The Chemistry of Argan Oil

What could be nutrients within Argan Oil that could have the potential to bring such benefits for health and beauty?

Saponins :

The argan tree is rich in saponins. More recently, Saponins have been proposed as protective agents against infective fungi and additionally against bacteria and protozoa and are linked to anti-cancer activity. Saponins are found in many plants and in the animal kingdom. They have a soapy character due to their surfactant properties.

Sterols 

Four sterol have been found in argan oil. The two major are named spinasterol and schottenol both are reputed to have anti-cancer properties. Compounds with the lanostane nucleus (ganoderates, lucidenates) have been isolated from a mushroom Polyporaceae. These sterols may be related to the use of that mushroom in the traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine. It is used to cure several pathologies (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hepatitis, gastritis, diabetes, bronchitis, and cardiovascular problems.

Tocopherols( Vitamin E ) & Anti-oxidants

One of the most powerful Anti-oxidants is Tocopherol/ Vitamin E. Alpha tocopherol makes up 69% of the tocopherols found in argan oil. Antioxidant flavonoids and Tocopherols found in Argan and cannot be synthesized by the body. These antioxidants are involved in many activities including: promoting good circulation and acting as a natural anti-inflammatory.

Argan oil is about twice as rich in tocopherol as olive oil (620 mg/kg vs. 320mg/kg). The main tocopherol is by far alpha-tocopherol (69%) whose eutrophic activity of well known, beta and gamma-tocopherol are found in roughly equal proportions (16% and 13% respectively), deltatocopherol is a much minor component (2%).

Fatty Acids

Argan oil is rich in linoleic acid which increases the production of prostaglandins 1 and thus is beneficialial for people with rheumatologic conditions and cardio vascular problems. It is active in the maintainance and repair of the membrane that encloses the cells.

Triterpene alcohols

Triterpenoids are biologically active substances. The major constituents of the triterpenic fraction of argan oil are tirucallol, beta amyrine, butyrospermol, and lupeol.

Triterpenoids are biologically active substances. The major constituents of the triterpenic fraction of argan oil are tirucallol, beta amyrine, butyrospermol,and lupeol.

The effects they can produce include:

tirucallol (27.9%)–cicatrisation

beta amyrine (27.3%)–skin protection

butyrospermol ( 18%)–anti inflammatory

lupeol (7%)–antiseptic

 

 

Argan Oil and Saponins