article · Food and Bioproducts Processing
Argania spinosa oil, extracted from the kernels of the Argan tree using ethanol and hexane, contains high concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids, primarily oleic and linoleic acids, alongside phytosterols and alpha-tocopherol. Ethanolic extracts demonstrated strong antioxidant activity, rich in phenolic compounds and flavonoids including quinic acid, coumarin, and hesperidin. In animal evaluations, wounds treated with the oil reached 98.7 percent closure by day 12 in rabbits, outperforming untreated controls by accelerating vascularisation and tissue regeneration. Extensive safety testing in mice and rabbits revealed the oil is non-toxic and non-irritating, showing no mortality at high oral or intraperitoneal doses, and causing no adverse reactions on skin, eyes, or rectal mucosa. These findings confirm its safety and tissue-regenerative properties for potential use in skin-repair applications.
Chronic and severe wounds require safe, effective therapies that actively promote tissue regeneration. By confirming that Argania spinosa oil safely accelerates wound closure in animal models and identifying its bioactive components, this research offers a foundation for developing natural treatments to aid skin healing and tissue repair.
The findings suggest potential applications in developing temporary or permanent engineered skin substitutes, topical wound-care treatments, and regenerative medicine products. Target users include biomedical device manufacturers and wound-care product developers. Based on preclinical evaluations in rabbits and mice, the research is at an applied and tested laboratory stage, with further work needed on molecular pathways, extraction optimisation, and long-term clinical safety before human use.
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Argania spinosa oil, extracted from the kernels of the Argan tree, has been traditionally valued for its therapeutic and healing properties. However, its potential as a bioengineered solution for wound healing and skin regeneration has not been comprehensively explored. This study bridges that gap by evaluating the chemical composition, biological activity, and safety profile of Argania spinosa oil for potential biomedical applications. The oil was extracted using ethanol and hexane and characterized by its physicochemical properties. Gas chromatography and spectrophotometric analyses revealed a high content of unsaturated fatty acids, primarily oleic acid (44.40%) and linoleic acid (36.69%), alongside significant levels of phytosterols (134.05 mg/100 g) and α-tocopherol (7.44 mg/100 g). The ethanolic extract showed strong antioxidant potential, with total phenolic and flavonoid contents of 67.47 μg/mg and 31.90 μg/mg, respectively. Biological assessments in rabbits demonstrated that wounds treated with the oil achieved 98.7% closure by day 12, compared to 93.77% in controls, confirming its efficacy in accelerating tissue repair. The healing effect is attributed to its bioactive compounds that enhance vascularization and tissue regeneration. Safety evaluations, including acute toxicity, ocular irritation, and dermal irritation tests, confirmed that the oil is non-toxic and non-irritating, with no mortality observed up to doses of 70 mL/kg (oral) and 6 mL/kg (intraperitoneal) in mice. Additionally, no adverse reactions were observed on rabbit skin or rectal mucosa. Key phenolic constituents, such as quinic acid (4.09 μg/g), coumarin (1.60 μg/g), and hesperidin (0.50 μg/g), were identified, contributing to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The high polyunsaturated-to-saturated fatty acid ratio (3.10) further underscores its therapeutic and nutritional significance. This study establishes Argania spinosa oil as a promising, natural, and safe candidate for bioengineered skin applications. By addressing the gap in empirical data on its wound-healing mechanisms and safety, the research supports its use in developing sustainable, temporary, and permanent engineered skin substitutes for regenerative medicine. Future studies should focus on elucidating its molecular pathways, optimizing extraction techniques, and assessing long-term clinical safety. • Argania spinosa oil is rich in oleic and linoleic acids with strong antioxidant activity. • Ethanolic extract shows high phenolic (67.47 μg/mg) and flavonoid (31.90 μg/mg) contents. • Wound closure reached 98.7% by day 12, confirming enhanced tissue regeneration. • Key phenolics (quinic acid, coumarin, hesperidin) contribute to healing efficacy. • Safety tests confirm non-toxicity and non-irritation in mice and rabbits. • Findings support its potential use in bioengineered skin and regenerative medicine
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DOI: 10.1016/j.fbp.2025.11.014
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