oil." No human trial found. [1][5][6]
• "Baobab oil is non-comedogenic (won't clog pores)." The sources we read have no test of baobab oil on acne-prone skin. Comedogenic lists come from rabbit-ear tests. A small human study of finished products found that products made with comedogenic ingredients are not necessarily comedogenic. So a number from a list does not tell you what an oil does on your skin. [11]
• "100% pure baobab oil." One NMR study found commercial samples split into two groups. One group lacked the cyclopropene fats and matched soybean oil, and the authors judged them adulterated. [4] A second study of commercial southern African seed oils found one baobab sample that differed a lot from the rest. [12]
• "Safe because it is natural." Natural does not mean tested. The CIR conclusion covers cosmetic use of many oils, not a human trial of this one. [1]

Forms, grades and why they matter

• Cold- or warm-pressed (mechanical) oil: the plain pressed oil. It contains the cyclopropene fats. [3][5]
• Solvent-extracted oil: a lab study used hexane and got a higher yield; sold products may differ. [5]
• Supercritical CO2 oil: solvent-free, tested in a lab study. [6]
• Refined or heated oil: heating breaks down the cyclopropene fats. In the Tanzanian study they fell most at 200 degrees C. [3] In rats, oil that had been heated still lowered arachidonic acid in liver membranes, though less than fresh oil. [2] What this means for people is unknown.
• Cosmetic versus food grade: no source we read says whether baobab seed oil is allowed as a food oil. Proper evidence not found. We could not open the EU novel food catalogue. The fruit pulp has its own authorisations, but we could not confirm the status of the seed oil. If you plan to swallow it, ask a pharmacist first. This oil is a cosmetic product in the sources we read.

Safety and cautions

• Allergy and irritation: no case reports of baobab seed oil allergy were found in the sources we read. That is not the same as proven safe. Patch test first.
• Swallowing: one set of rat experiments fed fresh baobab oil and found strong effects on how the liver makes fats. [2][3] We found no study of swallowing baobab seed oil in people. Do not take a cosmetic oil by mouth.
• Pregnancy, breastfeeding, babies and children: not described in the sources we read.
• Pets: not described in the sources we read.
• Medicines: not described in the sources we read.
• Adulteration: see above; buy from sellers who show a lab report for the specific batch. [4][12]

Quality and storage

We did not find a baobab-specific storage study. The Ghanaian paper measured peroxide values, a sign of early oxidation (going off), of about 11.9 to 15.1 for baobab seed oil, as written in that paper. [5] Treat that as a hint that this oil can oxidize. General care for plant oils: keep it closed, cool and out of light, and stop using it if it smells sharp or like old paint. See the safety checklist.

Related pages

• Baobab (fruit pulp powder)
• Carrier oils explained
• Check before you use natural oils and butters
• Patch testing natural oils and butters
• Argan oil
• Shea butter