Product Range :: bioBotanica Kigelia Formulas
History
Kigelia has a long history of use by rural African communities, particularly for its medicinal properties. Most commonly traditional healers have used the Sausage Tree to treat a wide range of skin ailments, from fungal infections and boils through to more serious diseases, such as snake bite and skin cancer.
"The Tonga women of the Zambezi Valley regularly apply cosmetic preparations of Kigelia fruit to their faces to ensure a blemish free complexion."
A significant body of scientific literature confirms the validity of many of the traditional uses of Kigelia. Several papers support the use of Kigelia extract for treating eczema, psoriasis and solar keratoses, while it is also active as a skin tightening and breast-firming agent.
Psoriasis
Just a short note to thank you for your Sausage Tree Skin Cream. I've suffered from a skin complaint for many years and had just about given up hope of finding a cream that would help control this heartbreaking condition.
In the past I have had varying degrees of success with expensive cortisone based creams, but felt that prolonged exposure to these synthetics could in the long run do more harm than good. I was a little sceptical at first that a naturally occurring substance could have any real effect on such a virulent, long existing condition ...
Kigelia Africana
Kigelia africana grows throughout Africa and derives its name from the unusual 'sausage' shaped fruit that hang from its long stalks. They often grow to over a meter in length and can weigh up to 10kg. The hard, grey green fruit has a thin skin covering a firm, fibrous fruit pulp.
The tree contains a number of pharmaceutically active compounds providing potent anti-oxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activity.
Kigelia's velvety, maroon coloured flowers create a stunning display and reach up to 90cm in length.
What are the main properties of the plant?
Kigelia africana's known chemical constituents include:
- Napthaquinones (including kigelinone)
- Fatty acids (including vernolic)
- Courmarins (including Kigelin)
- Iridoids
- Caffeic acid
- Norviburtinal
- Sterols (including sitosterol and stigmasterol)
- Flavonoids (including luteolin and 6 hydroxyluteiolin)
The sterols are known to help a range of skin conditions, notably eczema, and the flavonoids have clear hygroscopic fungicidal properties. Strong anecdotal evidence suggests that it is effective in the treatment of solar keratoses (sun damage) and kaposi sarcoma, an HIV-related skin ailment. New research supports its powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
For further information download this
information sheet: Kigelia africana 