 Gen info
Aleurites is derived from a Greek word meaning "wheaten flour," because of the appearance of the under surface of the leaf. The most widespread species is the Candlenut.
Botany
Plant is a large tree reaching a diameter of 80 to 150 cm. Younger parts and the inflorescences are hairy. Leaves have long petioles. Blades are ovate to lanceolate, 10 to 20 cm long, entire or lobed. Flowers are white, numerous, 6 to 8 mm long, borne on panicles 10 to 15 cm long. Fruit is fleshy, ovoid, smooth, 5 to 6 cm long, containing 1 or 2 hard-shelled, oily seeds. Shell of the seed is very hard, rough, ridged, about 2.5 mm thick. Within the seed is a white, oily, fleshy kernel consisting of a very thin embryo surrounded by a large endosperm.
Distribution
Throughout the Philippines, at low and medium altitudes, in second-growth forests, thickets, etc.
Constituents
Kernel contains 52-60 percent of oil.
Oil contains an acrid resin, a purgative principle.
Studies have yielded sterols, flavonoids and triterpenes from the leaves.
Properties
Shells are very hard and difficult to crack; likewise, difficult to separate the kernel from the shell.
Oil has a light yellow color
Considered a drying oil, resembling linseed oil and the Chinese wood oil (tung oil).
Kernels considered aphrodisiac.
Like castor oil, it has a mild aperient action.
Parts used
Kernels, leaves.
Uses
Folkloric
In the Philippines, the seeds are used as a mild purgative.
In Madagascar and La Reunion, the leaves, heated with a flatiron, are applied in succession to articulations in cases of acute rheumatism.
Kernels used as aphrodisiac.
Juice of nuts used as a remedy for piles, worms.
Nuts, soaked in oil, are placed in the anus to relieve piles.
In India, oil is used as a dressing for ulcers.
In Punjab folk medicine, used for headaches, ulcers, fevers, diarrhea and hypocholesterolemia.
In Brazilian folk medicine, used to treat fever, headaches, tumors, diarrhea and asthma.
Others
Industrial uses: Used for the preparation of paints, varnishes, and linoleum.
For illumination, soap manufacture, and wood preservation.
Cosmetics: Kukui seed oil is used in the manufacture of various cosmetic products – moisturizers, anti-aging creams, body oils, conditioners, lip gloss, shampoos, etc.
Studies
• Flavonoids: Chitin chromatographic separation yielded two flavonoids from AM extract: swertisin and 2"-O-rhamnosylswertisin.
• Anti-Inflammatory / Antipyretic: Study on the methanolic extract of dried leaves of AM significantly prevented an increase in volume of paw edema in a dose-dependent manner. It also caused an antipyretic effect. Results justifies the ethnic uses of the plant.
• Hypolipidemic Activity: Study of the methanol extract of leaves showed a lipid lowering effect mediated through inhibitionn of hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis and reduction of lipid absorption in the intestine.
• Anti-Termite Activity: Study on the Formosan termite (Coptotermes formosanus) showed that oil-treated wood was resistant to termite damage when the wood contained >27% kukui oil by weight. Results indicate that the oil acted primarily as a feeding deterrent and not as a toxic agent.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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