Jojoba
Scientific Name(s): Simmondsia chinensis (Link) Schneider and S. californica Nutall. Family: Buxaceae
Common Name(s): Jojoba
Clinical Overview
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Uses of Jojoba
Jojoba oil has traditionally been used in cosmetics, medicine, and cooking. It appears to alleviate skin irritations and help guard against hair loss.
Jojoba Dosing
There is no clinical evidence to guide dosage of jojoba oil; however, its primary use is as a vehicle for oxidation sensitive substances in ointments.
Contraindications
No longer considered safe.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Jojoba Interactions
None well documented.
Jojoba Adverse Reactions
Contact dermatitis has been reported in sensitive individuals.
Toxicology
Jojoba should not be ingested. Seeds are toxic. One component contributes to myocardial fibrosis.
Botany
Simmondsia chinensis is a desert shrub indigenous to Arizona, California and Northern Mexico. It grows in a number of deserts worldwide including Israel's Negev Desert. A woody evergreen shrub with thick, leathery, bluish-green leaves and dark brown nutlike fruit. Male and female flowers are borne on separate plants, the number of each being about equal. The plant can withstand extreme daily fluctuations of temperature. It thrives in well-drained, coarse desert soils and coarse mixtures of gravels and clays. 1 The mature plant produces about 5 to 10 pounds of seeds, which range between the coffee bean and peanut in size. It is an important forage plant for desert bighorn sheep and mule deer. While birds and rodents eat the seeds, it is toxic to humans and most animals. 2
History
Indians and Mexicans have for a long time used jojoba oil as a hair conditioner and restorer, and in medicine, cooking and rituals. In the United States, jojoba is considered a viable cash crop for the southwestern Indians, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs has funded most of the studies in this area. 2 , 3
With the banning of the sale of sperm whale oil in 1973, the cosmetic industry turned to jojoba oil for use in shampoos, moisturizers, sunscreens and conditioners. It has further potential as an industrial lubricant, since it does not break down under high temperature or pressure. 4 A major disadvantage to its use is its relatively high cost.
Chemistry
Jojoba seeds produce 50% by weight of a colorless, odorless oil. The oil is almost completely (97%) composed of straight chain monoesters of C-20 and C-22 acids and alcohols with two double bonds. The acids have been identified as mixture of cis-11-eicosenoic (C-20) and cis-13-docosenoic (C-22, erucic) acids. The alcohols have been identified as mixtures of cis-11-eicosenol, cis-13-docosenol and cis-15-tetracosenol (C-24). 5 These alcohols are potentially valuable in the production of detergents, wetting agents and dibasic acids. 3 Also included are small quantities of sterols (less than 0.5% of a total mixture of campesterol, stigmasterol and sitosterol). Jojoba oil is essentially triglyceride-free. 1 , 5
Jojoba Uses and Pharmacology
Skin conditionsJojoba is most commonly recognized as an ingredient in cosmetics and other topical preparations. Jojoba oil is presently used in cosmetic and personal care products. Recommended oil ingredient levels include: skin care preparations, 5% to 10%; shampoos and conditioners, 1% to 2%; bar soaps, 0.5% to 3%. 6
Animal dataResearch reveals no animal data regarding the use of jojoba for skin conditions.
Clinical dataJMC Technologies, a jojoba marketing and research cooperative, reports that studies with jojoba oil conducted at Ben Gurion University Medical Center (Israel) indicate that the wax may be of value in the management of acne and psoriasis. 7 Other topical irritations such as sunburn and chapped skin appear to respond to topical jojoba therapy. While this data is largely unpublished and requires confirmation, there is a substantial body of anecdotal evidence that suggests the wax is beneficial in alleviating minor skin irritations.
There has also been considerable interest and success in marketing jojoba preparations promoted to stimulate hair growth and rejuvenation. Jojoba oil penetrates skin and skin oils easily—unclogging hair follicles and preventing sebum buildup which could lead to hair loss. 6
Other usesIn a rabbit study, ingestion of jojoba oil as a 2% supplement to an atherogenic diet produced a 40% reduction of blood cholesterol, although the mechanism by which this occurred was not determined. 8
Recent study has shown antioxidant activity of jojoba. This activity is related to the content of α-tocopherol found in the leaves. 9
Dosage
There is no clinical evidence to guide dosage of jojoba oil; however, its primary use is as a vehicle for oxidation sensitive substances in ointments.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
Hypoallergenic sensitivity to the wax has been reported, 10 and cases of contact dermatitis have been reported in persons using jojoba oil as shampoo or hair conditioner. 4
Toxicology
The LD-50 of crude jojoba wax is greater than 160 g/kg in mice. 10 In ocular tests, it was only slightly irritating (comparable to olive oil) and its application resulted in less irritation than liquid paraffin.
Topical administration of the refined wax to guinea pigs for 20 weeks resulted in no systemic effects; a reversible swelling accompanied by reduced skin flexibility and an increased sensitivity to shaving was observed. There were, however, no histological changes in skin tissues. These effects were most likely due to an occlusive-like action created by the wax. This mechanism is inconsistent with data provided by JMC Technologies which indicate that jojoba's effects result from percutaneous absorption and subsequent incorporation into dermal tissue.
Subcutaneous injection of 1 mL/kg for 7 weeks in test animals resulted in no systemic effects, although some systemic accumulation was observed. 11
Jojoba oil is 14% erucic acid, a causative factor in myocardial fibrosis. 8 Although no direct relationship has been established between this compound and jojoba toxicity, jojoba should not be ingested in any form. Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus grow well on jojoba seed meal, metabolizing toxic simmondsin and other toxicants remaining in the meal after removal of the oil. The treated meal is nontoxic to mice, poultry, sheep and cattle. 12 , 13
Bibliography
1. Wisniak J. Jojoba oil and derivatives. Prog Chem Fats Other Lipids 1977;15(3):167.2. Office of Arid Lands Studies, University of Arizona. Jojoba: What is it? (leaflet). 1979;June.
3. Majgh TH. Guayule and Jojoba: Agriculture in Semiarid Regions. Science 1977;196:1189.
4. Scott MJ, Scott MJ Jr. Jojoba oil. J Am Acad Der 1982;6(4 Pt 1):545.
5. McKeown EC. Jojoba: A Botanical with Proven Functionality. Cosmet Toiletries 1983;98(6):81.
6. Arndt GJ. Jojoba. Cosmet Toiletries 1987;102(6):68.
7. Mosovich B. Treatment of acne and psoriasis, Proceedings of the 6th International Jojoba Conference, Ben Gurion University, Israel. 1984;October 21–26.
8. Clarke JA, Yermanos DM. Effects of ingestion of jojoba oil on blood cholesterol levels and lipoprotein patterns in New Zealand white rabbits. Biochem Biophys Res Com 1981;102(4):1409.
9. Mallet JF, et al. Antioxidant activity of plant leaves in relation to their α-tocopherol content. Food Chem 1994;49(1):61.
10. Taguchi M, Kunimoto T. Toxicity studies on jojoba oil for cosmetic uses. Cosmet Toiletries 1977;92(9):53.
11. Yaron A, et al. Physiological toleration of jojoba wax in laboratory animals. J Soc Cos Chem 1982;33(5-6):141.
12. Verbiscar AJ, et al. Detoxification of jojoba meal by Lactobacilli. J Agri Food Chem 1981;29(2):296.
13. Perez-Gil F, et al. [Chemical composition and content of antiphysiological factors of jojoba ( Simmondsia chinensis ) residual meal]. [Spanish]. Archivos Latinoamericanos de Nutricion 1989;39(4):591.
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Photoaging of the Skin, Dry Skin
