Elaeis guineensis originally grew in West Africa. The southern coast of Nigeria was originally called the Palm oil coast by the first Europeans who arrived there and traded in the commodity. This area was later renamed the Bight of Biafra. In traditional African medicine different parts of the plant are used as laxative and diuretic, as a poison antidote, as a cure for gonorrhea, menorrhagia, and bronchitis, to treat headaches and rheumatism, to promote healing of fresh wounds and treat skin infections. In Malaysia, the first plantations were mostly established and operated by British plantation owners, such as Sime Darby and Boustead,
PAM (cooking oil) Muse, Tate and Furst Inc., and C. Dean Metropoulos and Company from American Home Products, becoming International Home Foods, which in turn was acquired by ConAgra in 2000. PAM is marketed in various flavors, such as butter and olive oil, meant to impart the flavor of cooking with those ingredients. Flavors such as lemon or garlic are also offered. PAM also markets high-temperature sprays formulated for use when grilling etc., and one containing flour suitable for dry-cooking as in baking. PAM is marketed as a nominally zero-calorie alternative to other oils used as lubricants when using cooking methods such as