Pine nut oil

Pine nut oil, also called "pine seed oil" or "cedar nut oil", is a pressed vegetable oil, extracted from the edible seeds of several species of pine.

Culinary uses

Pine nut oil has a relatively low smoke point, and is therefore not generally used during cooking. Rather, it is added to foods for "finishing", to add flavor. [cite web
url=http://www.pinenut.com/raw-foods-information.htm
title=Raw Foods Values and Information
publisher= [http://www.pinenut.com/ Goods from the Woods]
accessdate=2006-09-24]

In Russia before the revolution of 1917, it was used for cooking during Lent when the eating of animal fats was forbidden. At that time, ten percent of all hard currency in Russia was based on the trade of pine oil. Most of the trade was with France, which traditionally uses nut oil in cooking.

Pine nut oil is also reportedly an excellent bread preservative when a small amount is added to the dough. [cite book
url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/X0453E/X0453e12.htm
title=Non-wood forest products from conifers
chapter=Chapter 8: Seeds, Fruits and Cones
author=FAO
year=1995]

Medicinal uses

Pine nut oil has drawn recent attention for its medicinal properties.

According to a study by Lipid Nutrition, the pinolenic acid contained in pine nut oil can help curb appetite by stimulating the release of cholecystokinin, a hormone that functions as an appetite suppressant. [cite web
url=http://www.webmd.com/content/article/120/113791.htm
title=Pine Nut Oil May Cut Appetite
author=Miranda Hitti
publisher=WebMD News
date=March 28, 2006
accessdate=2006-09-30] The study showed that pine nut oil "boosts appetite suppressors up to 60% for four hours." [cite web
url=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/04/060404085953.htm
title=Pine Nut Oil Boosts Appetite Suppressors Up To 60 Percent For 4 Hours
author=American Physiological Society
publisher=Science Daily
date=April 4, 2006
accessdate=2007-10-18] This property had already been understood in Siberia, where a handful of pine nuts or a tablespoon of pine nut oil has traditionally been taken with (or instead of) a meal when food is scarce to give a feeling of satiation.cite web
url=http://www.siberiantigernaturals.com/extravirginpinenutoil.htm
title=Extra virgin pine nut oil
publisher=Siberian Tiger Naturals
accessdate=2006-09-30 Siberian Tiger Naturals sells cold-pressed oils from Siberia.]

Interest in the properties of pinolenic acid have led some researchers to explore methods of increasing the amount of this fatty acid in pine nut oil. Subsequent research showed that, in addition to suppressing appetite, pine nut oil also can reduce LDLs, yielding further health benefits. [cite journal
url=http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=16003808
title=Selective increase in pinolenic acid (all-cis-5,9,12-18:3) in Korean pine nut oil by crystallization and its effect on LDL-receptor activity
author=Lee Jin-Wo, Lee Kwang-Won, Lee Seog-Won, Kim In-Hwan and Rhee Chul
date=2004
journal=Lipids
volume=39
issue=4
pages=383–387
doi=10.1007/s11745-004-1242-2]

Pine nut oil also contains a high concentration of free radical scavengers, which help reduce oxidative damage that can lead to peptic ulcers or gastritis, according to clinical studies in Russia and China. As a result of such studies, pine nut oil is now considered a remedy for these conditions in both countries..

Triglyceride composition

One analysis of the triglyceride composition of pine nut oil showed the following composition: [cite journal
url=http://www.springerlink.com/content/pv27w44513w45767/
title=Triglyceride Composition of Pinus sibirica Oil
author=V. I. Deineka and L. A. Deineka
journal=Chemistry of Natural Compounds
date=March, 2003
volume=39
issue=2
doi=10.1023/A:1024857729235
pages=171]

References

External links

* cite web
url=http://www.ringingcedarsofrussia.org/infoE.php#articles
title=The Ringing Cedars of Russia
accessdate=2006-10-17 This commercial site, selling pine nut oil, contains a number of articles on the oil's properties.