Physico-chemical analysis of virgin olive oils from fresh and fallen fruits for assessing the quality and shelf life: characterization by chemometrics

The current study was conducted on olive fruit from the Chemlali cultivar gathered during two successive crop seasons and divided into two groups: olive plucked off the tree (Fresh olive) (oil yields 23%) and olive obtained from the ground before harvesting time, corresponding to Fallen Olive Fruit (oil yields 30%). The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of olive category on the quality of virgin olive oil (VOO). Analytical indicators, such as free acidity, peroxide value, and UV absorbance at 232–270 nm, showed higher values in Fallen Olive Fruit Oil, while pigments, total phenols, and oxidative stability exhibited lower values compered to Fresh olive oils. Similarly, Fallen Olive Fruit Oil has a lower oleic acid concentration, while the sterol content of the two samples remained nearly consistent across the two crop seasons. Furthermore, the phenolic percentage emanated from Chemlali olive oil varies according to the type of olive fruit, with Fresh olive oil having the highest concentration.

Graphical abstract