Supplement
Jojoba is a liquid wax pressed from the seeds of a desert shrub, and its structure resembles the natural oils that keep skin soft and protected. People mostly look at it for skin care, and a small trial found a jojoba-ester and glycerol formulation reduced water loss through the skin more than glycerol alone, though the evidence is very limited. Findings on inflammation, wound closure and collagen come mostly from lab or animal work.
Sources: PMID 19146603
- Updated
- How we grade
- 9 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade D
- Conditions studied
- 3
- Outcomes
- 7
- Graded outcomes
- 0007
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
General
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inflammation (Topical) In rodent models, jojoba liquid wax reduced carrageenin-induced paw edema, prostaglandin E2 levels, croton oil-induced ear edema, and LPS-induced nitric oxide and TNF-alpha release. In an ex vivo human skin organ culture model, jojoba wax reduced LPS-induced IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha secretion by approximately 30%, with emulsified preparations achieving anti-inflammatory efficacy comparable to dexamethasone. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 3 studies | |||
Studies that measured inflammation (topical)
| ||||||
| Skin Hydration A small double-blind RCT found that a formulation containing 1.25% hydrolyzed jojoba esters plus glycerol significantly reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) compared to glycerol alone at both 8 and 24 hours post-application (P < 0.05). A dermatology review further supports jojoba's moisturizing and skin-barrier properties due to its structural similarity to human sebum. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 2 studies | |||
| Wound Healing In vitro, jojoba liquid wax accelerated wound closure in human HaCaT keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts with extremely low cytotoxicity, acting through calcium-dependent PI3K-Akt-mTOR and p38/ERK1/2 MAPK signaling pathways. Jojoba also stimulated collagen I production in fibroblasts. A dermatology review corroborates wound healing as a potential application. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 2 studies | |||
Studies that measured wound healing | ||||||
| Antiviral Activity (HSV-1) In vitro, four commercial jojoba wax preparations demonstrated significant antiviral activity against Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1) with an EC50 of approximately 0.96 µg/mL, confirmed by plaque reduction assays, RT-PCR, and immunocytochemistry. The antiviral effect was independent of simmondsin content. No antibacterial or antifungal activity was observed. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 1 study | |||
Studies that measured antiviral activity (hsv-1) | ||||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collagen & Hyaluronic Acid Synthesis In an ex vivo human skin organ culture model, topical jojoba wax enhanced synthesis of pro-collagen III and hyaluronic acid. Separately, in vitro work showed jojoba liquid wax stimulated collagen I production in human dermal fibroblasts. These findings suggest potential anti-aging skin effects, though no human clinical trials have been conducted. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 2 studies | |||
Studies that measured collagen & hyaluronic acid synthesis | ||||||
Appetite Regulation
- Appetite Suppression (Oral - Safety Concerns): improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appetite Suppression (Oral - Safety Concerns) In a controlled animal study, jojoba meal containing simmondsin (a cyanoglycoside) demonstrated satiating effects in dogs. A separate mouse study showed that orally administered jojoba wax is mostly excreted with minimal absorption. IMPORTANT: Oral jojoba consumption for appetite suppression is NOT recommended due to potential toxicity from simmondsin and related compounds. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 2 studies | |||
Studies that measured appetite suppression (oral - safety concerns) | ||||||
Antioxidant Status
- Antioxidant Status: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant Status In male albino rats, oral jojoba oil co-administration with the pesticide fipronil significantly enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT) and glutathione levels while reducing oxidative stress markers, compared to fipronil alone. This is a single animal toxicology study and the antioxidant effects were demonstrated in the context of toxicant-induced oxidative stress, not baseline supplementation. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 1 study | |||
Studies that measured antioxidant status | ||||||
Key findings
- Inflammation (Topical)Improves (the measure goes down)
- Skin HydrationImproves (the measure goes up)
- Wound HealingImproves (the measure goes up)
Safety notes in the studies
- IMPORTANT: Oral jojoba consumption for appetite suppression is NOT recommended due to potential toxicity from simmondsin and related compounds.
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- Grade D
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Studies cited
9 studies from PubMed
- Topical application of jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis L.) wax enhances the synthesis of pro-collagen III and hyaluronic acid and reduces inflammation in the ex-vivo human skin organ culture model
- Ameliorative effects of jojoba oil on fipronil-induced hepatorenal- and neuro-toxicity: the antioxidant status and apoptotic markers expression in rats
- Anti-Herpes Simplex 1 Activity of Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Wax
- Jojoba in dermatology: a succinct review
- Wound healing properties of jojoba liquid wax: an in vitro study
- Evaluation of additive effects of hydrolyzed jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) esters and glycerol: a preliminary study
- Anti-inflammatory effects of jojoba liquid wax in experimental models
- The satiating effect of a diet containing jojoba meal (Simmondsia chinensis) in dogs
- Absorption and distribution of orally administered jojoba wax in mice