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Karanja Vegetable Oil

Commonly known as: Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil (I.N.C.I.), also known as Karanj, Pongolote tree, Indian Beech, Pongamia, Punjam, Pongamia pinnata, Millettia pinnata, Derris indica.

Botanical name: Pongamia glabra.

Extraction process: First cold pressing followed by purification through refining.

Family: Legumes.

Part of the plant extracted: Seeds.

Location: Primarily in India, but also in Southeast Asia, Australia, and the United States.

Flowering: Twice a year: in the spring, from April to May, and in the fall, from September to November.

Provenance, origin: States of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh (India).

Phytochemical composition: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid); monounsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid); saturated fatty acids (palmitic acid, stearic acid, behenic acid); flavonoids (pongamol, karanjin).

Sensorial properties: Appearance: Oily liquid; Color: Yellow to light brown; Scent: Subtle note of nuts; Feel: Greasy.

Physical characteristics: Density: 0.910 - 0.940; Comedogenicity Index: 2; Saponification Index: 183; Oxidative Potential: Stable.

Benefits: Antioxidant, emollient, purifying, anti-inflammatory, softening, hydrating, regenerating, nourishing, protective, anti-bacterial.

Concerns: All skin types, particularly sensitive, blemished, mature, and exposed skin; All hair types, especially hair exposed to the sun, dry, damaged/brittle, colored, and bleached; Recommended as a preventive treatment against photoaging.

Details

Applications

Facial Care (serums, sunscreens, day creams);
Body Care (tanning oils, after-sun care, solid soaps);
Hair Care (oils, balms, shampoos, masks);
Makeups (BB creams, CC creams).

Method of Preservation

The vegetable oil of karanja is not very sensitive to oxidation. It should be stored in a cool place, protected from light and heat.

Contraindications, Usage Precautions

Karanja oil is highly concentrated with active molecules, thus it is not recommended to use it in its pure form. Even though karanja oil is known for its UV absorption properties, the French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM) emphasizes that it is not a sunscreen. Indeed, it is not listed by the European Cosmetic Regulation as a UV filter. Therefore, it cannot be used as such in cosmetic products and cannot replace a sunscreen cream.

Find out more

The karanja is a tree that typically grows to a height of 15 to 25 meters and produces fruits, each containing one to two white kernels covered in a red skin (approximately 20,000 seeds per tree). The oil of the karanja is derived from pressing these kernels and is not edible. Historically, various parts of the plant were traditionally used as a remedy in the treatment of skin diseases, abscesses, ulcers, rheumatic pains, diarrhea, diabetes, and so on. Rich in pongamol and karanjin, karanja vegetable oil is considered an anti-UV ingredient. Moreover, the chemical structure of pongamol is very similar to that of avobenzone, a UVA blocker. These constituents thus have the ability to absorb UVA and UVA rays. However, it is essential to clarify that it cannot replace sunscreen and is not considered a sun filter by the European Cosmetic Regulation.