What Are the Chemicals That Are Present in the Sampaguita Flowers?
Sampaguita (Jasminum sambac) is the national flower of the Philippines and Indonesia. Its intoxicating fragrance and complex chemical composition make sampaguita a highly valuable flower for ornamental, culinary and medical use.
-
Chemical Composition
-
The sampaguita flower's chemical structure is similar to other types of jasmine, containing fats, iron, glucosides, tannins and calcium oxalate. In 2004, Chinese scientists studying sampaguita roots discovered several new chemical compounds, including dotriacontanoic acid, dotriacontanol, oleanolic acid, daucosterol and hesperidin.
Ornamental and Cosmetic Applications
-
Many high-end fragrances and cosmetics contain sampaguita oil. The aromatic flowers are frequently strung in garlands, adorn temple altars and are part of many Indonesian wedding ceremonies.
-
Culinary Applications
-
The oil is popular as a flavoring in beverages, pastries, candy and ice cream.
Healing Applications
-
The complex phytochemical structure of sampaguita flowers makes it an effective treatment for a variety of conditions, including fever, gum ulcerations and certain skin maladies.
Research Studies
-
According to Ethnobotanical Leaflets, a 2008 research study indicates Jasminum sambac works as an antimicrobial agent against several pathogens, including strains of staphylococcus and salmonella. Another 2008 study published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found sampaguita flowers can curb milk production and are a suitable alternative therapy when conventional medication for lactation suppression is either unavailable or unaffordable.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Kevin Walsh
