ChemCentre is undertaking research in collaboration with the Australian Sandalwood Network and Curtin University for the benefit of the Australian Sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) plantation industry by using under-utilised’ nuts in high value premium products.
Australian Sandalwood is a unique native tree crop which is cultivated in the WA Wheatbelt Region for its high value oil derived from heartwood which is used in highly sought after premium fragrance and perfume products.
While heartwood oil has a ready market and can command prices upwards of $1500/kg it takes 20-25 years for a plantation to mature and produce income. However, Australian sandalwood (unlike its Indian counterpart Santalum alba) can produce annual crops of large nuts which are filled with oils, proteins and oligosaccharides that can be used in food and cosmetic manufacture. They also contain essential fatty acids that have been shown to be anti-inflammatory and therefore potentially useful medicinal products.
ChemCentre by leading this project aims to fully establish the chemical and physical characteristics of Australian sandalwood products from raw material to finished products for the first time. Once created, these profiles will be used to develop independent, quality, analytical testing and certification procedures that authenticates high value products and supports downstream commerce. The outcome of the project will also generate the data to meet Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) requirements for any Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved medicinal product development from ingredients derived from sandalwood.