Healthy Ingredient Series - Carnauba

Carnauba

Copernicia prunifera

Family: Arecaceae

CTFA Name: Copernicia Cerifera

Introduction

The carnauba tree is a palm that grows to 40 feet.1 Native to northeastern Brazil, the tree can be found growing along riverbanks and streams.2 The palm produces clustered flowers and brownish fruit, but is mainly important for the waxy substance that covers the leaves.2 The leaves of the palm are collected between the months of September and March3 while still closed and coated with a thin layer of wax.2 The wax is removed, sifted, and melted into bars.2 Each tree contains a few hundred leaves2 and approximately 200 leaves will give 7 kilograms (15.5 pounds) of wax.3

History and Cultural Significance

Carnauba got its common name from the native people where the tree grows wild in northeastern Brazil.2 The genus name Copernicia was coined in dedication to the Polish astronomer Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543 CE) while the former species name, cerifera, signifies that the tree produces wax.2

Carnauba can be commonly found in numerous consumer products and foods. Being the hardest natural vegetable wax available,2,3 it is often added to other waxes to raise the melting point of the product.2 Carnauba wax can be found as a component in furniture and car body wax, floor and shoe polish, and carbon paper inks. Other consumer products that contain carnauba wax include candles, oilcloth, soaps, crayons and pencils.2

Carnauba is also used in pharmaceutical formulations4 and by the cosmetic industry.2 The wax is used in pharmaceutical formulations to polish sugar-coated tablets and to produce sustained release solid-dosage formulations.4 The best and purest parts (without sand, soil, etc.) are used by the cosmetic industry to make deodorant sticks, depilatory waxes (hair removal waxes) and lipsticks.2

Modern Research

Currently there are no studies available on the internal or external use of carnauba wax.

Future Outlook

Carnauba wax is mainly produced and exported in the northeast region of Brazil, with 73% of the total regional production being exported.5 There has been a deterioration of the carnauba sector since 1981 due to low prices on the international market.5

References

1 Carnauba palm. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 2005. Available at: http://www.britannica.com/ebi/article?tocld=9318805. Accessed March 17, 2005.
2 Guglielmo A, Pavone P, Salmeri C. Palms. Available at: http://www.dipbot.unict.it/Palms/descr07.html. Accessed April 20, 2004.
3 Support Section: Carnauba Wax. 2005. Available at: http://www.urad.org/support/FAQcarnauba.cfm. Accessed March 17, 2005
4 Kobayashi NH. Wax, Carnauba. 2002. Available at: http://www.medicinescomplete.com/mc/excipients/2004/noframes/EXC0245.htm. Accessed March 17, 2005.
5 Melo M, Melo D, Pinto C. Carnauba Wax Used as an Hydrophobic Agent for Expanded Vermiculite. Braz. J. Chem. Eng. 1998;15(1).

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