Saro
Saro
Saro is a bushy shrub endemic to Madagascar, very aromatic, with angular branches, alternate leaves, dark green, persistent.
The flowers are hermaphroditic and regular. The fruits are similar to berries but their shapes and sizes are variable having from 1 to 15 seeds per fruit.
Saro is found in abundance in the dense dry forests of the northwest, on siliceous soils along coastal regions below 600 meters elevation.
The saro or mandravasarotra by its name “mandrava” which means “to destroy” and “sarotra” which means “difficult”, meaning “to destroy the most difficult”, is known to cure the most severe ailments. This plant with powerful virtues is very popular with Malagasy people.
PLANT NAME
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Cinnamosma fragrans
PART USED
Leaves
EXTRACTION METHOD
Essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation of leaves
ALLERGENS
Limonène : ≤ 10 %
Linalol : ≤ 10 %
Citral : ≤ 2 %
Géraniol : ≤ 0,2 %
MAIN CONSTITUENTS
Eucalyptol : 30 – 53 %
β-pinène : 5,2 – 10,7 %
sabinène : 3 – 11,8 %
limonène : 3 – 25%
linalol : 0,7 – 17 %
ORGAOLEPTIC CRITERIA
Appearance : Clear liquid
Color : Pale yellow to dark yellow
Odor : Fresh, rising, pleasant
PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CRITERIA
Flash point : + 45 ° C
Rotary power at 20 ° C : -10 ° to 30 °
Density at 20 ° C :
0.890 – 0.900
Refractive index at 20 ° C : 1.465 – 1.475
PROPERTIES / VIRTUES
Powerful anti-infective effect
Antiviral
Antibacterial
Antifungal
Mucolytic and powerful expectorant
Pest control
Immunostimulant
Healing
Neurotonic
Astringent