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

Health benefits of sandalwood oil [ Santalum album oil]

   Sandalwood album oil is also known as East Indian sandalwood oil , is an essential oil distilled from the Santalum album tree and has many health benefits such as an anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-proliferative agent. It is one of the main ingredients in many cosmetic products and perfumes also.

   Indian sandalwood has been in use for over 2500 years, and its commercial usage dates back to 300 BCE. Santalum album [sandal wood tree] is an evergreen tree mainly grown for extraction of timber and essential oil.  The tree belongs to the family Santalaceae which includes almost 25 species. Sandalwood album oil (SAO) has been utilized topically for centuries in both Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine.A true sandalwood tree grows to a height of about 10 metres (33 feet); has leathery leaves in pairs, each opposite the other on the branch; and is partially parasitic on the roots of other tree species.

   Both tree and roots contain yellow aromatic oil, called sandalwood oil, the odour of which persists for years in the articles made of the white sapwood. The oil is obtained by steam distillation of the wood and is used in perfumes, soaps, candles, incense, and folk medicines.

   Globally, there are more than a dozen species of sandalwood, most of which have served as sources of essential oil.However, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has issued standards for only two species: Santalum album and Santalum spicatum. S. album trees produce oil with much higher concentrations of alpha- and beta-santalol.

   Of late, many research studies have been conducted on sandalwood oil to unearth its therapeutic properties. Most of the good effects of sandalwood are attributed to its rich source of phytochemicals, particularly sesquiterpenes.

 Alpha-santalol is a naturally occurring sesquiterpene that is derived from sandalwood oil. The antitumor and cancer preventive properties of alpha-santalol have been shown to involve cell death induction through apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Anti- inflammatory properties of the oil is also attributed to the presence of this compound in sandalwood oil.

 Santalum album oil has also been found to be effective in the treatment of acne, psoriasis, eczema, common warts, and molluscum contagiosum.

Uses

·       Anti-inflammatory agent 

Anti- inflammatory properties of the oil is also attributed to the presence of  alpha –santalol compound in sandalwood oil. Alpha-santalol is a naturally occurring sesquiterpene compound.             

·        anti-oxidant agent

  Research studies show the property of Indian sandalwood oil as a protective active ingredient against the harmful effect of environmental stressors. The anti-oxidant property of the oil helps to fight against oxidative stress on skin and help prevent premature signs of ageing.

·       Anti-microbial properties 

Santalum album oil has been found to be broadly active against many gram-positive strains of bacteria, including Staphylococcus (including antibiotic-resistant strains MRSA and VRSA), Streptococcus, and some gram-negative bacteria. 

 The oil has shown potent activity against many fungal agents [dermatophyte] and yeasts including Trichophyton, Microsporum and Candida. 

·       Anti-cancer properties on skin 

A recent research study suggests that Santalum album oil may be able to prevent the progression of pre-cancerous conditions, such as actinic keratosis, to skin cancers.

·       Human clinical trials of sandal wood oil shows that it is effective in treating Atopic dermatitis in children. 

Does sandalwood oil cause any skin allergy? 

     Although a small percentage of the general population is allergic to sandalwood oil, it is very rare. It has been shown through extensive Human Repeat Insult Patch Test (HRPIT testing] that sandalwood oil is non-irritating and non-sensitizing as pure oil or when formulated for topical use.

 It is very safe & effective for topical application on skin [as an agent applied externally on the skin].

References 

1.    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23020220/

2.    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25004464/

3.    Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "sandalwood". Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Nov. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/plant/sandalwood. Accessed 19 January 2023.

4.    https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/8/2/53#:~:text=Distilled%20from%20the%20heartwood%20of,%2C%20and%20anti%2Dproliferative%20activities.

5.    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5749697/

6.    https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=Sandalwood:+History,+uses,+present+status+and+the+future&author=Kumar,+A.N.A.&author=Joshi,+G.&author=Ram,+H.Y.M.&publication_year=2012&journal=Curr.+Sci.&volume=103&pages=1408%E2%80%931416#d=gs_cit&t=1674126787554&u=%2Fscholar%3Fq%3Dinfo%3AtvCP2YWFIhIJ%3Ascholar.google.com%2F%26output%3Dcite%26scirp%3D0%26hl%3Den

7.    https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/santalum-album

8.    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29130352/