Should the amazigh diet (regular and moderate argan-oil consumption) have a beneficial impact on human health?
Virgin argan oil, cosmetic or dietary grade, is prepared by cold-pressing the kernels of argan fruits. Both types of oil, traditionally used by the amazighs (the argan grove traditional dwellers), are now available on the shelves of the most-developed country stores. Argan oil contains a high level of oleic and linoleic acid and is also particularly rich in phenols. Since these metabolites are currently considered as essential to explain some of the protective effects against cancer and coronary heart disease attributed to other oils, similar effects can be expected from argan oil consumption as suggested by the amazigh medicine claims. Interestingly, argan oil content in gamma -tocopherol is much higher than that of any other oils. gamma -Tocopherol has recently been shown to possess strong chemopreventive and anti-inflammatory properties. This indicates that argan oil should readily find a place of choice amid the most profitable oils for human health. Because of its reduced geographical origin, the chemical composition (major as well as minor components) of argan oil is also highly reproducible. Therefore argan oil consumption should confer health benefits in a reliable and efficient manner.
Charrouf
Zoubida
Z
Laboratoire de Chimie des Plantes, Faculte des Sciences Mohammed V-Agdal, Rabat, Morocco. zcharrouf@menara.ma
Guillaume
Dominique
D
D003358:Cosmetics; D004032:Diet; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029632:Sapotaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
D003358:Cosmetics; D005227:Fatty Acids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010938:Plant Oils