Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition (fatty acids, tocopherols, and sterols) and evaluate the oxidative stability of Moroccan pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) seed oil. The oil content of pomegranate seed was 22.63 g/100g of dry weight. The fatty acid composition showed a dominance of conjugated linolenic acids (CLnAs) (86.96 g/100g). The most dominant fatty acid was punicic acid (75.1 g/100g), followed by catalpic acid (6.7 g/100g) and linoleic acid with amounts of 4.11 g/100g. The seed oil only contained a low level of saturated fatty acids with palmitic (2.64 g/100g) and stearic acids (1.73 g/100g) as main saturated fatty acids. The sterol marker, β-sitosterol, accounted for 404.59 mg/100g of the total sterol content in the seed oil. Total tocopherol content in seed oil was 332.44 mg/100g. γ-tocopherol (190.47 mg/100g oil) is the major constituent, followed by α-tocopherol (74.62 mg/100g oil) and δ-tocopherol (53.3 mg/100g oil). The induction time calculated by the Rancimat accelerated method was found to be of 3.6 h at 120 °C. In terms of oil, pomegranate seed oil may be considered as a valuable source for new multipurpose products with industrial, cosmetic and pharmaceutical uses.
Highlights
Pomegranate (Punica granatum L., Punicaceae) is an ancient, beloved plant and delicious fruit consumed worldwide (Jing et al, 2012)
The saturated fatty acid (SFA) represented only 4.74 g/100g, palmitic acid (C16:0) was the predominant SFA with 2.64 g/100g followed by stearic acid (C18:0) 1.73 g/100g and arachidic acid (C20:0) 0.37 g/100g
Major PUFA was punicic acid (C18:3 (c9, t11, c13)) which accounted for 75.1 g/100g, followed by catalpic acid (C18:3 (t9, t11, c13)) (6.7 g/100g) and linoleic acid (C18:2) with amounts of 4.11 g/100g
Summary
Pomegranate (Punica granatum L., Punicaceae) is an ancient, beloved plant and delicious fruit consumed worldwide (Jing et al, 2012). They are widely grown in the Mediterranean regions and India, but sparsely cultivated in the USA, China, Japan and Russia (Fadavi et al, 2006). Many studies have indicated the pharmaceutical importance of pomegranate seed oil (PSO) They have been reported to promote epidermal tissue regeneration, boost the immune system in vivo, reduce the accumulation of hepatic triglycerides and display chemopreventive activity against hormone-related (prostate and breast) and colon cancers (Melo et al, 2014)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
