Determination of polyphenols, tocopherols, and antioxidant capacity in virgin argan oil (Argania spinosa, Skeels)

This study establishes data on polyphenols, tocopherols, and antioxidant capacity (AC) of virgin argan oil. A total of 22 samples from Morocco were analyzed. Total polyphenol content ranged between 6.07 and 152.04 mg GAE/kg. Total tocopherols varied between 427.0 and 654.0 mg/kg, being gamma-tocopherol the major fraction (84.68%); alpha-, beta-, and delta-tocopherols represent 7.75, 0.33, and 7.29%, respectively. No influence of oil extraction method on total tocopherols was observed. The AC of argan virgin oils determined by the ABTS method in n-hexane oils dilution ranged between 14.16 and 28.02 mmol Trolox/kg, and by the ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP methods in methanolic oil extracts between 2.31-14.15, 0.19-0.87, and 0.62-2.32 mmol Trolox/kg, respectively. A high correlation was found between ABTS and DPPH methods applied to a methanolic oil extract. Virgin argan oil presents a higher polyphenol and tocopherol content, and total AC than other edible vegetable oils.