Kewda oil

                                                                                         

Kewda oil

It is obtained by steam distillation of flowers of Pandanus Odoratissimus, native of the South Pacific islands.

Kewda [Ketaki] is a densely branched shrub. It is rarely erect and is generally found along the coast of India and the Andaman Islands. The stem is usually up to 6 m high. It is always supported by aerial roots. The tree is considered a good soil binder.

The spadices of male flowers are 25 to 50 cm long and are equipped with numerous spikes. The male flowers are fragrant and white in colour. The spadix of female flowers is solitary 5 cm in diameter.

The male fluorescence’s are valued for the fragrance emitted by the tender white spates covering the flowers. Valuable attar is obtained from them. The flowers are also used for hair decoration. Flowers are used for extraction of "kewda attar" and "kewra water" and kewda oil.

"Kewda attar" is one of the most popular perfumes extracted and used in India since ancient times. It blends well with almost all types of fancy perfumes and is used for scenting clothes, bouquets, lotions, cosmetics, soaps, hair oils, tobacco and agarbatti. Kewda water is used for flavoring various foods, sweets syrups and soft drinks. The use of kewda water is very common on festival occasion, weddings and other social functions in North India.

The tender leaves of ketaki are eaten raw or cooked with condiments. In the Philippines the leaves are cooked with rice for imparting the smell of new rice. Its leaves are also used to flavor ice creams.

All the parts of the plant are having tremendous medicinal value. The roots are used as anti-septic, besides curing urinary astringent. In ayurveda these are useful in vitiated conditions of "kapha and pitta", skin diseases and leprosy. The root juices are also used for curing wounds, ulcer, fever, diabetics, sterility and spontaneous abortions.

The leaves are said to be valuable for leprosy, scabies and diseases of heart and brain. The anthers of male flowers are given in earache, headache and diseases of blood.

The juice of the flowers is quite useful in rheumatic arthritis. The kewda oil is considered as stimulant and antispasmodic and is useful in rheumatoid

The oil has a sharp, powerful, sweet, hyacinth, honey odor.

It is used up to 2% in the fragrance concentrate.

The chemical composition [in %] of major components is as follows;

Terpinen-4-ol-15-20

Alpha-terpineol-2-4

Phenyl ethyl methyl ether [PEME]-65-70

Para-cymene- 1-2

Cineole-1-2

The minor components in the oil are Tricosane, Sabinene, Piperitone, Phellandrene, Para-menth-2-en-1-ol, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol,
Gamma-terpinene, Alpha-pinene, etc.

About the author:
Prashantkumar Kudli Shrinivas has a vast industrial experience of Aroma chemicals,Essential oils,Perfumery and Flavour formulations.

E-mail: prashantkudli@yahoo.co.in


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