Pine nut oil
Encyclopedia
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
. While the oil pressed from the seeds of more common European and American pine varieties is mostly used for culinary purposes, Siberian pines (growing in Russia
, Mongolia
and Kazakhstan
), as well as Korean pines (growing mostly in China
and North Korea
) yield the seeds with the highest content of pinolenic acid
, as well as antioxidants associated with medicinal uses.
, and is therefore not generally used during cooking. Rather, it is added to foods for "finishing", to add flavor.
In Russia
before the revolution of 1917, it was used for cooking during Great Lent
when the eating of animal fat
s was forbidden. At that time, ten percent of all hard currency in Russia
was based on the trade of pine nut 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
.
According to a study by Lipid Nutrition, the pinolenic acid
contained in Korean pine nut oil can help curb appetite by stimulating the release of cholecystokinin
, a hormone
that functions as an appetite suppressant. The study showed that pine nut oil "boosts appetite suppressors up to 60% for four hours." 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.
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 LDL
s, yielding further health benefits.
Siberian pine nut oil (a variety of pine nut oil pressed from the seeds of Siberian pines) also contains a high concentration of free radical scavengers, which help reduce oxidative damage that can lead to peptic ulcer
s 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.
composition of pine nut oil showed the following composition:
! Fatty acid !! Percentage
|-
| Linoleic acid
> 49.0% ± 2.3
|-
| Oleic acid
23.8% ± 2.1
|-
| Pinolenic acid
17.1% ± 2.0
|-
| Palmitic acid
6.3% ± 2.2
|-
| Stearic acid
Pine nut
Pine nuts are the edible seeds of pines . About 20 species of pine produce seeds large enough to be worth harvesting; in other pines the seeds are also edible, but are too small to be of great value as a human food....
of several species of pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
. While the oil pressed from the seeds of more common European and American pine varieties is mostly used for culinary purposes, Siberian pines (growing in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
and Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
), as well as Korean pines (growing mostly in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
) yield the seeds with the highest content of pinolenic acid
Pinolenic acid
Pinolenic acid is a fatty acid contained in the Korean Pine nut and the seeds of other conifers . The highest percentage of pinolenic acid is found in Siberian pine nuts and the oil produced by them....
, as well as antioxidants associated with medicinal uses.
Culinary uses
Pine nut oil has a relatively low smoke pointSmoke point
The smoke point generally refers to the temperature at which a cooking fat or oil begins to break down to glycerol and free fatty acids, and produce bluish smoke. The glycerol is then further broken down to acrolein which is a component of the smoke. It is the presence of the acrolein that causes...
, and is therefore not generally used during cooking. Rather, it is added to foods for "finishing", to add flavor.
In Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
before the revolution of 1917, it was used for cooking during Great Lent
Great Lent
Great Lent, or the Great Fast, is the most important fasting season in the church year in Eastern Christianity, which prepares Christians for the greatest feast of the church year, Pascha . In many ways Great Lent is similar to Lent in Western Christianity...
when the eating of animal fat
Animal fat
Animal fats are rendered tissue fats that can be obtained from a variety of animals.- Pet nutrition :In pet nutrition, the source of animal fat concerns food manufacturers. AAFCO states that animal fat is "obtained from the tissues of mammals and/or poultry in the commercial processes of rendering...
s was forbidden. At that time, ten percent of all hard currency in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
was based on the trade of pine nut oil. Most of the trade was with France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan 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
Dough
Dough is a paste made out of any cereals or leguminous crops by mixing flour with a small amount of water and/or other liquid. This process is a precursor to making a wide variety of foodstuffs, particularly breads and bread-based items , flatbreads, noodles, pastry, and similar items)...
.
Medicinal uses
Korean and Siberian pine nut oil varieties have drawn recent attention for their medicinal properties.According to a study by Lipid Nutrition, the pinolenic acid
Pinolenic acid
Pinolenic acid is a fatty acid contained in the Korean Pine nut and the seeds of other conifers . The highest percentage of pinolenic acid is found in Siberian pine nuts and the oil produced by them....
contained in Korean pine nut oil can help curb appetite by stimulating the release of cholecystokinin
Cholecystokinin
Cholecystokinin is a peptide hormone of the gastrointestinal system responsible for stimulating the digestion of fat and protein...
, a hormone
Hormone
A hormone is a chemical released by a cell or a gland in one part of the body that sends out messages that affect cells in other parts of the organism. Only a small amount of hormone is required to alter cell metabolism. In essence, it is a chemical messenger that transports a signal from one...
that functions as an appetite suppressant. The study showed that pine nut oil "boosts appetite suppressors up to 60% for four hours." This property had already been understood in Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, 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.
Interest in the properties of pinolenic acid
Pinolenic acid
Pinolenic acid is a fatty acid contained in the Korean Pine nut and the seeds of other conifers . The highest percentage of pinolenic acid is found in Siberian pine nuts and the oil produced by them....
have led some researchers to explore methods of increasing the amount of this fatty acid
Fatty acid
In chemistry, especially biochemistry, a fatty acid is a carboxylic acid with a long unbranched aliphatic tail , which is either saturated or unsaturated. Most naturally occurring fatty acids have a chain of an even number of carbon atoms, from 4 to 28. Fatty acids are usually derived from...
in pine nut oil. Subsequent research showed that, in addition to suppressing appetite, pine nut oil also can reduce LDL
Low density lipoprotein
Low-density lipoprotein is one of the five major groups of lipoproteins, which in order of size, largest to smallest, are chylomicrons, VLDL, IDL, LDL, and HDL, that enable transport of cholesterol within the water-based bloodstream...
s, yielding further health benefits.
Siberian pine nut oil (a variety of pine nut oil pressed from the seeds of Siberian pines) also contains a high concentration of free radical scavengers, which help reduce oxidative damage that can lead to peptic ulcer
Peptic ulcer
A peptic ulcer, also known as PUD or peptic ulcer disease, is the most common ulcer of an area of the gastrointestinal tract that is usually acidic and thus extremely painful. It is defined as mucosal erosions equal to or greater than 0.5 cm...
s or gastritis
Gastritis
Gastritis is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach, and has many possible causes. The main acute causes are excessive alcohol consumption or prolonged use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Sometimes gastritis develops after major surgery, traumatic...
, according to clinical studies in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. 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 triglycerideTriglyceride
A triglyceride is an ester derived from glycerol and three fatty acids. There are many triglycerides, depending on the oil source, some are highly unsaturated, some less so....
composition of pine nut oil showed the following composition:
|-
| Linoleic acid
Linoleic acid
Linoleic acid is an unsaturated n-6 fatty acid. It is a colorless liquid at room temperature. In physiological literature, it has a lipid number of 18:2...
>
|-
| Oleic acid
Oleic acid
Oleic acid is a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid found in various animal and vegetable fats. It has the formula CH37CH=CH7COOH. It is an odorless, colourless oil, although commercial samples may be yellowish. The trans isomer of oleic acid is called elaidic acid...
|-
| Pinolenic acid
Pinolenic acid
Pinolenic acid is a fatty acid contained in the Korean Pine nut and the seeds of other conifers . The highest percentage of pinolenic acid is found in Siberian pine nuts and the oil produced by them....
|-
| Palmitic acid
Palmitic acid
Palmitic acid, or hexadecanoic acid in IUPAC nomenclature, is one of the most common saturated fatty acids found in animals and plants. Its molecular formula is CH314CO2H. As its name indicates, it is a major component of the oil from palm trees . Palmitate is a term for the salts and esters of...
|-
| Stearic acid
Stearic acid
Stearic acid is the saturated fatty acid with an 18 carbon chain and has the IUPAC name octadecanoic acid. It is a waxy solid, and its chemical formula is CH316CO2H. Its name comes from the Greek word στέαρ "stéatos", which means tallow. The salts and esters of stearic acid are called stearates...