Characteristics and composition of Washingtonia filifera (Linden ex André) H. Wendl. seed and seed oil

► This study was conducted on the properties of the oil extracted from Washingtonia filifera seeds. The oil content of the seeds, the acidity, the peroxide value, the saponification value, the iodine value of the oil were 16.30%, 0.41%, 7.60 mequiv O2/kg of oil, 191.63 (mg KOH/g) and 67.33 (g/100g of oil), respectively. ► Oleic acid (40.60%), lauric acid (17.87%), linoleic acid (16.26%), myristic (11.43%) and palmitic (9.23%) were the dominant fatty acids in the W. filifera seed oil. LaMM (11.97%), followed by LaMP (11.16%), LaPO (10.57%) and LaLaM (8.08%) were the abundant triacylglycerols (La: lauric, L: linoleic, O: oleic, P: palmitic, M: myristic). ► The DSC melting curves reveal that: melting point = 2.25 °C and melting enthalpy = 82.34 J/g W. filifera seed oil showed some absorbance in the UV-B and UV-C ranges. ► This present study shows that the W. filifera is a promising seed oil crop. Regarding it particular features and other desirable physicochemical characteristics, the value of this seed oil in cosmetic and food industries may be justified.