Natural Oils & Butters · Carrier oil
Baobab Oil
Adansonia digitata L. (seed oil) · also called Baobab seed oil, African baobab oil. Not the same as baobab fruit powder.
Baobab oil is pressed from the seeds of the African baobab tree. It is sold for skin and hair, but no human or animal trial of the oil on skin or hair was found. What exists is lab work on its fats, a group safety opinion on plant oils, and rat feeding studies. In those, fresh unheated oil, which holds unusual fats called cyclopropene fatty acids, slowed growth and changed liver enzymes. Treat it as a cosmetic oil with very little research, and ask a doctor or pharmacist before swallowing it.
General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made
About Baobab Oil
Baobab oil is the seed oil of the African baobab tree (Adansonia digitata). It is sold as a skin and hair oil. Research on the oil itself is thin: no human trial was found, and the safety signals come from rat feeding studies of fresh oil. It is best seen as a cosmetic oil with unproven claims, not a treatment.
What it is
Baobab oil is pressed or extracted from seeds of Adansonia digitata L., an African tree in the mallow family (GBIF accepts the name). Its main fats are oleic, linoleic and palmitic acid, roughly 37%, 29% and 30% by weight in one CO2-extracted sample.
Baobab seed oils also contain cyclopropene fatty acids, malvalic and sterculic acid. Across six baobab species, malvalic acid ranged from 3 to 28% and sterculic acid from 1 to 8%; the abstract does not give figures for A. digitata alone.
How it is used
It is sold as a cosmetic oil for skin and hair and as an ingredient in blends. Authors of a Ghanaian study say the seeds are used locally for topical medication; this was not verified.
It is a different product from baobab fruit powder, which is made from the pulp and has its own page.
What the research shows
No human or animal trial of baobab seed oil on skin or hair was found. The papers that exist test how the oil is made and what it contains.
In test tubes, baobab oil blocked two enzymes and seed extracts showed antioxidant activity. That is lab work and does not show an effect in people.
The antimicrobial result in one paper was for the fruit pulp extract, not the oil.
Making and quality
Pressing gave 5.4% oil and hexane extraction 27.75% in one study of Ghanaian seeds. A CO2 method gave a solvent-free oil in the lab, with fats like warm-pressed oil.
Heating at 200 C broke down most cyclopropene fats in one lab study. Refined oil is therefore a different product from cold-pressed oil. How market oils compare was not studied in the sources read.
Rules and labels
The cosmetic safety panel opinion above is for a group of oils. The EU and US food or cosmetic status of this particular oil was not verified. In general, FDA does not approve cosmetics before sale.
Look for the Latin name Adansonia digitata and a one-ingredient label. A blend cannot tell you how much baobab oil it holds.
At a glance
Traditional uses history, not proof
- Home skin care in Ghana, as the authors of a Ghanaian seed study state. Not independently verified.
- The baobab tree is used in traditional African medicine; this is about the tree, not the oil.
Studied for research
- Skin care (softening, barrier), insufficient
- Hair and scalp care, insufficient
- Acne-prone skin and pore-clogging, insufficient
- Antioxidant and enzyme tests in the lab, insufficient
Main compounds
- Oleic acid (omega-9)
- Linoleic acid (omega-6)
- Palmitic acid
- Sterculic and malvalic acid (cyclopropene fatty acids)
Common forms
- Pressed or hot-pressed seed oil
- Solvent-extracted (hexane) oil
- CO2-extracted oil
- Heated or refined oil
- Blends that contain baobab oil
Research links: Safety assessment of plant-derived fatty acid oils (abstract) · Rat liver enzymes and baobab seed oil (abstract) · Heating and cyclopropenoid fatty acids in baobab oil (abstract) · Baobab seed oil extraction by CO2 (abstract) · African oils in dermatology, review (abstract) · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library
What it is and its history
- Accepted scientific name
- Adansonia digitata
- Naming authority
- L.
- Common names
- Baobab oil (English); Baobab seed oil (English); Adansonia digitata seed oil (English (label name))
- Family or group
- Malvaceae (the mallow family)
- Classification
- Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Malvales > Malvaceae > Adansonia > Adansonia digitata
- Native range
- African tree; baobab seeds from Ghana, Tanzania and Sudan appear in the studies. Native range not otherwise checked.
- Habitat
- Semiarid areas in the Tanzanian study; not otherwise checked.
- What it looks like
- Roots: Not checked.; Stems: Not checked.; Leaves: Not checked.; Flowers: Not checked.; Fruit: The seeds are taken from the fruit pulp and pressed for oil (Ofori 2023 describes seeds removed from the pulp).
- Cultivation
- Not described in the sources read.
- Harvest and processing
- Pressing, hot pressing, hexane (Soxhlet) extraction and supercritical CO2 extraction are all described. Refining at high heat reduces cyclopropene fats in a lab study.
- Look-alikes and adulterants
- Name: Baobab fruit pulp powder; Note: A different product from the same tree, with its own page. Results for pulp are not results for the seed oil.; Name: Seed oils of other Adansonia species; Note: Madagascan baobab species have oils with different fatty acid make-up, and composition alone does not identify a species (2017 paper).; Name: Blends sold as baobab oil; Note: A label cannot show how much true baobab oil a blend holds.
- Sustainability and conservation
- Not checked.
Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof
| Tradition or era | Documented use | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Home skin care in Ghana, as stated by study authors | The authors of a Ghanaian extraction study say baobab seeds have industrial and domestic uses because of their oil qualities for topical medication, and are underused. This is their statement and was not independently verified. | p37920840 |
| African plant oils for skin, as stated by review authors | A 2022 review says plant and seed oils have been used for centuries in Nigeria and Africa for healthy skin and traditional treatment of skin disorders. Baobab oil was one of its search terms; the abstract does not give baobab-specific history. | p33928725 |
| Baobab tree in traditional African medicine | The tree has been used for fever, diarrhoea, malaria, cough, dysentery and microbial infections, per a 2023 review. This is about the tree, not the oil. | p38957190 |
Traditional use shows how it was used. It does not show that it works or is safe today.
What is inside, and how it may work
What it contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.
Main compounds
| Compound | Family | Where it is concentrated | Activity studied | Level of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oleic acid PubChem 445639 | omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acid | Seed oil About 37% by weight in a CO2-extracted oil; 15-40% across six Adansonia species. | A main fat in the oil. No effect of the oil was tested. 8 12 | Lab |
| Linoleic acid PubChem 5280450 | omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid | Seed oil About 29% by weight in a CO2-extracted oil; 12-32% across six species. | A main fat in the oil. 8 12 | Lab |
| Palmitic acid PubChem 985 | saturated fatty acid | Seed oil About 30% by weight in a CO2-extracted oil; 21-46% across six species. | A main fat in the oil. 8 12 13 | Lab |
| Sterculic acid PubChem 12921 | cyclopropene fatty acid | Seed oil 1-8% across six Adansonia species (not A. digitata alone). | Blocked fat-making (desaturase) enzymes in rat liver preparations. 12 6 15 | Animal research |
| Malvalic acid PubChem 10416 | cyclopropene fatty acid | Seed oil 3-28% across six Adansonia species (not A. digitata alone). | Blocked fat-making (desaturase) enzymes in rat liver preparations. 12 6 15 | Animal research |
Mechanisms, receptors and pathways
| Target or pathway | Gene or receptor | What was found | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fat-making enzymes (delta-6 and delta-5 desaturases) | n/a | Cyclopropene fatty acids in fresh baobab oil lowered these enzyme activities in rat liver preparations and lowered arachidonic acid in liver membrane fats. Animal and test-tube work. 6 | Animal research |
| Liver drug-handling enzymes | cytochrome P-450 | Rats fed fresh baobab oil had lower cytochrome P-450 and reductase activities; heated oil changed this. The authors suggest membrane fat changes may explain it; not proven. 2 | Animal research |
| Cholinesterase enzymes | acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase | The oil blocked these enzymes in a test tube. No effect in people is shown. 11 | Laboratory research |
Absorption, metabolism and elimination
- Absorption
- Not described in the sources read.
- Distribution
- Not described.
- Metabolism
- Rat liver enzyme changes are described; human metabolism is not.
- Elimination
- Not described.
- Bioavailability
- Not described.
Isolated compounds versus whole extracts
The seed oil, the fruit pulp powder, and lab extracts are different products. Results for pulp or extracts do not carry over to the oil. Fresh oil and heated or refined oil also differ in their cyclopropene fats.
Nutritional composition
Baobab oil is a fat made mostly of palmitic, oleic and linoleic acid. The vitamin C and fibre of the baobab fruit are in the pulp, not in the oil.
5 not enough evidence
What was looked at
The 5 benefits and uses checked for Baobab Oil, each with how strong the evidence is. Tap one to open it.
What is Baobab Oil good for?
What the research shows for each claimed use, and how strong it is. None of it is proven. Read the Safety tab too.
Benefits, one by one
Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.
Skin care (softening, moisturising, skin barrier)
Not enough evidenceNo trial of baobab seed oil on skin was found. What exists is a group safety opinion on plant oils in cosmetics, a review of African skin oils, and lab studies of how the oil is made.
3 studiesOil rubbed on the skin; formulas and blends vary and labels cannot sh…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
No human trial of baobab seed oil on skin was found in PubMed (searches for Adansonia or baobab with seed oil, skin, cosmetic, topical, trial and dermatitis, 2026-10-25). A 2017 expert panel judged 244 plant oils safe as used in cosmetics (the abstract does not name baobab).
Results
No skin result for baobab seed oil. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel found 244 plant-derived fatty acid oils safe as used in cosmetics. A 2022 review of African skin oils lists benefits for plant oils in general and says side effects come mainly from processing and storage hygiene.
Effect sizes as reported
No effect sizes: no human study of the oil was found.
Why this rating
Zero trials. Only group opinions, a general review and lab chemistry. Marketing is ahead of the research.
Form and dose studied
Oil rubbed on the skin; formulas and blends vary and labels cannot show how much true baobab oil is in a blend.
Who was studied
Not studied in people.
Limits
The safety panel opinion is for a group of oils and is not a test of this oil. The review does not give baobab-specific results in its abstract.
Why researchers looked
The oil is rich in oleic, linoleic and palmitic acid and is sold as a cosmetic oil. Researchers and makers have studied how to extract it.
Traditional use
The oil is described as used in home skin care in Ghana (Ofori 2023 authors); no other tradition of using the oil is described in the sources read.
Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory
Not tested. Plant oils in general are described by one review as having constituents linked to skin barrier function; this was not shown for baobab oil.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
No human or animal trial of baobab seed oil on skin or hair was found. Do not swallow the oil because of the skin-care label: see the safety tab.
Hair and scalp care
Not enough evidenceNo study of baobab seed oil on hair or scalp was found in the sources read.
2 studiesNot studied.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
No human or animal study of the oil on hair or scalp was found (same PubMed searches, 2026-10-25).
Results
No result.
Effect sizes as reported
No effect sizes: no human study of the oil was found.
Why this rating
Nothing to rate. A claim without a source.
Form and dose studied
Not studied.
Who was studied
Not studied.
Limits
The extraction papers describe the oil's properties, not any effect on hair.
Why researchers looked
The oil is sold for hair, often because it is a rich plant oil.
Traditional use
The oil is described as used in home skin care in Ghana (Ofori 2023 authors); no other tradition of using the oil is described in the sources read.
Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory
Not tested.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
No human or animal trial of baobab seed oil on skin or hair was found. Do not swallow the oil because of the skin-care label: see the safety tab.
Acne-prone skin and clogged pores
Not enough evidenceNo test of baobab oil on acne-prone skin was found. Old pore-clogging lists came from animal tests; one small human study found that finished products with such ingredients are not necessarily pore-clogging.
1 studiesNot studied for baobab oil.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
No study of baobab oil for acne or pore-clogging found. A 2006 study of six people tested finished cosmetic products, not baobab oil.
Results
Finished products using comedogenic ingredients are not necessarily comedogenic (six people, four weeks). It does not say whether baobab oil clogs pores.
Effect sizes as reported
No effect sizes: no human study of the oil was found.
Why this rating
Cannot say. The only human data are a six-person test of other products.
Form and dose studied
Not studied for baobab oil.
Who was studied
Six adults who form comedones, tested with other products.
Limits
Six people only, other products.
Why researchers looked
People with oily or acne-prone skin ask whether a rich oil will block pores.
Traditional use
The oil is described as used in home skin care in Ghana (Ofori 2023 authors); no other tradition of using the oil is described in the sources read.
Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory
Not tested for baobab oil.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
No human or animal trial of baobab seed oil on skin or hair was found. Do not swallow the oil because of the skin-care label: see the safety tab.
Antioxidant and enzyme-blocking tests (lab only)
Not enough evidenceIn test tubes, baobab seed oil blocked two enzymes (cholinesterases) and seed extracts showed antioxidant activity. These are lab readings, not effects in people.
2 studiesTest-tube extracts and oil samples.
Studies, doses and limits
Results
The baobab oil showed the highest anti-cholinesterase activity of the samples in a Sudanese oilseed study (2.44 and 2.10 mg galantamine equivalent per g). Seed and pulp extracts showed antioxidant activity in another test-tube study.
Effect sizes as reported
No effect sizes: no human study of the oil was found.
Why this rating
Test tube only. No animal or human result for the oil.
Form and dose studied
Test-tube extracts and oil samples.
Who was studied
No people studied.
Limits
Test-tube activity often does not carry over to the body. The antimicrobial result in one paper was for fruit pulp extract, not the oil.
Why researchers looked
Researchers screen seed oils and extracts for antioxidant and enzyme-blocking activity as a first step.
Traditional use
No traditional use of the oil for this is described in the sources read.
Proposed mechanism Laboratory research
Lab readings of chemical activity in a test tube (antioxidant and enzyme assays).
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Lab results only. They are not a reason to swallow the oil.
Traditional use of the baobab tree
Not enough evidenceThe baobab tree is used in traditional African medicine for fever, diarrhoea, malaria and infections, per one review. The seed oil is not described there as a medicine.
1 studiesNot applicable.
Studies, doses and limits
Results
A literature review lists traditional uses of the tree and says the seeds are a good source of protein and fat. No trial of the oil.
Effect sizes as reported
No effect sizes: no human study of the oil was found.
Why this rating
Traditional use of a tree is not evidence that its seed oil works.
Limits
The review is about the tree and found no data on dental use.
Why researchers looked
The tree has a long place in African traditional medicine.
Traditional use
The baobab tree has a long history in traditional African medicine (2023 review); the review does not describe the seed oil as a medicine.
Proposed mechanism Traditional use
Not tested for the oil.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Traditional use of a tree does not show the oil is safe or useful.
Connections to the rest of health
How Baobab Oil connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.
Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes
A. Wellness goals
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthy Skin | Not enough evidence | Skin care (softening, moisturising, skin barrier): No trial of baobab seed oil on skin was found. What exists is a group safety opinion on plant oils in cosmetics, a review of African skin oils, and lab studies of how the oil is made. Acne-prone skin and clogged pores: No test of baobab oil on acne-prone skin was found. Old pore-clogging lists came from animal tests; one small human study found that finished products with such ingredients are not necessarily pore-clogging. | 5 4 10 7 | |
| Hair Support | Not enough evidence | Hair and scalp care: No study of baobab seed oil on hair or scalp was found in the sources read. | 10 8 |
B. Body systems
C. Body parts and organs
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liver | Adverse effect or risk | Very low certainty | Rat feeding studies: higher relative liver weight and lower liver drug-handling enzymes. Not shown in people. Preparation or compound: Fresh seed oil with cyclopropene fatty acids, fed to rats |
2 6 |
| Skin | Biological association | Not enough evidence | No trial of the oil; group cosmetic safety opinion only. Preparation or compound: Seed oil on skin |
5 |
J. Genes, receptors and enzymes
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cytochrome P-450 (liver drug-handling enzymes) | Preliminary mechanism | Animal | Lower in rats fed fresh baobab oil. | 2 |
L. Active compounds
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oleic acid | Biological association | Lab | A main fat in the oil. No effect of the oil was tested. Preparation or compound: Seed oil |
8 12 |
| Linoleic acid | Biological association | Lab | A main fat in the oil. Preparation or compound: Seed oil |
8 12 |
| Palmitic acid | Biological association | Lab | A main fat in the oil. Preparation or compound: Seed oil |
8 12 13 |
| Sterculic acid | Biological association | Animal | Blocked fat-making (desaturase) enzymes in rat liver preparations. Preparation or compound: Seed oil |
12 6 15 |
| Malvalic acid | Biological association | Animal | Blocked fat-making (desaturase) enzymes in rat liver preparations. Preparation or compound: Seed oil |
12 6 15 |
Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 25, 2026).
Evidence at a glance: what the research found for 5 outcomes
Each outcome below is one thing researchers measured. Certainty is how far the evidence can be trusted, not how well it works. The full studies are on the next tab.
The evidence
The research centre for Baobab Oil. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.
Evidence by outcome
Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).
How we rate evidence
High certainty
Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.
Moderate certainty
Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.
Low certainty
Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.
Very low certainty
Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.
Mixed findings
Trials or reviews disagree with each other.
Not enough evidence
Not enough human research to say either way.
Evidence against
Good research found no benefit, or found harm.
We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We read PubMed abstracts of 13 papers, checked the plant name in GBIF and compounds in PubChem, and saw the title and journal of one more paper (not used for findings). Only abstracts were read. Certainty ratings are the compiler's own reading. Funding is not stated in most abstracts. No study is cited that we could not verify.
Study library: every study we checked 16
| Study | Design | People | Product, dose, length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abuljadayel 2023 The Potential Uses of Baobab Tree's Medicinal Effects in Dentistry: A Literature Review. Cureus · PMID 38957190 · DOI |
Narrative review review |
Literature on the baobab tree | Baobab tree parts (pulp, leaves, seeds, others) whole tree Not given here |
The tree has a long history in traditional African medicine for fever, diarrhoea, malaria, cough, dysentery and microbial infections. The pulp is rich in vitamin C; the seeds are considered a good source of protein and fat. No information on use in dentistry was found. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Traditional uses, content and reported activities of the tree Limitations: A narrative review about the whole tree, not the seed oil. It reports lab-type activities, not clinical results for the oil. Funding and conflicts: Funding and conflicts of interest are not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Andrianaivo-Rafehivola 1995 Modifications of hepatic drug metabolizing enzyme activities in rats fed baobab seed oil containing cyclopropenoid fatty acids. Food Chem Toxicol · PMID 7759021 · DOI |
Animal research rat |
Rats | Diet with fresh baobab seed oil (1.27% cyclopropenoid fatty acids in the diet) or heated baobab oil (0.046%), versus a mixed control oil seed oil Not given here · vs Control oil with no cyclopropenoid fatty acids |
Rats fed fresh baobab oil showed retarded growth, markedly higher relative liver weights, and lower cytochrome P-450 and reductase activities. Glutathione transferase activity was markedly lower. With heated oil, relative liver weight fell and P-450 and reductase levels rose compared with fresh oil. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Growth, liver weight, liver drug-handling enzymes Limitations: A rat feeding study with a diet in which the oil was a large share. It shows a warning signal for swallowed unheated oil; it does not show harm in people. Funding and conflicts: Funding and conflicts of interest are not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Augustyn 2021 Metabolomics of baobab oil: Analysis and authentication of cyclopropenoid fatty acids using similarity and differential NMR spectroscopy J Food Compos Anal · Source · DOI |
Lab study n/a |
n/a | n/a |
Only the title, authors, journal and year were read (Crossref record). The findings were not read, so none are used on the page. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Not read Limitations: Title only. NOT verified beyond the title. Read: title-only |
| Ayanlowo O et al 2022 African oils in dermatology. Dermatol Ther · PMID 33928725 · DOI |
Narrative review review |
Literature review plus interviews with traditional healers in Nigeria | Six plant oils and one animal fat, with baobab oil among the search terms plant oils Not given here |
The authors say plant and seed oils have long been used for skin care and traditional treatment in Africa. They report that the oils' constituents have been shown to promote skin barrier function, wound healing and anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, and that adverse effects are mainly due to processing and storage hygiene. They call for further studies. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Traditional, cosmetic and medical uses; benefits and adverse effects Limitations: The abstract does not give baobab-specific results, and it includes traditional-healer interviews. It is not a trial of baobab oil. Funding and conflicts: Funding and conflicts of interest are not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Burnett 2017 Safety Assessment of Plant-Derived Fatty Acid Oils. Int J Toxicol · PMID 29243540 · DOI |
Safety assessment review |
Expert panel review of 244 plant-derived fatty acid oils used in cosmetics | Plant-derived fatty acid oils (group), as used in cosmetics seed and other plant oils Not given here |
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel concluded that the 244 plant-derived fatty acid oils are safe as used in cosmetics. The review focused on skin effects because many of the oils are edible and their systemic toxicity potential is low. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Safety of the oils as used in cosmetics, with a focus on skin effects Limitations: The abstract does not name baobab seed oil, so it cannot be confirmed from the abstract that baobab is one of the 244. A group opinion, not a trial, and not about swallowing the oil. Funding and conflicts: Funding and conflicts of interest are not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Cao 1993 Inhibition of fatty acid delta 6- and delta 5-desaturation by cyclopropene fatty acids in rat liver microsomes. Biochim Biophys Acta · PMID 7903050 · DOI |
Animal research rat |
Rats and rat liver preparations | Fresh baobab seed oil (with cyclopropene fatty acids), heated baobab oil, or a control oil, fed to rats seed oil Not given here · vs Control oil |
Fresh baobab oil in the diet strongly lowered two fat-making (desaturase) enzyme activities in rat liver preparations. Arachidonic acid in liver membrane fats was lower in rats fed fresh oil and also in rats fed heated oil. The cyclopropene fatty acids malvalic and sterculic acid had the same effect when added in the dish. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Fat-making enzyme activity in liver preparations; arachidonic acid content Limitations: Rat and test-tube work. Human relevance is not known. Amounts fed are in the paper and are not repeated here. Funding and conflicts: Funding and conflicts of interest are not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Draelos 2006 A re-evaluation of the comedogenicity concept. J Am Acad Dermatol · PMID 16488305 · DOI |
Human pilot |
6 Six people with prominent follicular openings, able to form comedones |
Finished cosmetic products, patched on the upper back three times a week finished cosmetic products Not given here 4 weeks |
Finished products that use comedogenic ingredients are not necessarily comedogenic. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Follicles and microcomedones per square inch Limitations: Six people and a limited number of products. It does not test baobab oil. Funding and conflicts: Funding and conflicts of interest are not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Gashi 2025 A sustainable approach to extracting baobab oil: neat supercritical CO(2) optimization. RSC Adv · PMID 40567481 · DOI |
Lab study plant material |
Baobab seeds | Baobab seed oil extracted with supercritical carbon dioxide, compared with hot-pressed oil seed oil Not given here · vs Hot pressing |
The CO2 method gave 9.3 wt% oil at best, against 37 wt% by hot pressing. The CO2 oil had a fatty acid profile comparable to warm-pressed oil: oleic about 37%, linoleic 29% and palmitic 30% by weight. The authors describe the oil as solvent-free. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Oil yield and fatty acid profile Limitations: A lab study of extraction. No effect on skin, hair or health was tested. Funding and conflicts: Funding and conflicts of interest are not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Msalilwa 2020 Physicochemical Properties, Fatty Acid Composition, and the Effect of Heating on the Reduction of Cyclopropenoid Fatty Acids on Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) Crude Seed Oil. J Lipids · PMID 33510911 · DOI |
Lab study plant material |
Baobab seed oil from semiarid areas of Tanzania | Crude seed oil extracted with n-hexane, then heated at 150, 200 and 250 C seed oil Not given here · vs Unheated oil |
The oil had twelve main fatty acids and two CPFAs; palmitic, oleic and linoleic were most abundant. The authors write that communities see the oil as a health risk because of CPFAs, which they call carcinogenic. The major breakdown of CPFAs happened at 200 C. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Fatty acid make-up and cyclopropenoid fatty acid (CPFA) content after heating Limitations: A lab study. The cancer wording is the authors' statement, not a finding of this study. No health outcome was tested. Funding and conflicts: Funding and conflicts of interest are not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Ofori 2023 Impact of Different Oil Extraction Techniques on the Physicochemical Properties of Adansonia digitata Seed. Int J Food Sci · PMID 37920840 · DOI |
Lab study plant material |
Baobab seeds from Ghana | Baobab seed oil made by mechanical pressing or by n-hexane (Soxhlet) extraction seed oil Not given here · vs Mechanical versus Soxhlet extraction |
Soxhlet extraction recovered 27.75% oil and mechanical extraction 5.422%. Peroxide values were 15.09 (mechanical) and 11.89 (Soxhlet) mEq/g and iodine values 85.89 and 88.45 g/100g. Some properties differed significantly between methods. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Oil yield, iodine, peroxide and acid values, colour, density Limitations: A lab study of oil properties. It tests no effect on skin, hair or health. The authors say the seeds are used locally for topical medication, but the abstract gives no evidence for that. Funding and conflicts: Funding and conflicts of interest are not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Rahman 2025 Nutraceutical Potential of Oilseeds and By-Products (Cakes) of Three Underutilized Malvaceae Trees Grown in Sudan. Food Sci Nutr · PMID 40051604 · DOI |
Lab study plant material |
Seed oils and cakes of three Sudanese trees, including Adansonia digitata | Seed oil and press cake extracts, tested in the test tube seed oil and seed cake Not given here · vs Other trees tested alongside |
Of the samples tested, the baobab oil showed the highest anti-acetylcholinesterase (2.44 mg galantamine equivalent per g extract) and anti-butyrylcholinesterase (2.10) activity, and the baobab cake the best alpha-glucosidase blocking (1.46 acarbose equivalent per g). Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Chemical profile; antioxidant and enzyme-blocking tests Limitations: Test-tube readings only. They do not show effects in people. Funding and conflicts: Funding and conflicts of interest are not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Ralaimanarivo 1982 Fatty acid composition of seed oils from six Adansonia species with particular reference to cyclopropane and cyclopropene acids. Lipids · PMID 27519305 · DOI |
Lab study plant material |
Seed oils of six Adansonia species from Madagascar and Africa, including A. digitata | Seed oils seed oil Not given here |
Oil content ranged from 8 to 46%. Across the six species, malvalic acid was 3 to 28%, sterculic acid 1 to 8% and dihydrosterculic acid 1.5 to 5.1%. Palmitic (21-46%), oleic (15-40%) and linoleic (12-32%) were the main normal fatty acids. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Oil content and fatty acid make-up Limitations: The abstract gives ranges across species, not a figure for A. digitata alone. Old paper (1982). Funding and conflicts: Funding and conflicts of interest are not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Razafimamonjison 2017 Fatty Acid Composition of Baobab Seed and Its Relationship with the Genus Adansonia Taxonomy. Chem Biodivers · PMID 28212461 · DOI |
Lab study plant material |
Seeds of all Adansonia species | Seed oils seed oil Not given here |
All baobab species oils contain three major fatty acids (palmitic, oleic, linoleic) and specific cyclopropenic and cyclopropanic acids. The fatty acid make-up does not give a definitive profile for each species, and was not significantly influenced by where the seeds were collected. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Fatty acid make-up by gas chromatography Limitations: A chemistry study. No health outcome was tested. Funding and conflicts: Funding and conflicts of interest are not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Thompson 2024 In-vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial and phytochemical properties of extracts from the pulp and seeds of the African baobab fruit (Adansonia digitata L.). Heliyon · PMID 38665573 · DOI |
Lab study plant material |
Baobab fruit pulp and seeds from mature fruit | Water, 70% ethanol and hexane extracts of pulp and seeds pulp and seed extracts Not given here |
Extracts showed antioxidant activity in test-tube assays. The fruit pulp extract inhibited growth of bacteria and fungi in the dish. Myristic, palmitic and stearic acid were found in oil from the seeds. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Antioxidant, antimicrobial and nutrient tests; fatty acids by GC-MS Limitations: Test-tube work, mostly on pulp and on extracts, not on the pressed seed oil used in skin care. Funding and conflicts: Funding and conflicts of interest are not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| n/a 2026 PubChem compound records: oleic, linoleic, palmitic, sterculic and malvalic acid PubChem PUG REST · Source |
Database record n/a |
n/a | n/a |
CIDs checked by name: oleic acid 445639 (C18H34O2), linoleic acid 5280450 (C18H32O2), palmitic acid 985 (C16H32O2), sterculic acid 12921 (C19H34O2), malvalic acid 10416 (C18H32O2). Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Compound ids and formulas Limitations: A chemistry database, not a health source. Read: api-record |
| n/a 2026 GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Adansonia digitata L. (species match, usage key 5406695) GBIF API · Source |
Database record n/a |
n/a | n/a |
Adansonia digitata L. is an ACCEPTED species (match type exact, confidence 99). Order Malvales, family Malvaceae. NCBI Taxonomy search returned id 69109 for the name. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Accepted name, authority and classification Limitations: A name database, not a health source. Read: api-record |
What we do not know yet
- What the evidence supports: nothing beyond insufficient. No human or animal trial of the oil on skin or hair.
- Human safety, allergy, pregnancy, breastfeeding, children, pets and medicine interactions were not studied.
- Rat studies show liver and growth signals for fresh oil; whether they matter in people is not known.
- EU and US status of the oil, LiverTox, and the 2021 authentication paper (title only) were not verified.
How new research is added
New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and placed in a review queue. A person reads each one before it changes any rating or safety wording.
Lab markers
What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".
Safety
What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.
Main points to know 4
- Fresh, unheated oil holds unusual fats that caused problems in rats. Baobab seed oil contains cyclopropene fatty acids (malvalic and sterculic acid). In rat feeding studies, a diet with fresh baobab oil slowed growth, raised relative liver weight, lowered a main liver drug-handling enzyme (cytochrome P-450) and blocked fat-making enzymes. Heated oil, which has far fewer of these fats, had a smaller effect. These are animal findings with a large share of oil in the diet; human effects are not known. Authors of a Tanzanian paper write that communities see the oil as a health risk for this reason and call the fats carcinogenic; that is their statement, not tested in that study. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before swallowing it. Animal research 2 6 9
- No human safety study of the oil exists in the sources read. No trial, case report or poison-centre record about baobab seed oil was found. A 2017 expert panel judged 244 plant-derived fatty acid oils safe as used in cosmetics, but its abstract does not name baobab oil and the panel looked at skin effects of oils that are edible and low in whole-body toxicity. Authoritative guidance 5
- Quality of the oil is hard to judge from the label. How the oil is made changes it: pressing, hexane extraction and CO2 extraction gave different yields, and the peroxide value differed by method in one study. A 2021 paper set out to authenticate the cyclopropene fats in baobab oil, but only its title was read, so no finding is used here. Blends can hide how much true baobab oil is in a bottle. Lab study 10 8 3
- Skin allergy has not been studied. No source read reports or rules out allergy to baobab seed oil. A 2022 review of African skin oils says that side effects of such oils are mainly due to processing and storage hygiene. If your skin reacts to oils, test a small patch first and stop if it itches or reddens. Review 4
Side effects 2
| Effect | How often | Severity and recovery | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slowed growth, enlarged liver and lowered liver enzymes in rats fed fresh baobab seed oil The diet had a high share of the oil. Heated oil gave smaller changes. Not shown in humans. | Seen in the rat groups fed fresh oil; not known in people | Not graded Not stated | Animal research 2 |
| Skin reactions (rash, itch, redness) No case report of baobab seed oil was found; the absence of reports is not proof of safety. | No report found | Not known Not known | Insufficient 4 |
Liver
No human liver injury from baobab seed oil was found in the sources read. In rats fed fresh oil, relative liver weight rose and liver drug-handling enzymes fell. LiverTox was not searched for this oil. 2
How often. Not known in people.
This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Baobab Oil supports liver health.
Medicines and supplements 2
| With | Why it matters | Importance | Evidence | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prescription medicines handled by liver enzymes (cytochrome P-450) prescription | In rats, fresh baobab oil lowered cytochrome P-450 and changed other liver enzymes. Whether this matters in people is not known. | Unknown. Animal signal only. | Animal research Very low certainty 2 | If you plan to swallow the oil, ask a pharmacist or doctor, especially if you take regular medicines. |
| Other medicines and supplements other | No interaction was described in the sources read. | None documented. | Insufficient Not enough evidence | Tell your pharmacist you use it, as for any product. |
Who should check first 4
| Situation | Advice | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Swallowing unheated baobab seed oil | Ask a doctor or pharmacist first. Rat studies of the fresh oil raise concern and no human safety study was found. | Animal research 2 6 |
| Pregnancy, breastfeeding, babies and young children | No data. Ask a doctor, pharmacist or midwife before use. | Insufficient |
| Pets | No data found. Ask a vet before using it on or near a pet. | Insufficient |
| Skin that reacts to plant oils or seed allergies | Test a small patch and stop if there is rash, itch or swelling. Allergy to this oil was not studied. | Insufficient 4 |
Overdose, product quality and regulators
Summary. No toxic dose or poisoning from baobab seed oil in people is described in the sources read. Animal studies of fresh oil show growth and liver effects.
Animal. Rats fed fresh baobab oil: retarded growth, higher relative liver weight, lower cytochrome P-450 and reductase activities, much lower glutathione transferase. With heated oil, the changes were smaller or reversed.
High dose or long term signals. Not studied in people.
Overdose response. Not described.
Genotoxicity. Not read. A paper says communities and the authors link the oil's cyclopropene fats to cancer concerns; this was not tested there.
Toxic or hazardous parts. The seeds are the part pressed for the oil. The cyclopropene fats come from the seed oil. The fruit pulp is a separate food ingredient.
The oil's quality depends on how it is made. Cyclopropene fat content drops with heating, solvents are used in some methods, and blends cannot be judged by the label.
Cyclopropene fats and heating. Heating at 200 C gave the major breakdown of cyclopropenoid fatty acids in one lab study; the authors recommend refining at high temperatures to reduce them. Refined oil is a different product from cold-pressed oil. 9 2
How it is extracted. Pressing gave 5.4% oil and n-hexane (Soxhlet) 27.75% from Ghanaian seed. A CO2 method gave a solvent-free oil with a fatty acid make-up like warm-pressed oil. Whether solvent traces remain in market oils was not studied in the sources read. 10 8
Going off (oxidation). Peroxide values of 15.09 (pressed) and 11.89 (solvent) mEq/g were reported for one seed lot. No baobab-specific storage study was found. 10
Authenticity of commercial oils. A 2021 NMR paper set out to authenticate baobab oil by its cyclopropene fats. Only its title was read; its findings are not used. 3
| Body | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review (expert panel, USA) (United States) | Concluded in 2017 that 244 plant-derived fatty acid oils are safe as used in cosmetics. The abstract does not name baobab oil. source | 2017-12-01 |
When to get medical help
- Swelling of the lips, tongue or face, wheezing or trouble breathing after using or swallowing the oil: call emergency services now.
- Spreading rash, hives or blistering after using it on skin: stop and get medical advice.
- A child or pet that has swallowed a skin-care oil and seems unwell: call a poison centre, doctor or vet.
Stop using the product and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.
General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does baobab oil have proven benefits for skin or hair?
Is baobab oil the same as baobab fruit powder?
What are cyclopropene fatty acids?
Is it safe to swallow?
No human safety study was found, and rat studies of the fresh oil showed growth and liver changes. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before swallowing it.
Is it safe on the skin?
Will it clog my pores?
Unknown. No test of baobab oil was found. Pore-clogging lists come from older animal tests, and a small human study found finished products with such ingredients are not necessarily pore-clogging.
Is it safe in pregnancy, for babies or for pets?
The sources read do not cover pregnancy, breastfeeding, babies or pets. Ask a doctor, pharmacist or vet.
Does it interact with medicines?
No human interaction was found, which is not proof there is none. In rats the fresh oil lowered liver drug-handling enzymes. Tell your pharmacist you use it.
Can I be allergic to it?
No report was found, and no allergy study either. If your skin reacts to plant oils, test a small patch first and stop if it itches or swells.
Does the way it is made matter?
How can I tell if it is pure baobab oil?
The label alone cannot show it. Look for the Latin name Adansonia digitata and one ingredient. A blend cannot show how much baobab oil it holds. A 2021 paper aimed to authenticate baobab oil by NMR; only its title was read.
Does baobab oil go rancid?
Oils with unsaturated fats can go off. One study reported peroxide values for baobab seed oil but no baobab storage study was found. Keep it closed, cool and dark.
Explore by health goal
Editorial transparency
- Written by
- AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against PubMed records.
- Medical review
- None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
- First published
- 2026-10-25
- Last substantive update
- 2026-10-25
- How we research
- We read PubMed abstracts of 13 papers, checked the plant name in GBIF and compounds in PubChem, and saw the title and journal of one more paper (not used for findings). Only abstracts were read. Certainty ratings are the compiler's own reading. Funding is not stated in most abstracts. No study is cited that we could not verify.
- How we rate evidence
- See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
- Independence
- No product is promoted on this page. No affiliate links are shown.
Sources 16
Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.
- Abuljadayel JA. The Potential Uses of Baobab Tree's Medicinal Effects in Dentistry: A Literature Review.. Cureus. 2023. PMID 38957190. DOI 10.7759/cureus.49304. (abstract)
- Andrianaivo-Rafehivola AA, Siess MH, Gaydou EM et al. Modifications of hepatic drug metabolizing enzyme activities in rats fed baobab seed oil containing cyclopropenoid fatty acids.. Food Chem Toxicol. 1995. PMID 7759021. DOI 10.1016/0278-6915(94)00151-d. (abstract)
- Augustyn, Viljoen, Schripsema. Metabolomics of baobab oil: Analysis and authentication of cyclopropenoid fatty acids using similarity and differential NMR spectroscopy. J Food Compos Anal. 2021. DOI 10.1016/j.jfca.2021.104000. (title-only)
- Ayanlowo O et al. African oils in dermatology.. Dermatol Ther. 2022. PMID 33928725. DOI 10.1111/dth.14968. (abstract)
- Burnett CL, Fiume MM, Bergfeld WF et al. Safety Assessment of Plant-Derived Fatty Acid Oils.. Int J Toxicol. 2017. PMID 29243540. DOI 10.1177/1091581817740569. (abstract)
- Cao J, Blond JP, Bezard J. Inhibition of fatty acid delta 6- and delta 5-desaturation by cyclopropene fatty acids in rat liver microsomes.. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1993. PMID 7903050. DOI 10.1016/0005-2760(93)90045-b. (abstract)
- Draelos ZD, DiNardo JC. A re-evaluation of the comedogenicity concept.. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006. PMID 16488305. DOI 10.1016/j.jaad.2005.11.1058. (abstract)
- Gashi F, Turner C, Mustafa A et al. A sustainable approach to extracting baobab oil: neat supercritical CO(2) optimization.. RSC Adv. 2025. PMID 40567481. DOI 10.1039/d5ra02490k. (abstract)
- Msalilwa UL, Makule EE, Munishi LK et al. Physicochemical Properties, Fatty Acid Composition, and the Effect of Heating on the Reduction of Cyclopropenoid Fatty Acids on Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) Crude Seed Oil.. J Lipids. 2020. PMID 33510911. DOI 10.1155/2020/6691298. (abstract)
- Ofori H, Bart-Plange A, Addo A et al. Impact of Different Oil Extraction Techniques on the Physicochemical Properties of Adansonia digitata Seed.. Int J Food Sci. 2023. PMID 37920840. DOI 10.1155/2023/6233461. (abstract)
- Rahman MTA, Yagi S, Zengin G et al. Nutraceutical Potential of Oilseeds and By-Products (Cakes) of Three Underutilized Malvaceae Trees Grown in Sudan.. Food Sci Nutr. 2025. PMID 40051604. DOI 10.1002/fsn3.70080. (abstract)
- Ralaimanarivo A, Gaydou EM, Bianchini JP. Fatty acid composition of seed oils from six Adansonia species with particular reference to cyclopropane and cyclopropene acids.. Lipids. 1982. PMID 27519305. DOI 10.1007/BF02535115. (abstract)
- Razafimamonjison G, Leong Pock Tsy JM, Randriamiarinarivo M et al. Fatty Acid Composition of Baobab Seed and Its Relationship with the Genus Adansonia Taxonomy.. Chem Biodivers. 2017. PMID 28212461. DOI 10.1002/cbdv.201600441. (abstract)
- Thompson PT, Boamah VE, Badu M et al. In-vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial and phytochemical properties of extracts from the pulp and seeds of the African baobab fruit (Adansonia digitata L.).. Heliyon. 2024. PMID 38665573. DOI 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29660. (abstract)
- n/a. PubChem compound records: oleic, linoleic, palmitic, sterculic and malvalic acid. PubChem PUG REST. 2026. (api-record)
- n/a. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Adansonia digitata L. (species match, usage key 5406695). GBIF API. 2026. (api-record)
Where to buy
Check the label first. Whatever you buy, look for these:
- 100% pure with no added fragrance or fillers
- Cold-pressed or unrefined if you want the most natural form
- For skin use, do a small patch test first
- Cosmetic or food grade, matched to how you will use it
Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before you start any supplement, especially if you take medicines. See the Safety tab for interactions.
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