Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) Seed

Abstract

Safflower is the oldest cultivated crop, typically grown at a small-scale level. Each part of this crop has multiple uses ranging from oil, foods, flavors, coloring agents, dyes, and medicinal benefits. Safflower crop can tolerate salinity and drought effectively. Various techniques are used to harvest the oil ranging from mechanical to supercritical fluid extraction; the extracted oil is rich in oleic and linoleic acids. The functional attributes of safflower include treatment of atherosclerosis, menopause, skin infections, and bone-related disorders. Recently, safflower oil is used to encapsulate sensitive bioactive compounds for nutrients delivery systems. This chapter highlights safflower chemical characteristics in combination with health benefits. Keywords Sunflower oil · Cardiovascular diseases · Phytonutrients · Inflammatory diseases · Salad dressing