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Fig (Ficus carica) Seed Oil

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Fig (Ficus carica): Production, Processing, and Properties

Abstract

Ficus carica (fig) is a tree that grows in the Eastern Mediterranean and Southwest Asian countries. It has a broad spectrum of pharmacological activity and is widely used in traditional medicine. The less studied part of fig fruits is the seeds, containing oil, fatty acids, phenolics, and antioxidant traits. Fig seeds presented a yellow-colored oil, ranging from 21.5% to 28.5%. The fig seed oil is also rich in nutrients like carbohydrates, calcium (Ca), potassium (K), and phosphorus (P). In addition, they possess greater amounts of unsaturated fatty acids such as α-linolenic acid (26.3%), linoleic acid (24.2%), and oleic acid (19.6%), determined through Gas chromatography/mass spectrophotometry (GC/MS) analysis when compared to saturated fatty acids such as palmitic acid ranging between 8.54% and 9.05% and stearic acid ranging between 2.59% and 3.3%. The antioxidant capacity was 140.1 mg/TE/100 g. It also contains 314.6 mg/100 g of γ-tocopherol. This fig seed oil could be used as a supplement in treating diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, and diabetes. In addition, it is a proven aid for skin hydration and keeps the skin well-conditioned due to the presence of high contents of omega-3 fatty acids. The current chapter aims to analyze and discuss the present knowledge on the extraction and processing of fig seed oil and to analyze the composition of its fatty acid profile, phenolics, aroma compounds, antioxidants, and nutritional and health-promoting aspects.

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Abbreviations

FAO:

Food and Agricultural Organization

SFA:

Saturated Fatty Acid

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid

MUFA:

Monounsaturated Fatty Acid

LDL:

Low Density Lipoprotein

GAE:

Gallic Acid Equivalent

TH:

Taamriwthe

AZ:

Azegzaw

AV:

Averkane

GC/MS:

Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Women’s Christian College, Chennai, India

    Emi Grace Mary Gowshika Rajendran

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  1. Emi Grace Mary Gowshika Rajendran
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Correspondence to Emi Grace Mary Gowshika Rajendran .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Nutrition Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

    Mohamed Fawzy Ramadan

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Rajendran, E.G.M.G. (2023). Fig (Ficus carica) Seed Oil. In: Ramadan, M.F. (eds) Fig (Ficus carica): Production, Processing, and Properties. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-16493-4_16

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