"Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil" is the I.N.C.I. name used to refer to thepracaxi vegetable oil. Pracaxi is a fruit native to the Amazon. It contains a significant concentration of behenic acid, six times more than in peanuts, for example. Its vegetable oil has been used since time immemorial by the indigenous populations of the Amazon as a detangler, hair strengthener, and even as a skin lightener for pigmentation spots when applied topically.
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- What is "Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil" and what is its utility?
What is "Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil" and what is its utility?
What is pracaxi oil?
The Pentaclethra macroloba is a tree that primarily grows in Brazil, Guyana, and certain regions of Central America. Its bark has been used for hundreds of years by indigenous populations to combat certain diseases such as dysentery and ulcers, or to mitigate the effects of snake venom, scorpion stings, and insect bites.
The fruits of the pracaxi are pods shaped like a half-moon, each containing four to eight seeds. On average, 35 pods yield 1 kg of seeds. To obtain pracaxi vegetable oil, these dried seeds are ground and cold-pressed. No chemical transformation is necessary in the manufacturing process of this substance. In the Amazon, the local populations use this oil topically to combat blemishes and prevent stretch marks. It also helps to beautify the hair and facilitate styling.
It should be noted, the scent of this vegetable oil is unique, with hints of roasted peanuts and coffee, even traces of chocolate.
Pracaxi oil: benefits for the skin and hair.
Due to its biochemical composition, this vegetable oil possesses several virtues.
Pracaxi oil for hair
Due to its high concentration of behenic acid (around 19%), this vegetable oil is considered a natural alternative to surfactants and cationic agents in hair products, which are increasingly criticized today. It has excellent moisturizing and humectant properties; moreover, it controls hair volume and strengthens the hair and scalp. It facilitates styling, increases shine, and prevents hair loss. This oil is thus particularly recommended for unruly and disobedient, curly, frizzy, dry and damaged hair, as well as colored or bleached hair.
Due to these virtues, pracaxi vegetable oil is present in thedry oil Açaï 5% + hibiscus intended for fine and dry hair, as well as in therich oil Péqui 5% + argan, which is more suitable for curly or even kinky hair.
Pracaxi Oil for the Skin
When applied topically, this vegetable oil is recognized for its effectiveness on hyperpigmentation and the appearance of stretch marks. These compounds act as inhibitors of melanin biosynthesis, helping to diminish the appearance of age spots.
Sources:
COSTA, M.N.F.S. & al., Characterization of Pentaclethra macroloba oil. Jornal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, (2013).
Daniel Banov & al., Case Series: The Effectiveness of Fatty Acids from Pracaxi Oil in a Topical Silicone Base for Scar and Wound Therapy, Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). (2014).
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