Almond oil, a rich source of macronutrients and micronutrients, is extracted for food flavorings and the cosmetics industry. In recent years, the need for high‐quality and high‐quantity production of almond oil for human consumption has been increased. The present review examines the chemical composition of almond oil, storage conditions, and clinical evidence supporting the health benefits of almond oil. From the reviewed studies, it appears that almond oil contains a significant proportion of poly and monounsaturated fatty acids, with oleic acid as the main compound, and an important amount of tocopherol and phytosterol content. Some variations in almond oil composition can be found depending on the kernel's origin and the extraction system used. Some new technologies such as ultrasonic‐assisted extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, subcritical fluid extraction, and salt‐assisted aqueous extraction have emerged as the most promising extraction techniques that allow eco‐friendly and effective recovery of almond oil. This safe oil was reported by several clinical studies to have potential roles in cardiovascular risk management, glucose homeostasis, oxidative stress reduction, neuroprotection, and many dermatologic and cosmetic applications. However, the anticarcinogenic and fertility benefits of almond oil have yet to be experimentally verified.
Oilseed pumpkin seeds are known to be rich in oil and nutrients. Their content in bioactive components gives them some assets that make them beneficial for human health. Although commonly consumed as a snack, pumpkin seeds are ready to claim more uses. The identification of pumpkin species is a major resource in this study. Thus, we worked with three pumpkin species: Cucurbita maxima (CMa), Cucurbita moschata (CMo) and Cucurbita pepo (CP). The species effect on the chemical composition, the content of bioactive compounds and the antioxidant activity was studied. As a result, the analysis of pumpkin seed oil revealed a polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) content ranging from 52.23% to 57.65%. Our study also revealed that this oil was a good source of phenolic compounds, in particular CMa with a value of 27.52 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram of methanolic extract and 633.51 mg/kg of total tocopherols, which gives it a very strong antioxidant character. In addition, it showed a high antioxidant potency (126.20 ± 20.44) μg/ml for CMa. In this respect, it can be said that the species effect can be a very important factor influencing the nutritional quality of pumpkin seed oil.
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