KNOWLEDGE AND CONSUMPTION OF ARGAN OIL (Argania spinosa L. Skeels)
EL MANDOURI FATIMA ZAHRA *
Laboratory of Botany, Biotechnology and Plant Protection, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco.
ABIDLI ZAKARIA
Genetic and Biometric Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco.
BENYAHIA HAMID
Institute for Agronomic Research, Kenitra, Morocco.
BENKIRANE RACHID
Laboratory of Botany, Biotechnology and Plant Protection, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The Argan tree is an endemic species of Morocco, it is a "relic tree" of the tertiary era and it is the only representative of the family of the sapotacées to develop outside the intertropical zone, also it has an important nutritional property. Experimental observation studies and intervention trials have shown that the consumption of Argan oil can reduce the risk of several diseases. The study was developed to determine the state of knowledge and consumption of Argan oil among the Moroccan population, several parameters taken into consideration (gender, age, city, middle and level of study), plus the parameters concerning knowledge of Argan oil in general and scientific terms. The questionnaire also includes items concerning the frequency of consumption of Argan oil products (cosmetics, medical).
The results obtained showed that 63% of the respondents were women, and that 36% of the surveys came from the city of Agadir. On the other hand, 97% of respondents with a university level of study, and 98% know the Argan oil. Thus our study revealed that 68% of respondents know the scientific name of the Argan tree. On the other hand, 74% of respondents consume Argan oil, of which 50 consume it as a food product, 57.1% consume it as a cosmetic product and only 1% consume it as a pharmacological product.
Concludes that our population has a lack of knowledge about the scientific name of the argan tree, as well as having a low consumption of argan tree. For this reason, the authorities responsible for agriculture and the consumption of food products must carry out awareness raising campaigns to make citizens aware of the need to consume argan oil.
Keywords: Consumption, knowledge, argan, Morocco.