Proprietà dell'olio di semi di albicocca - Prunus Armenica (Apricot) Kernel Oil properties

[Royalsapphire]

Apricot kernel oil is obtained from the kernels ( seeds ) of Apricots. After eating these delicious fruits, the seeds are used to make this light oil. Apricot kernel oil is great for use as a massage oil as it is very light and makes the skin soft. Apricot kernels themselves are quite healthy and are being researched for a number of health conditions including cancer. Apricot kernel oil is quite similar to almond oil and its applications are also similar. This oil has a deep, nutty flavor which makes it an excellent ingredient for desserts and other recipes.


Source
Apricot kernel oil is extracted from seeds of Apricot ( Prunus armeniaca ). Apricots are native to Armenia, although it is believed that Apricots may have originated in China. The fruit is widely cultivated in Mediterranean and Central Asia. The largest producer of Apricots is Turkey. The seeds of apricot have a high percentage of oil. It is quite possible that this seed has been used to extract oil since ancient times. Apricot kernel oil has been mentioned in TCM ( Traditional Chinese medicine ) where it is used for treating tumors and ulcers. This use of apricot kernel spread far and wide with time and was used for this purpose in England in 17th century. Apricots themselves are great for a number of conditions. Eating just a few dried apricots can alleviate constipation because of the high fiber content in them.
There are two types of Apricot kernel oil:

1) Cosmetic only – This variety is only meant for topical application.
2) Edible – This variety can be used like sweet almond oil in cooking.

Properties
Apricot kernel oil possesses many therapeutic properties which make it suitable for its various uses.

Emollient – Apricot seed oil is a brilliant emollient ( moisturizer ).
Anti – Inflammatory – It reduces inflammation when applied topically or when ingested.
Anti-Aging – It provides nutrition and support to the skin so that aging is reduced.
Anti – Bacterial – This effect is made use of to treat clothes and other products to keep bacteria away. [1]
Anti Septic – reduces risk of infection in open wounds and cuts.
Antioxidant – prevents the skin from damage by free radicals.[2]
Color, Taste and Aroma
Aprioct kernel oil is generally light yellow in color. It can also be slighter darker yellow depending on the variety of apricots and the extraction process. There is a slight nutty aroma in this oil. The taste is nutty, somewhat like almonds. It is ideal for making confections like marzipan.

apricot kernels for making apricot oil

Health Benefits
Apricot kernel oil can be use for a variety of personal uses and many home remedies. It is also used in alternative medicine for treatment of cancer, although it has not been proved.

1. Apricot kernel oil for Skin
Apricot kernel oil is good for people with sensitive skin. It is non-irritant and soothing for the skin. It is light and quickly makes the skin soft and smooth. Apricot oil percolates deep into the skin. It is easy to apply on the skin as it quickly spreads on the skin. It soothes irritated skin. A massage with apricot kernel oil is good for dry, parched skin. One can use it after a shower to seal the moisture into the skin. Since it is light, it does not feel too oily. Once it is absorbed into skin,it provides moisturization for a long time.
Apricot kernel oil is one of the best carrier oils for massage. It penetrates nicely into the skin and also improves the delivery of essential oils and other herbal agents. This oil is also good for infusing with herbs and absorbing their essence. It can be utilized for various kinds of massage that require an oil.

apricot kernel oil as massage carrier oil

2. Apricot kernel oil for Hair
Apricot oil is loved by many people around the world for their hair care. When applied to the hair shafts,it helps to detangle hair. These are the health benefits that organic apricot oil provides to hair.

It promotes hair growth because of the nutrients in it, especially Vitamin E.
It reduces dry scalp problems.
It helps to achieve gorgeous shiny hair without any greasiness.
When used as a hot oil treatment, it conditions the hair and provides them nutrition.
It softens the hair, so that they are more manageable and easily combed.
3. As an Under Eye Cream
Apricot oil can be applied just like almond oil for healing under eye skin. It aids in reducing dark circles, puffiness and helps to strengthen the skin around this region. With regular application of apricot kernel oil, one can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes.

4. Face Oil
Apricot kernel oil is a nice face oil, especially when compared to other heavier oils. It helps to improve skin tone, nourish the skin and lower the appearance of aging signs, like wrinkles, lines and blemishes. However, this oil should be avoided by people who are suffering from acne or are prone to acne. That is because it has a comedogenicity of 2. This means that the oil is mildly comedogenic and it can clog skin pores. This may result in acne breakouts and blackheads.

5. Heart Health
Consumption of apricot kernel oil can be healthier for the heart and the cardiovascular system. This oil has demonstrated ability to lower the risk of myocardial infarction ( heart attack ) in rats and can possibly perform the same function in humans [3] . One can take apricot oil in food as a salad dressing and by using it for cooking certain recipes that go well with the flavor of this oil.

Apricot oil is great for use in home made skin care products like facial toners, scrubs, dry and wet shampoo and exfoliants.

Uses
Besides its use as a healing agent and a home remedy for skin care, apricot kernel oil has many more uses. It is used in some recipes where it really brings out better flavor. However it is generally used only as a salad dressing on a regular basis. Moreover, it has also got some industrial applications.

1. Apricot kernel oil for making Soap
Apricot oil is used as an ingredient in soaps. One can use it in home made soap recipes to have a lesser oily and slippery oil. It makes a nice base oil for the soap, in combination with coconut oil and palm oil, which are very common in soap making. Apricot oil adds a slight nutty aroma to the oil. It is also a good carrier for essential oils which are used in soap making like lemon essential oil, lavender oil and jasmine essential oil.

2. Production of Biodiesel
Apricot kernel oil is being evaluated for its potential to generate biodiesel and the results so far look good. Especially the oil from wild apricot varieties can be used for this purpose. [4]

Side Effects, Safety and Toxicity Issues
Apricot kernel oil is generally safe to use topically. However, when used internally, there is one thing to note. Apricot kernels contain a substance called amygdalin. This is converted by the body into cyanide, which is poisonous. This can lead to respiratory failure and may even be fatal. [5]
Amygdalin is usually removed from oil products. This is done to ensure that the oil product contains much less amygdalin than the safety limit. This is the case with almond oil, apricot oil and peach oil. However, one should be absolutely sure that the oil product has been processed to remove this poisonous substance.

Interactions
There is currently no information about the interactions of apricot oil with medication or other herbal products.

Nutritional and Medicinal Information
Apricot kernel oil is quite nutritious and it borrows its nutritional value from apricot kernels. Apricot oil is great for heart health as it contains mostly unsaturated fats. If taken in small amounts, one can expect to have cardiovascular health benefits and it may also help in lowering blood cholesterol levels, like other oils that are rich in unsaturated fats.
All the nutrition data is for 100 gm of apricot kernel oil.

Fatty Acid profile of Apricot kernel oil
The most important part about nutrition of any oil is its fatty acid profile, that is the fats that it contains. Apricot kernel oil is rich in oleic acid and linoleic acid. This is a breakdown of the fatty acids present in apricot kernel oil.
100 gm of apricot oil contains :

Saturated fatty acids – 6.3 gm
Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) – 60 gm
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) – 29.3 gm
This shows that overall apricot kernel oil is very healthy heart wise. It has a very small amount of saturated fats.