DOM GUILLAUME*¹, SAID GHARBY², HICHAM HARHAR³, MOHAMED BABA⁴
* Corresponding author
1. Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, 51 Rue Cognacq Jay, 51100 Reims, France
2. Etablissement Autonome de Contrôle et Coordination des Exportations, 23 zone industrielle Tassila, Agadir, Morocco
3. Laboratory of Plant Chemistry and Organic Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University Mohammed V-Agdal, BP1014 Rabat, Morocco
4. Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand-Chimie 6, 24 Avenue des Landais, BP 80026, 63171 Aubière Cedex, France

Abstract

Following the path recently opened by argan oil, two new vegetable oils are currently considered as the next most likely candidates to be possibly successfully launched on the lucrative dietary and cosmetic organic oil market. If cactus oil (Opuntia ficus-indica seed oil) is almost ready to take off, toogga oil (Balanites aegytiaca seed oil) is still in an early development phase. This peer-reviewed article is aimed at summarizing the knowledge presently gathered on these two oils.

INTRODUCTION

In recent years a drastic change in consumer behavior has been observed worldwide. Indeed, a fast-increasing number of consumers is getting highly concerned with topics as healthy diet, food-related welfare, and nutraceuticals. Such change results in a strong and rapidly growing demand for compounds labeled as organic, sustainable, and/or eco-friendly. In the vegetable-oil domain, extra virgin olive oil, which is prepared from olive tree fruit, is likely to be one of the most well-known products that fully satisfy consumer rigorous expectation. Marketed as cosmetic or edible oil, olive oil knows a considerable and long lasting success. Generally speaking, all cold-pressed seed oils present an important appeal among consumers. More specifically, seed oils that are rich in unsaturated fatty-acids and anti-oxidant products are therefore generally endowed with important hair-, skin- and cardio-protective properties and are therefore highly prized as nutraceuticals or cosmetic ingredients. When associated with a frequently well-received by the consumers respect for tradition and culture, an efficient marketing can easily and rapidly transform a r ...