What Is Jojoba? Other Names: Buxus chinensis, Deernut, Simmondsia chinensis

What is Jojoba?

This post was written with Consensus AI Academic Search Engine – please read our Disclaimer at the end of this article. Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) is a perennial shrub native to the arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It is renowned for its seeds, which produce a unique oil with a wide range of applications in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and even as a potential biofuel. This article explores the various aspects of jojoba, including its biochemical properties, health benefits, and agricultural significance. Other names include: Buxus chinensis, Deernut, Goatnut, Huile de Jojoba, Jojoba Oil, Pignut, Simmondsia californica, Simmondsia chinensis.

Biochemical Properties

Jojoba oil is distinct from other plant oils due to its unique chemical composition. Unlike typical vegetable oils, which are triglycerides, jojoba oil is composed of long-chain monounsaturated liquid wax esters. This composition makes it highly stable and resistant to oxidation, which is beneficial for its use in various products1 2 4.

Health Benefits of Jojoba

Lipid Metabolism

Research has shown that jojoba oil can influence lipid metabolism. A study on mice demonstrated that transdermal administration of jojoba oil significantly increased serum non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels, suggesting enhanced lipolysis in the liver and reduced fatty acid trafficking in the skin1. This indicates potential benefits for metabolic health and weight management.

Hepatoprotective Effects

Jojoba oil has also been found to have hepatoprotective properties. Studies have shown that dietary incorporation of jojoba extract can eliminate oxidative damage in the livers of rats fed fumonisin-contaminated diets2. Another study indicated that jojoba oil could protect against hepatotoxicity and DNA damage induced by aflatoxin in rats4. These findings suggest that jojoba oil could be beneficial in protecting liver health.

Antibacterial Activity

Jojoba oil has demonstrated antibacterial properties, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus. In vivo studies on rats showed that jojoba oil could significantly increase body weight gain and improve the health of internal organs, indicating its potential as a dietary supplement with antibacterial benefits9.

Agricultural Significance

Sustainable Animal Feed

Jojoba seed oil has been evaluated as a feed additive for broiler chickens, showing improvements in growth performance, feed conversion ratio, and meat quality under tropical conditions3. Similarly, jojoba meal has been tested as a feed component for growing lambs, demonstrating good performance and economic efficiency8.

Salinity Tolerance

Jojoba plants have shown resilience to varying salinity levels, making them suitable for cultivation in arid and semi-arid regions. However, increased salinity levels can negatively impact vegetative growth and chlorophyll content, indicating the need for careful management of soil salinity in jojoba cultivation5.

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Adverse Effects of Jojoba

Developmental Effects

Jojoba meal supplementation during gestation in rats led to reduced fetal body weight and retarded skeletal ossification, primarily due to reduced food intake rather than a direct toxic effect of jojoba2.

Biochemical and Hematological Effects

In studies where jojoba extract was used to counteract fumonisin toxicity, jojoba extract alone did not induce significant alterations in hematological and biochemical parameters, suggesting it is relatively safe in these contexts1 5 7 8.

Transdermal administration of jojoba oil in mice significantly increased serum non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels, indicating a potential effect on lipid metabolism4.

Hepatotoxicity

Jojoba oil and extract have been shown to protect against hepatotoxicity induced by other toxins (e.g., fumonisin, aflatoxin, and CCl4) rather than causing liver damage themselves1 5 6 7 8.

Genetic and DNA Effects

Jojoba oil did not significantly alter genetic expression or cause DNA damage in normal conditions, but it helped mitigate genetic toxicity induced by CCl46.

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How has Jojoba Improved Patient Outcomes?

Improvement in Poultry Growth Performance and Meat Quality

Jojoba seed oil supplementation in broiler diets significantly improved growth performance, including increased feed intake, body weight gain, and better feed conversion ratios. It also enhanced meat quality by increasing dressing percentage and reducing abdominal fat and cook/drip losses in broiler chickens under tropical conditions1.

Antimicrobial Efficacy in Endodontic Infection Control

Jojoba oil, when combined with calcium hydroxide, demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against endodontic pathogens such as S. aureus, E. coli, E. faecalis, and C. albicans. This combination produced the largest inhibition zones in vitro and significantly reduced bacterial and fungal counts in vivo compared to other treatments2.

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Jojoba Mechanisms of Action

Lipid Metabolism and Lipolysis

Transdermal administration of jojoba oil significantly increases serum non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels, suggesting enhanced lipolysis in the liver. This is supported by the upregulation of the Atgl gene in the liver, which is positively correlated with serum NEFA levels1.

Antibacterial Activity

Jojoba oil exhibits antibacterial properties, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus. This was demonstrated in a study where rats treated with jojoba oil showed significant increases in body weight and internal organ weights compared to untreated rats, indicating a potential systemic effect of the oil2.

Developmental Effects

Jojoba meal supplementation during gestation in rats led to reduced food intake and lower fetal body weight, with a slight retardation in skeletal ossification. These effects were attributed to the reduced food intake rather than a direct teratogenic effect of jojoba meal3.

Antioxidant and Immunomodulatory Effects

Jojoba leaves extract (JLE) as a dietary supplement in fish exposed to abamectin toxicity showed improvements in growth performance, immunity, and antioxidant capacity. JLE helped restore altered biochemical parameters to normal levels, indicating its protective and modulatory role4.

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Common Complaints Associated with Jojoba Use

Improved Growth Performance and Meat Quality: Jojoba seed oil supplementation in broiler diets has been shown to linearly increase feed intake, body weight gain, and improve feed conversion ratio. It also enhances the percentage of dressing and reduces abdominal fat percentage, leading to better meat quality1.

No Adverse Effects on Internal Organs: The study found that dietary supplementation of jojoba seed oil had no significant effects on the weight of internal organs such as the liver, heart, gizzard, spleen, and pancreas of broiler chickens1.

Reduced Cook and Drip Losses: Increasing levels of jojoba seed oil in the diet decreased the percentages of cook and drip losses of breast and leg muscles, indicating improved meat quality1.

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Disclaimer

The content presented in this blog is generated by Consensus, an AI-powered academic search engine, and is based on publicly available scientific literature. While every effort is made to provide accurate, up-to-date, and well-researched information, the content is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding medical conditions, treatments, or medications. The AI system’s analysis may not cover all perspectives, emerging research, or individual cases, and it is not a substitute for professional expertise. Neither the blog publisher nor the developers of the AI-powered search engine are responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided in this content. Use of this information is at your own risk. Citations to the original scientific studies are included for reference, but these studies should be reviewed in full and interpreted with the guidance of a healthcare or research professional.

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