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 Printable version |
The chemical composition of “virgin” argan oil |
Cahiers Agricultures. Volume 14, Number 5, 461-5, Septembre - Octobre 2005, Étude originale
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 Résumé
Article gratuit
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Author(s) : Mohammed Rahmani |
Summary : The argan tree (Argania spinosa) grows endemically in the South-West of Morocco\; its fruits yield an edible oil. Oil extraction remains traditional, although some modernization in the process has been noticed in recent years. A moroccan standard (N.M. 08.5.090) was elaborated in 2003 to define the specifications of “virgin” argan oil. It gives, among other things, the qualitative classification of the oil and its chemical composition. The oil is of the oleic-linoleic type, with a high content of tocopherols (600-900 mg/kg). The sterolic fraction excludes any Δ
5 sterols\; the schottenol represents about 50% of this fraction. The fraction of triterpenic alcohols and methylsterols is represented mainly by tirucallol, β-amyrin, and butyrospermol. Argan oil has been used for centuries by locals for food and body care, and also for the treatment of some pathologies. A better knowledge of its biochemical composition is at the origin of a renewed interest for studies about its nutritional properties or its cosmetic value. |
Keywords : vegetal productions, product quality and security |
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