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This paper describes the chemical composition of 17 oil samples obtained from cactus seeds collected from five different origins in Morocco, the major producer of cactus seed oil. The oil content of the samples varied in a relatively small range between 5.4 g/100 g and 9.9 g/100 g. The main fatty acids of cactus seed oil are oleic acid (20.5 g/100 g) and linoleic acid (62.3 g/100 g) representing 80-84% of the total fatty acids. The main component of the tocopherol fraction is gamma-tocopherol (83-90%). It is followed by alpha-and delta-tocopherol whereas beta-tocopherol is found in lower amount. In all samples beta-sitosterol was found as the main phytosterol (80.0% to 84.5%). This phytosterol is also typical for many other edible vegetable oil. This study, carried out on randomly selected samples, clearly demonstrates that origin does not have an effect on the chemical composition of cactus seed oil.

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RÉSUMÉ: Etude de polyphénols des feuilles d’une endémique ibéro marocaine, Thymelaea lythroides. Thymelaea lythroides (Thyméléacées) est une endémique ibéro marocaine, largement répandue dans la région du Gharb (forêt de Mamora). Elle fait partie de la panoplie des plantes médicinales et aromatiques du Maroc. En raison du manque d’informations phytochimiques sur l’espèce, des études antérieures ont eu pour objet une recherche de l’activité antifongique de ses extraits et un screening phytochimique. Ce dernier a permis de mettre en évidence la richesse de la plante en différents métabolites secondaires. Aussi, le présent travail se propose d’étudier les polyphénols des feuilles de Thymelaea lythroides et spécialement les aglycones flavoniques et les anthocyanidines. L’étude a démontré l’existence de différentes molécules appartenant à la classe des flavonols, dont le kaempférol, et la quercétine, en plus de deux acides phénols, identifiés comme l’acide caféique et l’acide genticique et deux anthocyanidines : la delphinidine et la cyanidine.Mots clés. Thymelaea lythroides, Thyméléacées, Mamora, polyphénols.ABSTRACT. Study of polyphenols of the leaves of an ibero moroccan endemic, Thymelaea lythroides. Thymelaea lythroides (Thymelaeacees) is an endemic of the region of the Gharb (forest of Mamora). It is part of the panoply of the medicinal and aromatic plants of Morocco. Because of the lack of phytochemical informations on the species, some previous studies had for object a research of the antifungal activity of its extracts and a phytochemical screening. This last permitted to put in evidence the wealth of the plant in different secondary compounds. Thus, the present work intends to study the polyphenols of the leaves of Thymelaea lythroides and specially the flavonics aglycones and the anthocyanidins. The survey demonstrated the existence of different molecules belonging to the class of the flavonols, whose identification revealed the kaempferol and quercetine. In addition to two acidic phenols, identified as the cofeique acid and the genticique acidic and two anthocyanidins, the delphinidine and the cyanidine.Key words. Thymelaea lythroides, Thymelaeacees, Mamora, polyphenols.

Gelidium sesquipedale (Clem.) Bornet et Thuret is the main raw material used for agar production in Morocco. The biology and biochemistry of this slow growing alga collected monthly over one year has been studied. The agar content varied around 40% of algal dry weight and reached a maximum of 44.5% in November. Agar gel strength was maximum in May and July (1000 g cm-2 ), and melting (90 DC) and gelling (35 DC) temperatures varied slightly. The agar contained a high 3,6-anhydrogalactose content (40-45 mol%) and low amounts of 6-0-methylgalactose (around I mol%) and sulphate (1.0 -1.6% of dry weight). The reproductive status of the alga affected the agar synthesis and quality. The phycocolloid gel strength was related to the mean polysaccharide chain length but not to its chemical substitution.