The Emu (Dromaius novaehallandiae), the flightless bird native to Australia, is receiving a lot of attention for the benefit of its oil for medicinal use.
Emu oil contains high amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants. It has potent anti-inflammatory actions and can be used to treat conditions such as mucositis, inflammatory bowel syndrome and auricular inflammation and to prevent chemotherapy-induced bone loss.
Emu oil also has a hypocholesterolemic effect, transdermal penetration enhancing activity, cosmetic and insect repellent activity
Previous studies suggest that the fatty acids, which are present in emu oil, may act on cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, and lipoxin pathways to bring about its anti-inflammatory and other beneficial actions.
Emu oil is attractive for its therapeutic activity to treat various ailments.