Review of the data in Indian sandalwood santalum album L.

Pharmacy

A priceless tree connected to Hindu culture is sandalwood (Santalum album L.). It is the world’s second-most costly wood. One of the best natural materials for carving, the tree’s heartwood is prized for its scent. Pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, aromatherapy, and cologne all include sandalwood oil. Due to severe exploitation brought on by the governments of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka having a monopoly on the trade in sandalwood, S. album has been placed on the IUCN Red List under the vulnerable category. Sandalwood has significant genetic variation for various properties, according to extensive studies. Unfortunately, there is little information available regarding the heartwood and oil content, mostly due to the lack of sandalwood plantations. It is challenging to do additional research on these two crucial characteristics because wild populations are quickly declining. We fervently advocate that it is crucial to promote the construction of community- or corporation-owned sandalwood plantations in various regions of India with the proper incentives and safety precautions. These plants can serve as the foundational population sources for India to reclaim its preeminence in the valuable carving and perfumery industries using sandalwood.

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