Grape seed oil

Grape seed oil (also called grapeseed oil or grape oil) is pressed from the seeds ofgrapes, and is thus an abundant by-product of winemaking.

Contents

  [hide] 

• 1 Uses
  • 1.1 Cooking
  • 1.2 Cosmetics
  • 1.3 Potential medicinal benefits
  • 1.4 Potential medicinal complications
• 2 Composition
• 3 See also
• 4 References

Uses[edit]

Cooking[edit]

Grape seed oil has a moderately high smoke point of approximately 216 °C (421 °F). Due to its clean, light taste, and high polyunsaturated fat content, it may be used as an ingredient in salad dressings and mayonnaise and as a base for oil infusions of garlic,rosemary, or other herbs or spices. It is also excellent for use in baked goods, pancakes, and waffles. It is also sprayed on raisins to help them retain their flavor.^[1]

The metabolic energy density of grape seed oil is typical of vegetable oils: approximately 3,700 kJ (880 kcal) per 100 g, or 500 kJ (120 kcal) per 15 ml tablespoon.

Cosmetics[edit]

Grape seed oil is a preferred cosmetic ingredient for controlling moisture of the skin. Light and thin, grape seed oil leaves a glossy film over skin when used as a carrier oil foressential oils in aromatherapy. It contains more linoleic acid than many other carrier oils. Grape seed oil is also used as a lubricant for shaving.

Potential medicinal benefits[edit]

The properties of grape seed oil provide health benefits when consumed. A 1993 study supports the claim that grape seed oil increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C or "good cholesterol") levels and reduces LDL levels.^[2]

Although grape seeds contain antioxidants and other biologically active compounds,^[3] the cold-pressed grape seed oil contains negligible amounts due to their insolubility in lipids.^[4] For instance, sufficiently high amounts ofresveratrol occur in grape seed for it to be extracted commercially,^[5] yet it is almost entirely absent in the grape seed oil. Consumption of chardonnay grape seed procyanidin extract has also been found to prevent high-fat diet-induced obesity in hamsters by improvingadipokine imbalance and oxidative stress markers.^[6]

Further information: Grape seed extract

Potential medicinal complications[edit]

Oligomeric procyanidin complexes found in grapeseed extract found in grapeseed oil may react with anticoagulants and phenacetin.^[7]

Grapeseed oil has sometimes been found to contain dangerous levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons because of direct contact withcombustion gases during the drying process.^[8]

Composition[edit]

Grape seeds (Nr. 7 and 8) and grapes

The following table lists a typical fatty acid composition of grape seed oil:^[9]

Acid	Type	Percentage
Linoleic acid	ω−6 unsaturated	69.6%[10]
Oleic acid	ω−9 unsaturated	15.8%
Palmitic acid (Hexadecanoic acid)	Saturated	7%
Stearic acid (Octadecanoic acid)	Saturated	4%
Alpha-linolenic acid	ω−3 unsaturated	0.1%
Palmitoleic acid (9-Hexadecenoic acid)	ω−7 unsaturated	less than 1%

Grape seed oil also contains 0.8 to 1.5% unsaponifiables rich in phenols (tocopherols) andsteroids (campesterol, beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol).^[11] Grapeseed oil contains small amounts of vitamin E, but safflower oil, cottonseed oil, or rice bran oil contain greater amounts.^[12]Grapeseed oil is high in polyunsaturates and low in saturated fat.

See also[edit]

• List of grape varieties