Argania spinosa L.Skeels, is a large tree native to south-western Morocco, belonging to the Sapotaceae family and the genus Argania. It is usually about 8 metres high, but can reach, under favourable soil and climate conditions, 20 metres with a trunk diameter of 1 metre. The fruits are oval, the size of a walnut, green or bright yellow and are used to feed cattle, sheep and goats. In 2014, UNESCO declared this tree to be on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The kernel of Argania spinosa yields an oil, generally obtained by cold pressing, that is widely used in cosmetics.

It appears as an oily liquid with an amber colour.

What it is used for and where

Medical

The phytochemical composition includes (1)

• tocopherols (γ-tocopherol, δ-tocopherol, α-tocopherol) 
• sterols (schottenol 46%, cholesterol 0.32%, campesterol 0.31%)
• monounsaturated fatty acids 45% (oleic acid, gadoleic acid)
• polyunsaturated fatty acids 31% (linoleic acid, linolenic acid)
• saturated fatty acids 20% (palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, myristic acid)
• polyphenols (ferulic acid, syringic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid)
• triterpenoids

these components and the saponins present both in the plant and in the oil, with their antioxidant activity have been shown to exert anti-hyperglycaemic antidiabetic, antihypertensive activity. Polyphenols that have demonstrated antidiabetic activity: caffeic acid, gallic acid, quercetin, epicatechin

Cosmetics

It is used in cosmetic products for its nourishing, moisturising, skin-protective and hair-protective properties conferred by saponins, polyphenols and tocopherols, which also have activities to stretch and repair the stratum corneum. Also used as a bleaching agent due to its ability to promote melanogenesis, it can be used in cosmetic products as a therapy against hypopigmentation disorders (2).

Food

Argan oil is used as a condiment in salads and in the preparation of cous cous.

The most relevant studies and their abstracts have been selected to expand on this topic:

Argania spinosa studies

Typical commercial product characteristics Argania spinosa kernel oil

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Kamal R, Kharbach M, Heyden YV, Yu H, Bouklouze A, Cherrah Y, Alaoui K. In Vitro & In Vivo Anti-Hyperglycemic Potential of Saponins Cake and Argan Oil from Argania spinosa. Foods. 2021 May 13;10(5):1078. doi: 10.3390/foods10051078.

(2) Makbal R, Villareal MO, Gadhi C, Hafidi A, Isoda H. Argania Spinosa Fruit Shell Extract-Induced Melanogenesis via cAMP Signaling Pathway Activation. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Apr 6;21(7):2539. doi: 10.3390/ijms21072539.