Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

Rats fed on a diet in which Phormium tenax oil was the only fat grew faster, 0.1g/rat/day, than those on a standard diet, and rats on a standard diet to which P. tenax oil had been added grew slightly faster, 0.5g/rat/day, than controls. In neither experiment did there appear to be any adverse effect from the P. tenax oil. Whole seeds were acceptable to a rat which showed no ill effects from their ingestion. P. tenax seeds contain 29% of an oil which was similar in fatty acid composition to those of sunflower, safflower and maize. Compares well to sunflower and maize in terms of yield per acre. Has no linolenic acid, an easily oxidised fatty acid, which can give undesirable flavours. P. tenax oil when refined is pale yellow and odourless.