Exploring Pistacia terebinthus Fruit Oil as a Potential Functional Material

Abstract

Pistacia terebinthus L. which has been traditionally used in diet and medicine, remains underexplored in Greece, particularly regarding its chemical composition and antioxidant activity. The current study aims to comparatively evaluate the chemical profile of cold-pressed terebinth fruit oils, obtained from wild trees growing in the Greek Island of Chios (North East Aegean Sea), harvested during three years (2019, 2020 and 2021). The oils’ lipid profile was dominated by oleic acid (C18:1 cis-9) (42–45%) followed by palmitic acid (C16:0) (24–30%) and linoleic acid (C18:2 cis-9,12) (19–22%). Their phenolic acid content, expressed as anacardic acids—known for their bioactive properties—was quantified via q-1H-NMR and found to be markedly high (1.91–2.98 mmol/kg oil). Total phenolic content (TPC) of the fruit extract showed interesting high value (185.92 ± 2.61 mg GAE/g) accompanied by strong antioxidant activity (DPPH, exhibiting > 80% inhibition at a concentration of 100 µg/mL) which was positively correlated with TPC. Additionally, the fruits demonstrated a rich nutritional profile, particularly in crude fibers (38.9%) and essential minerals (K, Mg, and Zn), along with low sodium content, suggesting notable dietary benefits. The cold-pressed oil exhibited high lipid content and low specific extinction coefficients (K232, K270), indicating minimal oxidation and confirming the oil’s freshness. These findings highlight the potential of P. terebinthus fruit oil as a high-value functional raw material with nutritional and antioxidant properties. Comparable to olive oil in lipid quality, Greek turpentine fruit and oil could play a promising role towards further applications in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical sectors.