Shea Butter Tree

Vitellaria paradoxa

Physical Characteristics

Vitellaria paradoxa is a deciduous Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 15 m (49ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Distribution

Tropical Africa - Senegal to Sudan, and to western Ethiopia and Uganda.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Fruit Inner bark Oil Sap Seed Edible Uses: Gum Oil The kernel of the seed (often incorrectly called 'nut') contains a vegetable fat known as shea butter[63 , 299 , 301 ]. Shea butter from fresh seeds is white, odourless and of high quality, while that from stale seeds is dark, and tastes bitter[299 ]. High quality shea butter is consumed throughout West Africa as a cooking fat. Refined fat has been marketed as margarine and baking fat. It is used for pastries and confectionery because it makes the dough pliable[63 , 299 ]. It is a useful cocoa butter substitute because it has a similar melting point (32 - 45?C) and high amounts of di-stearin (30%) and some stearo-palmitine (6.5%) which make it blend with cocoa butter without altering flow properties[299 ]. In rural areas, seeds are traditionally processed by hot water extraction, usually the job of women. The fruit pulp is first removed for food, or by fermentation or boiling. The seeds are then boiled and later sun- or kiln-dried. Sun-drying may take 5 - 10 days. Seeds are cracked using mortar and pestle, or stones; the kernels are removed by trampling and redried before being crushed, ground and kneaded to form a paste; the paste is put in water, heated or boiled and the boiling mass is churned until a grey, oily fat separates from the emulsion. The fat is skimmed off from the surface and washed to remove impurities. The congealed fat may subsequently undergo further refining before being moulded in to various forms[299 ]. This traditional method of processing is inefficient and labour intensive. Mechanization of the various operations, in particular the use of hydraulic or continuous screw expellers or application of solvent extraction, will improve oil extraction efficiency considerably. Pre-treatment of the kernel paste with enzymes (e.g. proteases and cellulases) may also result in higher extraction rates[299 ]. In spite of their slightly laxative properties, mature fresh fruits are considered an important local food[299 ]. They are commonly eaten in savannah regions because they ripen during the land preparation and planting season[299 ].The pulp has a sweet flavour[299 ]. The flowers are also considered an important local foods[299 ] They are sometimes made into fritters[299 ]. The reddish latex which exudes from deep cuts in the bark is used as a chewing gum[299 ].

Medicinal Uses

Antibacterial Antidermatosic Antidiarrhoeal Antiinflammatory Antirheumatic Dysentery Odontalgic Ophthalmic Skin Shea butter is a suitable base for topical medicines. Its application relieves rheumatic and joint pains and heals wounds, swellings, dermatitis, bruises and other skin problems[299 ]. The high proportion of unsaponifiable matter, consisting of 60 - 70% triterpene alcohols, gives shea butter creams good penetrative properties[299 ]. Allantoin, another unsaponifiable compound, is responsible for the anti-inflammatory and healing effect on the skin[299 ]. The fat is used traditionally to relieve inflammation of the nostrils[299 ]. Clinical tests with patients suffering from rhinitis, and having moderate to severe nasal congestion, showed that shea butter may relieve nasal congestion better than conventional nasal drops[299 ]. The leaves are used to treat stomach-ache[299 ]. They are also added to vapour baths to treat headache and as an eye bath[299 ]. Ground roots and bark are used to treat diarrhoea, jaundice and stomach-ache[299 ]. Bark infusions have medicinal and antimicrobial properties, e.g. against dysentery[299 ]. They are applied as an eyewash to counteract spitting-cobra venom[299 ]. A bark decoction has been used in baths to facilitate childbirth and stimulate lactation among feeding mothers[299 ]

Known Hazards

None known