Hazelnut Oil

Iodine value: 83-90 gI/100g

Saponification value: 187-197

SAP Value NaOH:

SAP Value KOH:

INCI name (PCPC) : Corylus Avellana Seed oil

CAS No: 84012-21-5

Family: Betulaceae

Appearance/form:  Clear, pale yellow

Introduction

Hazelnut, also known as Corylus Avellana  is the third most cultivated nut crop in the world. It is the seed from the fruit of the Hazel tree which is usually found in Turkey, Italy, Azerbaijan and the United States. Turkey is the world’s largest producer of Hazelnut (1).

Hazelnuts are also known as Cobnuts or Filberts which are spherical to oval in shape. After 7-8 month of pollination the ripe nuts fall out of the husk. These kernels are roasted or made into a paste. It is widely used in confectionary industry.

Physical and Chemical Characteristics

Hazelnut oil has high amounts of Oleic acid (76.3-82.6%) and linoleic acid and lesser amounts of palmitic acid. Oleic acids are un-saturated fatty acids. Hazelnut oil is also a rich source of Vitamin-E and has high amounts of proteins, dietary fibres, iron, thiamine, phosphorus, manganese and Magnesium. Oil can be extracted using cold expression/screw pressing or supercritical C02 extraction.  Both methods impart an oil that is relatively clear (2).

It has SAP value of 187-195 and Iodine value of 83-90 gI/100g.  The oil is light yellow liquid.

Hazelnut Oil Fatty Acid Profile

Source: Textron

Health Benefits of Internal Use 

Hazelnuts are packed with fats and proteins. They also contain phytic acid which can limit the bodies ability to absorb certain minerals such as iron and zinc. Antioxidants, such as tocoperols in hazelnut seeds reduces LDL cholesterol, the risk of atherosclerosis and helps prevent obesity (3) and hazelnut skin has been investigated for its anti cancer properties (4).

Hazelnuts contain a series of antioxidants that may cooperate in concert, providing the body with potential help in hindering the free radical threat, thus improving human well-being by countering the initiation and progression of oxidative stress-mediated disorders and disease (5)

Skin and Hair Care Benefits 

Hazelnut oil has moisturising and antioxidant properties so is good for most skin types, but is a good choice for oily and acne prone skin. It is the ideal base oil for facial and body oils for most skin types.

Masson and Bardot (1990) investigated the moisturising effect of hazelnut oil phospholipids. They note that there is s considerable difference in levels of phospholipids in refined and unrefined oils, with refined only having trace amounts compared to unrefined which had 286 ppm. They compared the moisturising effects of refined and unrefined oils on 56 subjects and found, “A significant increase in the moisturizing effect of the emulsion containing virgin hazelnut oil was found and this was itself significantly greater than the emulsion containing refined oil.” They then compared the moisturising effect of unrefined oil with refined oil enriched with 234ppm isolated hazelnut phospholipids and found there was no difference between the two. This indicated that hazelnut phospholipids concentration was directly connected to its skin moisturising effect (6)

Hazelnut is considered an astringent oil due to the catechins and tannins (healthy flavonoids). This quality makes it perfect for oily and acne prone skin (7).

References

  1. OPARNICA CEDO, DRAGAN DRAGAN, TODOR VULIC, BOBAN DJORDJEVIC (2018)CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OFHAZELNUT (CORYLUS SPP) CULTIVARS, Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture, Montanology, Cadastre Series

  2. Acta Horticulturae 445, 101–108. Botta, R., Richardson, D., 1994. Hazelnut variety organic acids, sugars, and total lipid fatty acids. Acta Horticulturae 351, 693–699. Botta, R., Gianotti, C., Me, G., 1997. Kernel quality in hazelnut cultivars and selections analysed for sugars, lipids and fatty acid composition. Acta Horticulturae 445, 319–326

  3. Pycia, K., Kapusta, I., & Jaworska, G. (2019). Changes in Antioxidant Activity, Profile, and Content of Polyphenols and Tocopherols in Common Hazel Seed (Corylus avellana L.) Depending on Variety and Harvest Date. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 25(1), 43. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25010043

  4. Caimari A, Puiggròs F, Suárez M, Crescenti A, Laos S, Ruiz JA, Alonso V, Moragas J, Del Bas JM, Arola L. The intake of a hazelnut skin extract improves the plasma lipid profile and reduces the lithocholic/deoxycholic bile acid faecal ratio, a risk factor for colon cancer, in hamsters fed a high-fat diet. Food Chem. 2015 Jan 15;167:138-44. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.06.072. Epub 2014 Jun 24. PMID: 25148970.

  5. Marina Contini, Maria Teresa Frangipane, Riccardo Massantini, Chapter 72 - Antioxidants in Hazelnuts (Corylus avellana L.),Editor(s): Victor R. Preedy, Ronald Ross Watson, Vinood B. Patel,Nuts and Seeds in Health and Disease Prevention,Academic Press,2011,Pages 611-625,

  6. Masson P, Merot F, Bardot J. Influence of hazelnut oil phospholipids on the skin moisturizing effect of a cosmetic emulsion. Int J Cosmet Sci. 1990 Dec;12(6):243-51. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-2494.1990.tb00539.x. PMID: 19291034I

  7. Ivanović, Stefan & Avramović, Nataša & Dojcinovic, Biljana & Trifunovic, Snezana & Novaković, Miroslav & Tešević, Vele & Mandić, Boris. (2020). Chemical Composition, Total Phenols and Flavonoids Contents and Antioxidant Activity as Nutritive Potential of Roasted Hazelnut Skins (Corylus avellana L.). Foods. 9. 430. 10.3390/foods9040430.

  8. FAOSTAT. Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. 2018. Available online: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC (accessed on 10 March 2020).

Rebecca Wright