Original Articles
Kamal Rabie, Kharbach Mourad,E
Abstract
Objective: In order to validate the traditional use of argan oil, to compare between two different methods of extraction (hand pressed (HP) and mechanical cold-pressed (MP)) and to begin the understanding of their activities, waiting to find the structure-activity relationship, radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing ability and phenolic content were studied. Methods: Antioxidant potential of phenolic extract of argan oil derived from both extraction methods was evaluated using DPPH radical scavenging assay, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power test (FRAP). The chemical composition of phenolic extract was also studied spectrophotometrically. Results: The both extracts showed a promising scavenging effect and an important reducing activity measured by DPPH, TEAC and FRAP assays, compared to the standard antioxidants (Butylatedhydroxytoluene (BHT), Quercetin and Trolox). Moreover, phenolic extracts of argan oil can be a promising new source of natural compounds such as polyphenols (1.11 to 1.79 eq Gallic acid (mg/g dry)), flavonoids (3.13-3.83 eq rutin (mg/g dry)) and tannins (12.31–18.19 eq catechin (mg/g dry)). In addition, the strong correlation was observed between antioxidant capacities and their total phenolic contents. Conclusion: From this work, it can be concluded that argan oil could be a promising source of antioxidant metabolites, while the oil devived from hand pressed (HP) was the most effective using DPPH, TEAC and FRAP assays and the highest in terms of total phenol, flavonoid and tannin contents.