Assessing Olive, Palm Kernel, and Groundnut Oils for their Dermatologically-Active Agents

Abstract

Skin is the largest organ in the human body and plays important role and hence various expensive creams are formulated to care for it. People place much premium in using expensive creams with little or no knowledge of what less expensive creams (olive, palm kernel, and groundnut oils) can offer in respect of skin care. The aim of this research work was to assess and compare the levels of skin care compounds (Myristic acid, 9-octadecenol, stearic acid, oleic Acid, arachidic acid, Erucic acid) in olive oil, groundnut oil, and palm kernel oil by using gas chromatography – mass spectroscopy. The %concentrations of the skin care compounds in the samples were: groundnut oil (4-phenylbut-3-ene-1-yne (5.79), Myristic Acid (8.63), Palmitic Acid (22.51), 9-octadecenol (12.76), Stearic Acid (10.89), Oleric Acid (8.34), Arachidic Acid (18.37), Erucic Acid (7.46); palm kernel oil (4-phenylbut-3-ene-1-yne (5.83), Myristic Acid (9.21), Palmitic Acid (32.04), 9-octadecenol (21.86), Stearic Acid (18.21), Oleric Acid (9.23), Arachidic Acid (11.24), Erucic Acid (0.96); olive oil (4-phenylbut-3-ene-1-yne (5.79), Myristic Acid (8.63), Palmitic Acid (22.51), 9-octadecenol (12.76), Stearic Acid (10.89), Oleric Acid (8.34), Arachidic Acid (18.37), Erucic Acid (7.46). The levels of skin care compounds follow this order: Palm kernel oil ? Groundnut oil = Olive oil, except arachidic acid and erucic acid. 1,2,3-trimethylbensene, p-mentha-1,3,8-triene, and o-cymene were not found in any of the oils. These ingredients delay ageing, eradicate pimples, rashes and other minute diseases and therefore enhance smoothness of the human skin. Therefore, palm kernel oil is the best oil to be applied on human skin as body cream than groundnut oil and olive oil, since it contains the highest % composition of the following skin care compounds; myristic acid, palmitic acid, 9-octadecenol, stearic acid and 2,3-epoxycarane.