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Review
. 2021 Dec 26:2021:6332867.
doi: 10.1155/2021/6332867. eCollection 2021.

Potential of Tamanu (Calophyllum inophyllum) Oil for Atopic Dermatitis Treatment

Amadeus Pribowo  1 , Jyothsna Girish  2 , Marsia Gustiananda  2 , Rakrya Galih Nandhira  2 , Pietradewi Hartrianti  3
Affiliations
Review

Potential of Tamanu (Calophyllum inophyllum) Oil for Atopic Dermatitis Treatment

Amadeus Pribowo et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. .

Abstract

Tamanu oil, derived from the nut of Calophyllum inophyllum L., has been traditionally used to treat various skin-related ailments. In recent years, this oil is increasingly gaining popularity as researchers continue to search for novel natural alternative therapies for various skin diseases. There have been a number of in vitro and in vivo studies investigating various skin-active properties of tamanu oil, and it has been proven to have potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, analgesic, and even wound-healing abilities. These properties make tamanu oil an especially interesting candidate for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). This multifaceted disease is marked by the disruption of the skin barrier function, chronic inflammation, and skin microbiome dysbiosis with limited treatment options, which is free from adverse events and inexpensive, making it desperate for a new treatment option. In this review, we examine previous in vitro and in vivo studies on AD-relevant pharmacological properties of tamanu oil in order to evaluate the potential of tamanu oil as a novel treatment option for AD.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview of tamanu oil effects against atopic dermatitis. Tamanu oil activities (such as anti-inflammation, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and wound-healing) that are related to the pathophysiology of AD (such as inflammation, oxidative stress, infection, and skin barrier disruption) make tamanu oil a potential novel alternative treatment for AD.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Tamanu nut. Dry tamanu nuts prior to extraction of the oil or extract. The shell of the nut is typically removed to reveal the white kernels from which oil is typically extracted.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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