Limited -though increasing -evidence suggests that argan oil might be endowed with potential healthful properties, mostly in the areas of CVD and prostate cancer. We sought to comprehensively determine the effects of argan oil supplementation on the plasma lipid profile and antioxidant status of a group of healthy Algerian subjects, compared with matched controls. A total of twenty healthy subjects consumed 15 g/d of argan oil -with toasted bread -for breakfast, during 4 weeks (intervention group), whereas twenty matched controls followed their habitual diet, but did not consume argan oil. The study lasted 30 d. At the end of the study, argan oil-supplemented subjects exhibited higher plasma vitamin E concentrations, lower total and LDL-cholesterol, lower TAG and improved plasma and cellular antioxidant profile, when compared with controls. In conclusion, we showed that Algerian argan oil is able to positively modulate some surrogate markers of CVD, through mechanisms which warrant further investigation.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate the physicochemical properties, fatty acids, tocopherols, and polyphenols of Algerian argan oil.Design/methodology/approachThe argan oil was extracted from the kernel by an organic solvent, the n‐hexane. Several methods and techniques (spectrophotometric, titrimetric, refractometric, and chomrtographic (CPG/high‐performance liquid chromatographic – HPLC) were used to characterise to argan oil.FindingsThe argan oil was yellow oil with faintly marked smell and flavour. The physicochemical analysis showed that the oil was pure, fresh, not siccative and rich in C18 medium chain unsaturated fatty acids, particularly the oleic acid. A HPLC and gaseous phase chromatography methods were developed for the quali‐quantitative analysis of α‐tocopherol and fatty acids composition, respectively.Research limitations/implicationsThis highlight shows that the composition of argan oil is oleic‐linoleic type rich in α‐tocopherol (20 mg/kg). The phenolic fraction known for its antioxidant properties ranges from 30 to 50 mg/kg. The argan oil is mainly rich in antioxidant compounds such as phenolic compounds and α‐tocopherol. Argan oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, tocopherol and phenolic compounds.Practical implicationsConsidering its rich composition in antioxidant compounds and essential fatty acid, argan oil has been used for a long time as a food and for body care, prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and some cancers diseases. A deep knowledge of the chemical composition of argan oil will certainly show that is has a high‐nutritional potentiality and is claimed to have favourable medicinal and cosmetic properties.Originality/valueNo such research has been carried out on the argan oil extracted from Argania spinosa (L.) of Algeria. The present work was undertaken to study the physicochemical and nutritional properties of the argan oil.

Osyris alba L. (Santalaceae) is a shrub that grows wildly in southern Europe, North Africa and South-west Asia. In Algeria, the decoction of the root bark of this plant has been used since ancient times in folk medicine by the local population in the region of the mountains of Béni- Snousse (South west of Tlemcen), as a fortifying, antianaemic and as an anti-inflammatory agent. The aim of this work was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the phenolic compounds of the root by using DPPH, FRAP, TAC methods. Determination of the phenolic profile of the root extract was assessed using HPLC-DAD technique (High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode Array Detection). While the determination of total fatty acid composition of the root oil was performed using Gas Chromatography (GC-FID). From the results, the total poly-phenol extract of the root bark has shown the highest antioxidant power which exceeds the standard, namely, ascorbic acid and Trolox. The chromatographic analysis of the total poly-phenol extract has found that the Gallic acid and Quercetin are the major compounds. These results demonstrate that the phenolic compounds of Osyris alba root bark have a great potential as sources for natural health products. Gaseous Chromatography Assay of the oil has revealed the presence of two groups of fatty acids: arachidic acid (C20:0) and linoleic acid (C18: 9.12) known for its pro-inflammatory effect against oleic acid C18:1, linolénic acid C18: 9.12.15, and eicosatrienoic acid (ETA) C20:3 which are known for their pro-anti-inflammatory effect. For this reason, we need to test the effect of this oil on inflammatory models.