Comparative study of four safflower oils (Carthamus tinctorius) varieties grown in eastern of Morocco

In this study, four safflower varieties, originating from Spain (Rancho), India (Sharda) and Morocco (Cartamar and Cartafri) cultivated at the experimental station of OUJDA (semi-arid region of Eastern Morocco) were evaluated for their oil yield and seed oil quality. The analysis of results revealed significant differences among varieties for all traits. Indeed, our result show that seeds of the four varieties have important oil content ranged between 35.38% (Rancho) and 28.84% (Cartamar). Characterization of these oils showed a low value of acidity index less than 0.7% for all the varieties but significant differences in their peroxide values ranged between 4.5 meq O2/Kg (Cartamar) and 31.21 mEqO2/Kg (Rancho) and high value of phenolic content between 143 ppm (Rancho) and 97 ppm (Sharda). Analysis of the fatty acids shows that
linoleic acid is the main fatty acid ranged between 77.94% (Cartamar) and 79.98% (Sharda). Oils of those four varieties can be classified in the linoleic acid group. The analysis of triglycerides by HPLC shows 10 molecular species of TAG (LLL, LPL, LLO, PLO, LLS, POP, OOO, POO, SOO, PPL). The trilinoleate (LLL) is the main molecular species with more than 50%. Safflower seed oil cultivated in eastern Morocco presents good physicochemical proprieties (polyphenols and Omega 6 richness); therefore, safflower culture could be suggested for all areas of Morocco, including the areas of low pluviometry, while the potential for culture of
other oilseeds is more limited.