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Argan oil is a plant oil produced from the kernels of the argan tree (Argania spinosa L.) that is endemic to Morocco. In Morocco, argan oil is used to dip bread in at breakfast or to drizzle on couscous
or pasta. World-wide, it is gaining a reputation both as an ingredient
in high-end, personal-care products and as a heart-healthy gourmet
product
Extraction
The production of argan oil by traditional methods
The fruit of the argan tree is small, and are round, oval or conical.
A thick peel covers the fleshy pulp. The pulp surrounds a hard-shelled
nut that represents approximately 25% of the weight of the fresh fruit.
The nut contains one to three argan oil-rich kernels. Extraction
yields from 30% to 50% of the oil in the kernels, depending on the
extraction method.[2]
Extraction is key to the production process. To extract the kernels,
workers first dry argan fruit in the open air and then remove the fleshy
pulp. Some producers remove the flesh mechanically without drying the
fruit. Moroccans usually use the flesh as animal feed.
The next stage involves cracking the argan nut to obtain the argan
kernels. Attempts to mechanize this process have been unsuccessful, so
workers still do it by hand—making it a time-consuming, labour-intensive
process. Berber women often engage in this arduous task.
Workers gently roast kernels they will use to make culinary argan
oil. After the argan kernels cool, workers grind and press them. The
brown-colored mash expels pure, unfiltered argan oil. Finally, they
decant unfiltered argan oil into vessels. The remaining press cake is
protein-rich and frequently used as cattle feed.[2]
Cosmetic argan oil is produced almost identically, though the argan kernels are not roasted to avoid an excessively nutty scent.
The decanted argan oil is left to rest for approximately two weeks so
that solids suspended in the argan oil settle to the bottom, creating a
natural sediment. The clearer argan oil is further filtered, depending
on the required clarity and purity. Pure argan oil may contain some
sediment. This is a natural part of the production process and does not
affect quality
- Argan oil has a relative density at 20 °C (68 °F) ranging from 0.906 to 0.919.[4]
Argan oil contains tocopherols (vitamin E), phenols, carotenes, squalene, and fatty acids, (80% unsaturated fatty acids)[5] The main natural phenols in argan oil are caffeic acid, oleuropein, vanillic acid, tyrosol, catechol, resorcinol, (−)-epicatechin and (+)-catechin.[6]
Depending on the extraction method, argan oil may be more resistant to oxidation than olive oil.[7]
Culinary uses
Culinary argan oil (argan food oil) is used for dipping bread, on couscous, salads and similar uses. Amlou, a thick brown paste with a consistency similar to peanut butter, is produced by grinding roasted almond and argan oil using stones, mixed with honey and is used locally as a bread dip.
Various claims about the beneficial effects on health due to the consumption of argan oil have been made. Researchers have concluded that daily consumption of argan oil is "highly likely" to be one factor that helps prevent various cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity.[8]
The results of a nutritional intervention study, in which volunteers consumed either argan oil or animal fats (butter) in their diet, were published in 2005. The results showed that—as with olive oil and some other vegetable oils—regular dietary intake of argan oil instead of butter reduced harmful cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.[9]
Cosmetic uses
Moroccans traditionally use unroasted argan oil to treat skin diseases, and as a cosmetic oil for skin and hair:
"In cosmetics, argan oil is advocated as moisturizing oil, against juvenile acne and flaking of the skin as well as for nourishing the hair. This oil has also medicinal uses against rheumatism and the healing of burns ... Externally, argan oil is used ... for hair as brilliantine, to fortify and ... in the treatment of wrinkled or scaly dry skin."[10]
Argan oil has become increasingly popular for cosmetic use. The number of personal-care products on the US market with argan oil as an ingredient increased from just two in 2007,to over one hundred by 2011. It is sometimes mixed with pomegranate seed oil due to its antioxidizing benefits,[11][12] with vendors promoting this blend as an all-in-one serum both for skin and hair.[13] Argan oil is also sold without additives as a natural skincare and hair care product.,[14]
The increasing popularity of argan oil has prompted the Moroccan government to plan for increased production, with their aim being to increase annual production from approximately 2,500 to 4,000 tonnes by 2020.[15]
Impacts
The production of argan oil is beginning to have noticeable environmental and social impacts. Argan oil production means that argan trees are now seen as a valuable resource. This has led to their preservation with a secondary impact on the environment. In Morocco, for example, the labour-intensive nature of argan oil production, now frequently carried out by women's co-operatives, has provided a steady income for many women and their families, improved the social status of some women and has encouraged producers of other agricultural products to examine the co-operative model.[citation needed]
Environmental impacts
The Argan tree provides food, shelter and protection from desertification. The tree's deep roots help prevent desert encroachment. The canopy of the argan tree also provides shade for other agricultural products, and its leaves and fruit provide food for animals.[4]
The argan tree also helps landscape stability, helping to prevent soil erosion, providing shade for pasture grasses and helping to replenish aquifers.[16]
Producing argan oil has helped to protect argan trees from being cut down. In addition, regeneration of the Arganeraie has also been carried out: in 2009 an operation to plant 4,300 argan plants was launched in Meskala in the province of Essaouira.[17]
RARBA (Réseau des Associations de la Réserve de Biosphère Arganeraie, Network of Associations of the Argan Biosphere Reserve) was founded in 2002 with the aim of ensuring sustainable development in the Arganeraie.[18]
RARBA has been involved with several major projects, including the Moroccan national anti-desertification programme (Programme National de Lutte contre la desertification (PAN/LCD)). The project involved local populations and helped with improvements to basic infrastructure, management of natural resources, revenue generating activities (including argan oil production), capacity reinforcement and others.[19]
Social impacts
The production of argan oil has always had a socio-economic function. At present, argan oil production supports approximately 2.2 million people in the main argan oil producing region (the Arganeraie).[15]
Much of the argan oil produced today is made by a number of women's co-operatives. Co-sponsored by the Social Development Agency (SDA) with the support of the European Union, the UCFA (Union des Cooperatives des Femmes de l’Arganeraie) is the largest union of argan oil co-operatives in Morocco. It comprises twenty-two co-operatives that are found in other parts of the region (e.g., Coopérative Al Amal, Coopérative Amalou N'Touyag, Coopérative Tissaliwine, Coopérative ArganSense, and Coopérative Maouriga).[20]
Employment in the co-operatives provides women with an income, which many have used to fund education for themselves or their children. It has also provided them with a degree of autonomy in a traditionally male-dominated society and has helped many become more aware of their rights.[21]
The success of the argan co-operatives has also encouraged other producers of agricultural products to adopt the co-operative model.[22]
The establishment of the co-operatives has been aided by support from within Morocco, notably the Fondation Mohamed VI pour la Recherche et la Sauvegarde de l’Arganier (Mohammed VI Foundation for Research and Protection of the Argan Tree),[23] and from international organisations, including Canada's International Development Research Centre[24] and the European Commission.[21]
Funding has enabled technical support for the production and marketing of argan oil and for technical, professional and personal development of the women involved in the co-operative.[24]
References
- "Hard Nut to Crack: Beauty and Antioxidant Oil". The Wall Street Journal. June 11, 2012. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
- Charrouf, Zoubida; Guillaume, Dominique (1999). "Ethnoeconomical, ethnomedical, and phytochemical study of Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels". Journal of Ethnopharmacology 67 (1): 7–14. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(98)00228-1. PMID 10616955.
- Khallouki, F; Younos, C; Soulimani, R; Oster, T; Charrouf, Z; Spiegelhalder, B; Bartsch, H; Owen, RW (2003). "Consumption of argan oil (Morocco) with its unique profile of fatty acids, tocopherols, squalene, sterols and phenolic compounds should confer valuable cancer chemopreventive effects". European journal of cancer prevention 12 (1): 67–75. doi:10.1097/01.cej.0000051106.40692.d3 (inactive 2015-01-09). PMID 12548113.
- Charrouf, Zoubida; Guillaume, Dominique (2008). "Argan oil: Occurrence, composition and impact on human health". European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology 110 (7): 632. doi:10.1002/ejlt.200700220.
- Monfalouti, HE; Guillaume, D; Denhez, C; Charrouf, Z (Dec 2010). "Therapeutic potential of argan oil: a review". J Pharm Pharmacol 62 (12): 1669–75. doi:10.1111/j.2042-7158.2010.01190.x. PMID 21054392.
- Charrouf, Z; Guillaume, D (2007). "Phenols and Polyphenols from Argania spinosa". American Journal of Food Technology 2 (7): 679. doi:10.3923/ajft.2007.679.683.
- Chimi, H; Cillard, J; Cillard, P (1994). "Autoxydation de l'huile d'argan Argania spinosa L. du Maroc" [Autoxidation of argan oil Argania spinoza L. from Morocco]. Sciences des aliments (in French) 14 (1): 117–24. ISSN 0240-8813.
- Charrouf, Zoubida; Guillaume, Dominique (2010). "Should the Amazigh Diet (Regular and Moderate Argan-Oil Consumption) have a Beneficial Impact on Human Health?". Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 50 (5): 473–7. doi:10.1080/10408390802544520. PMID 20373191.
- Derouiche, A.; Cherki, M.; Drissi, A.; Bamou, Y.; El Messal, M.; Idrissi-Oudghiri, A.; Lecerf, J.M.; Adlouni, A. (2005). "Nutritional Intervention Study with Argan Oil in Man: Effects on Lipids and Apolipoproteins". Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism 49 (3): 196–201. doi:10.1159/000087072. PMID 16020940.
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