Plant oils and Uses

WHAT ARE OILS?

An oil is any nonpolar chemical substance that is a viscous liquid at ambient temperatures and is both hydrophobic and lipophilic.

WHAT ARE PLANT OILS?

Plant oils are fats taken from plants.

Plant oils are mixtures of triglycerides that have been extracted from the seeds, leaves, peels, barks, flowers, buds, seeds of vegetables. Oil is then purified and sometimes refined or otherwise chemically altered to make the final product.

There are three primary three types of plant oil.

1. Vegetable oil: an oil derived from plants, e.g. rapeseed oil. Vegetable oils, obtained from such oil-bearing seeds as corn (maize), cottonseed, peanuts, palm nuts. This are triglyceride-based.

Vegetable oils are usually edible. The vegetable oils have long been used as fuel, typically in lamps which were a principal source of illumination in ancient times. The best source for oil fuel is known as Babylonian mineral oil. For the present time the industry value of vegetable oil is very high. The reason is that of skin care products. Vegetable oils are used as an ingredient or component in many manufactured products in skin care industry.

2. Macerated oils can obtain by a dried herb, plant is macerated, or steeped into a base oil. Macerated oils are known as infused oils, are carrier oils that have been used as a solvent to extract the therapeutic properties. It is well known that sesame oil has anti-inflammatory properties. Macerated herbal oil have been used as a remedy for joint, muscle, and skin inflammation

3. Essential oils are volatile aromatic compounds that are used in flavors, fragrances, and in aroma therapy for health purposes. Essential oils are usually extracted by distillation.

Nutritionally, the best source of monounsaturated fats is extra virgin olive oil. Pure vegetable oil contains the most polyunsaturated fatty acids per tablespoon.

Most plant oils contain mostly unsaturated fats, except for palm and coconut oils, which are mostly saturated

Plant oils are typically lacking in micronutrients, although some oils contain vitamins E and K. Olive, avocado, coconut, and flaxseed, walnut seed oils are particularly rich in antioxidants and may offer the added benefit of having anti-inflammatory properties.

Datta khadtare SYB.SC CB1507

Bipin Goswami SYB.SC CB1530

References:

1) https://formulabotanica.com/how-to-make-macerated-oils/

2) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Types_of_plant_oils

3) Book of practical guide to vegetable oil by Manoj gupta