Vanilla
OTHER NAME(S): Bourbon Vanilla, Common Vanilla, Madagascar Vanilla, Mexican Vanilla, Réunion Vanilla, Tahiti Vanilla, Tahitian Vanilla, Vanille Bourbon, Vanille de Bourbon, Vanille de Madagascar, Vanille du Mexique, Vanille de Tahiti, Vanilla planifolia, Vanilla fragrans, Myrobroma fragrans, Vanilla tahitensis, Vainilla, Vanille
Overview
Vanilla is a plant. The bean (fruit) is commonly used for flavoring, but it is also used to make medicine. Because vanilla extract can be expensive, lab-produced vanillin is usually used as a substitute for vanilla. Sometimes less expensive extracts, such as tonga bean extracts, are used to dilute vanilla extracts. Some of these extracts contain a chemical called coumarin, which is banned by the FDA.
People use vanilla for conditions such as intestinal gas, fever, tooth decay, to increase sexual desire (as an aphrodisiac), and to reduce anxiety, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. In foods and beverages, vanilla is a well-known flavoring. In manufacturing, vanilla is used as a flavoring in syrups for medications. It is also used as a fragrance in perfumes.
Vanilla contains chemicals that are high in flavor and fragrance, but it is not known how it works for medicinal uses.
Vanilla contains chemicals that are high in flavor and fragrance, but it is not known how it works for medicinal uses.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- Fever.
- Intestinal gas.
- Wrinkled skin.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of vanilla for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Vanilla is LIKELY SAFE when taken by mouth in amounts commonly found in foods. However, some people are allergic to vanilla. It might also cause headache and sleep problems (insomnia), especially for people who manufacture vanilla extract.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if vanilla is safe. Skin contact with vanilla can cause irritation and swelling (inflammation) in some people.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Vanilla is LIKELY SAFE when taken by mouth in amounts commonly found in foods. However, some people are allergic to vanilla. It might also cause headache and sleep problems (insomnia), especially for people who manufacture vanilla extract.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if vanilla is safe. Skin contact with vanilla can cause irritation and swelling (inflammation) in some people.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Vanilla is LIKELY SAFE for pregnant and breast-feeding women when taken by mouth in food amounts. There isn't enough reliable information to know if vanilla is safe to use as a medicine when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.
Interactions
We currently have no information for Vanilla overview.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of vanilla depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for vanilla. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
References
- The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
- Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 -- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=182
- Aruoma, O. I. Dietary management of sickle cell anaemia with vanillin. Free Radic.Res Commun 1992;17(5):349-352.
- Rattaz, C., Goubet, N., and Bullinger, A. The calming effect of a familiar odor on full-term newborns. J Dev.Behav.Pediatr. 2005;26(2):86-92.
- Garcia, A. F., Cabal, C., Losada, J., Alvarez, E., Soler, C., and Otero, J. In vivo action of Vanillin on delay time determined by magnetic relaxation. Hemoglobin 2005;29(3):181-187.
- Sinha, A. K., Verma, S. C., and Sharma, U. K. Development and validation of an RP-HPLC method for quantitative determination of vanillin and related phenolic compounds in Vanilla planifolia. J Sep.Sci 2007;30(1):15-20.
- Goubet, N., Strasbaugh, K., and Chesney, J. Familiarity breeds content? Soothing effect of a familiar odor on full-term newborns. J Dev.Behav.Pediatr. 2007;28(3):189-194.
- Sinha, A. K., Sharma, U. K., and Sharma, N. A comprehensive review on vanilla flavor: extraction, isolation and quantification of vanillin and others constituents. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2008;59(4):299-326.
- Porras-Alfaro, A. and Bayman, P. Mycorrhizal fungi of Vanilla: diversity, specificity and effects on seed germination and plant growth. Mycologia. 2007;99(4):510-525.
- Nnamani, I. N., Joshi, G. S., Danso-Danquah, R., Abdulmalik, O., Asakura, T., Abraham, D. J., and Safo, M. K. Pyridyl derivatives of benzaldehyde as potential antisickling agents. Chem Biodivers. 2008;5(9):1762-1769.
- Schwarz, B. and Hofmann, T. Identification of novel orosensory active molecules in cured vanilla Beans (Vanilla planifolia). J Agric Food Chem 5-13-2009;57(9):3729-3737.
- Cicchetti, E. and Chaintreau, A. Quantitation of the main constituents of vanilla by reverse phase HPLC and ultra-high-pressure-liquid-chromatography with UV detection: method validation and performance comparison. J Sep.Sci 2009;32(17):3043-3052.
- Sharma, U. K., Sharma, N., Sinha, A. K., Kumar, N., and Gupta, A. P. Ultrafast UPLC-ESI-MS and HPLC with monolithic column for determination of principal flavor compounds in vanilla pods. J Sep.Sci 2009;32(20):3425-3431.
- Bouetard, A., Lefeuvre, P., Gigant, R., Bory, S., Pignal, M., Besse, P., and Grisoni, M. Evidence of transoceanic dispersion of the genus Vanilla based on plastid DNA phylogenetic analysis. Mol.Phylogenet.Evol. 2010;55(2):621-630.
- Odink, J., Korthals, H., and Knijff, J. H. Simultaneous determination of the major acidic metabolites of catecholamines and serotonin in urine by liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection after a one-step sample clean-up on Sephadex G-10; influence of vanilla and banana ingestion. J Chromatogr 2-26-1988;424(2):273-283.
- Kanny, G., Hatahet, R., Moneret-Vautrin, D. A., Kohler, C., and Bellut, A. Allergy and intolerance to flavouring agents in atopic dermatitis in young children. Allerg.Immunol (Paris) 1994;26(6):204-210.
- Ferguson, J. E. and Beck, M. H. Contact sensitivity to vanilla in a lip salve. Contact Dermatitis 1995;33(5):352.
- Mashige, F., Matsushima, Y., Kanazawa, H., Sakuma, I., Takai, N., Bessho, F., and Ohkubo, A. Acidic catecholamine metabolites and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in urine: the influence of diet. Ann.Clin.Biochem 1996;33 ( Pt 1):43-49.
- Pain, S. On the trail of Tahiti's elusive vanilla orchid. New Scientist 2008;199(2684):48-49.
- The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS): Vanillin (CAS #121-33-5). Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh-rtecs/YW581E98.html. Updated November 16,2018. Accessed October 27, 2020.
- Bacqueville D, Maret A, Noizet M, et al. Efficacy of a dermocosmetic serum combining bakuchiol and vanilla tahitensis extract to prevent skin photoaging in vitro and to improve clinical outcomes for naturally aged skin. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2020 May 13;13:359-370.