Biological activities of tea seed (Camellia oleifera Abel.) oil

Camellia oleifera Abel., often grown for ornamental purposes, is also an important oil crop. The edible oil derived from the seeds of C. oleifera is commonly referred to as tea seed oil. Tea seed oil has been extensively utilized as a cooking oil, particularly in China. It is widely known as “Eastern Olive Oil” as it shares the oleic-acid-rich monounsaturated fatty acid composition comparable to that of olive oil. It is suggested that the unique chemical composition of tea seed oil renders multiple biological activities and affords potential health benefits. The present book chapter discusses the chemical composition of tea seed oil and summarizes the current understanding of its biological activities.