Importance of Argan Oil as a Food and Cosmetic Product
It is widely evidenced that argan oil is an important food. It is prepared from roasted argan kernels, whose pressing can be performed using traditional and modern techniques. In both cases, the obtained argan oil has a golden color and a unique hazelnut taste. Food argan oil is sweet with a nutty flavor and it is known as one of the most nutritional oils in the world. This explains the consumer demand as well as the incorporation of argan oil into other several varieties of foods. Traditionally, argan oil used as a food is eaten with bread. In addition, it makes a great finishing flavor when drizzled over grilled salads, fish, tajin, and couscous. Moreover, food argan oil is also the main ingredient in Amlou, a paste similar to peanut butter obtained by grinding roasted almonds with honey and argan oil (Guillaume and Charrouf, 2013). A few years ago, argan oil became highly valued by major chefs in Europe. Food argan is the main source of fat used for food preparation in the Amazigh diet and, therefore, it is deemed to be symbolic of this cultural continuity.
Several scientific studies devoted to the development of argan oil for over 30 years have shown various promising nutritional characteristics of this product in human health.
There are two kinds of argan oils in the market, namely, food argan oil and beauty (cosmetic) use (name INCI: Argania spinosa kernel oil). This is a cold pressed oil, however, it is obtained from unroasted argan kernels. Cosmetic argan oil is intended to be applied directly to the skin or hair, or to be an ingredient in other cosmetic preparations. Traditionally, cosmetic argan oil has been claimed to cure all kinds of skin anomalies with particular effectiveness for juvenile acne and chickenpox. Additionally, it is also claimed to reduce the formation of wrinkles. Argan oil is generally used in cosmetology as a moisturizer as well as to cure devitalized skin. Added to shampoos, the oil penetrates the hair axis and damaged hair follicles, giving hair a fuller and shinier look. All these skin healing properties justify the wide use of argan oil in dermatological and cosmetic formulations.
Nutritional and cosmetic properties of either argan oil devoted to direct consumption or cosmetic end uses are the result of its unique chemical composition. Argan oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acid and bioactive molecules, such as polyphenols, tocopherols, squalene, xanthophyll, CoQ10, and sterols.
