Identification and quantitation of tocopherols, carotenoids and triglycerides in edible Pistacia lentiscus oil from Tunisia

International audienceThe fruits of Pistacia lentiscus are a source of a fixed oil used in some forested areas for culinary purposes and in traditional medicines. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of tocopherols, carotenoids and triglycerides in this oil using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results demonstrated the presence of two vitamin E isomers; α- and γ-tocopherols, at respective concentrations of 119 mg and 23 mg per kg of oil. β-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin were the principal carotenoid molecules identified. β-carotene was the main molecule present, with a level of 6.13 mg/kg oil. Di-unsaturated triglycerides comprised more than half of the total triglycerides (TAG) present. Dioleopalmitin (OOP), palmitooleolinolein (POL) and triolein (OOO) were the principal TAG molecules, at respective percentages of 26%, 17% and 13%. This study highlighted the nutritional value of this non-wood forest product and therefore increases the possibility of its use by the food industry

Diversity of Sterol Composition in Tunisian Pistacia lentiscus Seed Oil

International audiencePistacia lentiscus L. seed oil is used in some Mediterranean forest area for culinary and medicinal purposes. In this study, we aim to examine, for the first time, the effect of growing area on sterol content of Pistacia lentiscus seed oil. Fruits were harvested from 13 different sites located in northern and central Tunisia. Gas chromatography-flame-ionization detection (GC-FID) was used to quantify sterols and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to identify them. The major sterol identified was b-sitosterol with a value ranging from 854.12 to 1224.09 mg/kg of oil, thus making up more than 54% of the total sterols. The other two main sterols were cycloartenol (11%) and 24-methylene-cycloartenol (5%). Statistical results revealed that growing location significantly (P < 0.001) affected phytosterol levels in these oils

Evaluation of Pistacia lentiscus seed oil and phenolic compounds for in vitro antiproliferative effects against BHK21 cells

International audienceContext: Within the global context of increasing cancer diseases, natural products are important in devising new drugs and providing unique ideas in cancer therapy. In Tunisian folk medicine, Pistacia lentiscus L. (Anacardiaceae) fixed oil is used for cancer treatment.Objective: This investigation studied, for the first time, the antiproliferative effect of Pistacia lentiscus fixed oil and its phenolic extract on BHK21 cancer cells.Materials and methods: Oil was extracted from fruits harvested in northwest Tunisia and the phenolic fraction was obtained by mixing with methanol. The anti-proliferative activity of the two tested substances on BHK 21 cells were investigated in vitro using trypan blue assays. Cells were treated with different concentrations of P. lentiscus oil (0.009, 0.018, 0.036, and 0.09 g/mL) and the phenolic extract (0.007, 0.014, 0.03, and 0.07 g/mL) for 24, 48, and 72 h.Results: The inhibitory effect of Pistacia lentiscus fixed oil increases with the increase in dose. The IC50 value was estimated at 0.029 g/mL. The percentage of cell viability was 42.46 ± 3.4% at a dose of 0.09 g/mL and was significantly lower than that of the untreated control (96.24 ± 2.5%, p<0.01). The phenolic extract demonstrated a dose- and time-dependent inhibitory effect on BHK21 cell growth. After 48 h of incubation, the IC50 value was estimated at 0.15 g/mL.Discussion and conclusion: The results demonstrated the potential of Pistacia lentiscus fixed oil in treating cancer, as it is used in traditional medicine