Nutritional Benefits of Shea Products and Medicinal Properties of Shea Butter

Year 2024, Volume: 44 Issue: 1, 46 - 61, 01.03.2024

Esra Karaca Sevda Güzel Kara

https://doi.org/10.52794/hujpharm.1328634

Abstract

The shea tree, Vitellaria paradoxa (Syn. Butyrospermum paradoxum, B.paradoxa, B.parkii) (Sapotaceae), grows naturally in the dry savanna belt of West Africa. Two subspecies of the plant has been identified namely V. paradoxa subsp. paradoxa and V. paradoxa subsp. nilotica. The tree is known by different names in different countries. The importance of the shea tree was recognized centuries ago through the fruit, its kernels, and butter. Today, the shea tree has great economic potential. Traditionally, various usage of the different parts of the plant have been recorded. Shea butter is used in the food preparation, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. It has been shown in various studies that the shea butter and its isolated compounds have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-diarrheic, anti-arthritic, antitumor, UV-protective, emollient, moisturizing, anti-aging, and protease inhibition effects. The effects of the shea butter on cholesterol and protein metabolism have also been reported. Due to high percentage of unsaponifiable compounds the shea butter is highly demanded in the international cosmetic industry. In the current study; actual information about the distribution of the shea tree; traditional uses; chemical contents and nutritional benefits of fruit, kernel and butter; and medicinal properties and usage areas of the shea butter has been compiled.

Keywords

Vitellaria paradoxa, shea butter, natural cosmetic, chemical composition, edible oil

Project Number

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Karite Ürünlerinin Besinsel Faydaları ve Karite Yağının Tıbbi Özellikleri

Abstract

Karite veya Shea ağacı, Vitellaria paradoxa (Syn: Butyrospermum paradoxum, B. paradoxa, B. parkii) (Sapotaceae), Batı Afrika’nın kuru savan kuşağında doğal olarak yetişir. V. paradoxa subsp. paradoxa ve V. paradoxa subsp. nilotica olmak üzere iki alt türü tanımlanmıştır. Ağaç farklı ülkelerde farklı isimlerle bilinir. Karite ağacının önemi yüzyıllar önce meyvesi, çekirdekleri ve yağı aracılığıyla anlaşılmıştır. Günümüzde ise karite ağacı büyük bir ekonomik potansiyele sahiptir. Geleneksel olarak bitkinin farklı kısımlarının çok çeşitli kullanımları kayıtlıdır. Yağ; gıda hazırlama, ilaç ve kozmetik endüstrisinde kullanılır. Yağın ve yağdan izole edilen bileşiklerin anti-inflamatuvar, antimikrobiyal, antioksidan, anti-diyareyik, anti-artritik, antitümör, UV-koruyucu, emoliyan, nemlendirici, yaşlanma karşıtı ve proteaz inhibisyon etkilerinin olduğu çeşitli araştırmalarda gösterilmiştir. Ayrıca yağın kolesterol ve protein metabolizması üzerine etkisi bildirilmiştir. Yağ sabunlaşmayan maddelerin yüksek yüzdesi nedeniyle uluslararası kozmetik endüstrisinde oldukça talep görmektedir. Bu çalışmada; karite ağacının yayılışı, geleneksel kullanımı, ağaçtan elde edile meyve, çekirdek ve yağın kimyasal içerikleri; besinsel faydaları ve yağın tıbbi özellikleri ve kullanım alanları ile ilgili güncel bilgiler derlenmiştir.

Keywords

Vitellaria paradoxa, karite yağı, doğal kozmetik, kimyasal içerik, yemeklik yağ

Supporting Institution

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Project Number

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Thanks

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