| Summary: | This study set out to examine her physicochemical characteristics, antioxidant activity and toxicological aspect of Schinus molle L. seed oil with view to ascertaining it as a potential product in an industrialized setting in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors. It contains significant amounts of unsaturated fatty acids especially oleic (43.2%) and linoleic (34.7) which are health promoting. Its antioxidant activity was very high with a total phenolic concentration (102.4 mg GAE/100g), DPPH radical scavenging activity (76.5) and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP, 0.45 mmol Fe² +/100g). This improves its prospects as a preservative agent and anti-aging agent. Viscosity values of the oil also varied with temperature ranging between 37.2 cP at 25 ℃ (temperature of interest) to 55.5 cP at 200 oC, which indicates that it was capable of high temperature usage. A toxicological test indicated 0% cytotoxicity, no irritation on the skin, and genotoxicity was recorded negative and concluded that this oil can be used in a consumer product. The results showed the potential of oil to be a multifunctional, sustainable, and safe material in most industries, as it can act as an antioxidant, and it is non-toxic, which justifies its application in health-sensitive formulations. All in all, Schinus molle L. seed oil demonstrates its potential application in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products that demand natural antiaging, moisturizers and preservative qualities.
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