Geographical origins influence on the chemical and antioxidant profiles of Moroccan sweet and bitter almonds

This study explores the impact of geographical origin on the physicochemical, phytochemical and antioxidant characteristics of sweet (Prunus amygdalus) and bitter (P. amygdalus) almonds from six Moroccan regions. Sweet almonds from Agadir stood out for their low moisture (2.94%), high oil yield (68.44%) and favorable lipid profile, including high levels of oleic acid (73.29%), β-sitosterol (82.91%) and α-tocopherol (93.14%). These samples also exhibited the highest phenolic (33.59 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (11.17 mg QE/g) contents, alongside strong antioxidant capacity (DPPH IC50 = 97.22 μg/mL; ABTS = 19.79 mg TE/g). All oil quality indicators met Codex standards. ANOVA and PCA analyses revealed significant effects of variety, region, and their interaction on oil composition and bioactivity. These findings highlight the importance of environmental factors in shaping almond quality and suggest that sweet almonds from Agadir are a promising source for high-value oil and antioxidant-rich formulations.