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5229002 
Journal Article 
ARGAN OIL ARGANIA-SPINOSA (L) SKEELS, SAPOTACEAE 
Maurin, R 
1992 
39 
5-6 
139-146 
WOS:A1992JG82900002 
Argan seed oil Argania spinosa, Sapotaceae from Morocco contains important amount of oleic and linoleic acids. Oleic acid was equally distributed between the three positions of sn-glycerol with a slight preference shown for the internal position whereas the distribution between the external positions revealed a slight preference for the sn-1 position. Linoleic acid occured predominately at the sn-2 position whit lesser amounts evenly distributed between the two external positions. Saturated fatty acids showed a preference for external positions, the sn-1 position contained slightly more palmitic acid than the sn-3 position whereas stearic acid was preferentially esterified at the sn-3 position. Argan oil contains important amounts of tocopherol, the sterol fraction contains two main compounds, 5-alpha-stigmasta-7-en-3-beta-ol (24-R) (schottenol) and to 5-alpha-stigmasta-7,22-dien-3-beta-ol (24-E, 24-S) (spinasterol), and in the triterpenic-methylsterol fraction, tirucallol, beta-amyrin and butyrospermol are the three main compounds. Argan oil is used commonly as a food oil in southern Morocco, this oil is used in cosmetics and may be considered as an interesting raw material for extraction of schottenol which is an anticancer agent.