Shelf-life of Moroccan prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) and argan (Argania spinosa) oils: A comparative study

Abstract

Cactus seed oil is gaining considerable popularity in the cosmetic industry. To estimate cactus seed oil' industrial as well as domestic ease of use, we investigated the oxidative stability of Moroccan cactus seed oil under accelerated aging conditions. In addition, we compared cactus seed oil stability to that of argan oil, a popular and well-established cosmetic oil, under the same conditions. Cactus seed oil is much more sensitive to oxidation than argan oil. Its shelf-life can be estimated to be no longer than 6 months at room temperature. Such instability means that the preparation process for cactus oil must be carried out with great care and cactus seed oil needs to be protected once extracted.