Compiled & reviewed by
Dr.Sanjana.V.B. Bhms. Dbrm.Cdn

Health benefits of jojoba oil 

 Jojoba or Goat Nut, (Simmondsia chinensis), is a leathery-leaved shrub in the box family (Buxaceae), native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, but cultivated worldwide in Chile, Egypt, and Argentina.

The nut of the jojoba plant can be made into oil. Crude jojoba oil obtained directly from seeds, and oil is in a golden or light yellow color. It has a pleasant, slightly nutty taste.

  For many decades people use jojoba oil as part of their skin care routine. Jojoba oil is used in the manufacture of cosmetic products, such as soaps, shampoos, and hair conditioners.

History

 Jojoba was widely used by Native Americans in the Sonora desert (California) as a foodstuff in the form of cooked fruits and in oil form as a remedy for multiple ailments. The O'odham Native American tribe extracted the oil from jojoba seeds to treat sores and wounds.

It was used as a therapeutic agent in cancer therapy, liver and kidney disorders, obesity, parturition, sore throat, superficial wound healing, warts, psoriasis, acne, sunburn, and treatment of poison ivy exposure .

 The word jojoba, pronounced “ho-ho-ba”.

Uses

·                It helps to control sebum production as it is very similar to the sebum that your body produces naturally.

It prevents comedones and acne of face as the oil has similar sebum like texture and do not clog pores.

·                It moisturizes your skin well;

        Jojoba oil contains natural forms of vitamin E, an antioxidant fighting against oxidative stress attack on your skin.

        Unlike some other essential oils, jojoba oil doesn’t need to be diluted for applying on skin.

·                Jojoba oil is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry, especially in cosmetics, to restore the health of hair and skin.

·                Extensive research studies on Jojoba oil  has shown a wide range of pharmacological applications such as  antioxidant, anti-acne and anti-psoriasis, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antipyretic, analgesic & antimicrobial activities for jojoba oil.

Chemical properties of jojoba oil

  The thermal and oxidative stabilities of the oil are high; therefore, the oil shows high resistance toward rancidity due to the presence of natural antioxidants (α, γ, and δ tocopherol). Refined or bleached oil, obtained by passing the natural oil over activated charcoal and treating with caustic alkali substances, is nearly white with low oxidative stability due to subsequent removal of the antioxidants.

   Jojoba oil is composed of almost 98% pure waxes (mainly wax esters, few free fatty acids, alcohols, and hydrocarbons), sterols, and vitamins with few triglyceride esters, so it is widely known as liquid wax rather than oil or fat.

Jojoba oil contains a few fatty acids, such as palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, and arachidic acid. The fatty acids found in the oil are based on the climate and soil where the shrub grew, in addition to how the oil was processed.

Usually, jojoba oil is highly concentrated with monounsaturated fatty acids. When eaten in small amounts, monounsaturated fats help lower cholesterol levels and prevent heart disease.

Jojoba oil also contains large amounts of vitamin E, which gives jojoba oil even more health benefits. 

Health Benefits

·   Jojoba oil is said to have healing properties, because of the essential fatty acids and vitamin E it content. 

·    Generally, jojoba oil is rubbed into the skin. This oil also has emollient properties. Jojoba softens the skin by trapping moisture.

·     Jojoba oil help in the reduction of Acne. Jojoba oil plays an important role in reducing pimples, blackheads, and other facial blemishes.

·      One study suggests that regular use of a facial mask containing jojoba oil and clay could lead to a reduction in blackheads, whiteheads, and bumps.  Jojoba oil is noncomedogenic, which means it does not clog the pores.

·      Scar Prevention and Wound Healing is another potential of jojoba oil. The oil has high levels of vitamin E and is an antioxidant, both of which may help prevent scars. Plus, jojoba oil may help wounds heal quickly.

·    Jojoba oil helps treatment of Eczema or atopic dermatitis —  a skin condition that causes dry, itchy skin that flakes off. Many people use jojoba oil to ease these symptoms due to the aliphatic alcohol it contains.

·     Jojoba oil helps in the treatment of Psoriasis- a skin condition that occurs because of an overactive immune system ,presenting with dry, flaky skin and inflammation. Jojoba oil may prevent flare-ups of psoriasis that worsen due to ongoing inflammation. The oil may help relieve pain. 

Jojoba oils are often used to treat wrinkles and fine lines. Jojoba oil and its ingredients contain properties that may improve skin elasticity.

·       Dandruff Prevention is another benefit achieved by applying jojoba oil on scalp. Jojoba oil creates a barrier around the skin to keep in moisture. This barrier prevents flaky, itchy dandruff from forming.

·       Jojoba oil has also been shown to help condition hair, and one study shows, it resulted in little protein loss, added protection and improved breakage resistance after jojoba oil was added to hair straightening products. It may  also help improve the shine and glow  of hair . It also helps to make hair more manageable and reduce excess oil. 

·      Sunburn Soothing effect; People use jojoba oil to reduce sunburn signs and to protect their skin from sun damage. Vitamin E and other antioxidants in the oil may be beneficial to the skin. Vitamin E and the moisture of the oil soothe the symptoms of a burn and may promote healing. 

·       Health Risks

Generally, jojoba oil is considered safe for application to the skin. Although it is beneficial to skin, when used outside the body, it may come with some risks. Problems could include:

Allergic Reactions may appear as an itchy rash, red skin, hives, and in severe cases the closing of your airway. If you experience an allergic reaction, you should stop using the oil right away. 

       If the reaction leads to shortness of breath or an outbreak of hives, call your doctor. It is always better to perform an allergy test on a small patch of your skin before you use jojoba oil for the first time. In case of any allergic reaction, you should stop using the oil.

·       Jojoba oil is not meant for ingestion and it should only be used on the skin. Intake of jojoba oil can cause  diarrhea, stomach pain, restlessness, and dry eyes etc. 

·       Amounts and Dosage

Jojoba can be applied in the desired amount to your skin or mixed with essential oils as a carrier. No specific dose is recommended.

Research data on jojoba oil as an effective topical agent on skin

·       Jojoba oil in single-phase and emulsion systems shows an excellent lubricity without the oily, greasy feel. It can also contribute to superior transpirational water control in the skin, thus reducing evaporation without blocking the passage of gases and water vapor. This character is due to its high molecular weight and low viscosity, and structural similarity with skin sebum, leading to a smoothing effect on dry skins and the inhibition of excess flaking of epidermal cells.

·       Skin indentation tests showed that the oil enhanced skin elasticity, similar to the effect of lanolin. Jojoba oil also showed a keratoplastic effect and seemed to restore the skin’s natural shine .

     Mosovich studied the effect of jojoba wax in the treatment of both acne vulgaris and psoriasis. He found that jojoba has high effectiveness in acne, with no secondary effects noted and no reports made of burning or itching. This efficacy indicates that jojoba oil may be used alone or in addition to other treatments. 

·        The antipsoriasis activity of jojoba oil is related to the positive keratoplastic and the slight keratolytic effect required to treat excessive scaling of the skin. Therefore, jojoba oil may be used as an adjuvant treatment

·       jojoba oil could be beneficial in treating pain and in reducing edema resulting from thermal and sunburns. The anti-inflammatory effect of jojoba oil involved the blockage of both cyclooxygenase II and lipoxygenase enzymes 

·       Antimicrobial Activity Jojoba oil has been shown to have an intense inhibitory action on the growth of Tubercle bacilli, leprosy bacilli, and Brucelli.

 The liquid wax could help dissolve the solid wax coatings around the bacilli due to the chemical structure similarity between jojoba waxes and the fats forming the sheath of the bacilli, which prevents the penetration of the antibiotics. A combination of antibiotics and jojoba oil as penetrating oil may be effective in treating those serious diseases.

      REFERENCES

1.    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8197201/

2.    https://www.forbes.com/health/body/jojoba-oil/

3.    https://www.britannica.com/plant/jojoba