Chemical composition of Lentisk (Pistacia lentiscus L.) seed oil

We were interested in Pistacia lentiscus fixed oil which was extracted from ripe seeds. The characterization of this oil was performed on fatty acids, triacylglycerols, tocopherols and sterols composition. We also evaluated its mineral composition. The results showed that the prominent class of fatty acids was represented by monounsaturated fatty acids accounting for 52.4% of the whole fatty acids. It was followed by saturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids accounting respectively for 26.42, 21.18 and 11%. The major fatty acid (FA) was oleic acid with an amount of 51.06%. Linoleic acid (C18: 2) which is an essential FA accounted for 20.71% of total fatty acids. The majority of triacylglycerols are in mono and polyunsaturated forms. The major constituents were stearoyl-oleyl-linoleylglycerol and palmitoyl-dioleylglycerol acounting together for 27.58% of total TAGs. Concerning sterols, their quantity in Lentisk oil was about4.17 mg/ kg of oil. This quantity is comparable to that of oil seed rapeseed. We noted the prevalence of ß-sitosterol with an amount of 55.5%. Furthermore, P. lentiscus oil contained 8111.137 mg of tocopherols/kg of oil. a-tocopherol which has the highest antioxidant activity accounted for 97% of whole tocopherols in Lentisk oil. Lentisk oil was rich in minerals. The most abundant mineral was Na, followed by K, Ca, Mg, Fe and Cu. These minerals are essential and indispensable for the human body, for their nutritional value. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]