Grape Seed Oil: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects By Dr. Rajeev Singh

Introduction:

Grapes are one of the major fruits which we all consume, and wine production depends on the grapes. The scientific name of the grapes is Vitis vinifera L. and belongs to the family Vitaceae. Grape seed is a by-product of the wine and alcohol industries. This grape seed produces oil which is an alternative to cooking oil and has more benefits for humans. In the 14th century, the King of Castile and Leon Ferdinand IV developed grape seed oil and used it for skin problems. They named grape seed oil Royal oil or Oil of the Throne. It is produced mainly in Australia, Japan, the USA, Korea, Spain, France, and Italy. Grape seed oil is a rich source of linoleic acid, stearic acid, and palmitic acid.^1,3,5 Let us discuss more grape seed oil.  

Nutritional Value of Herb:

100ml of grape seed oil possesses the following nutrients⁴ 

• Energy: 800kcal
• Total lipid (fat): 93.3g
• Fatty acids (total saturated): 13.3g 
• Fatty acids (total monosaturated): 20g
• Fatty acids (total polyunsaturated): 66.7g

Along with these, grape seed oil contains Vitamin E, tannins, phenols, tocopherols, and omega fatty acids.⁵  

Properties of Grape Seed Oil:

The following are the properties of grape seed oil:  

1. It might be an antioxidant ¹ 

2. It might have anti-platelet activity³ 

3. It might be an anti-microbial agent³ 

4. It might have anti-inflammatory activity³ 

5. It might have astringent properties 

6. It might be an antibacterial agent³ 

From what have seen, grape seed oil might provide beneficial effects due to its high antioxidant activity and the presence of vitamin E. These properties may contribute to its potential neuroprotective and antitumoral properties. As a result, grape seed oil has been suggested as a potential means to slow down the ageing process and potentially reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases.

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D (Ayu)

Potential Uses of Herb for Overall Health:

1. Potential Uses of Grape Seed Oil for Diabetes

Grape seed oil is a rich source of phenolic and flavonoid compounds. It may also contain procyanidin and may act against diabetes. In a study conducted by Montagut et al., rats are given grape seed procyanidin. It showed that grape seed oil may balance insulin and glucagon which may maintain optimum glucose levels. The same study showed that grape seed oil may interact with insulin receptors which stimulate the uptake of glucose. This may help grape seed oil to reduce diabetes. Diabetes is a serious issue and if you have diabetes consult your doctor for proper treatment. Do not self-medicate.  

2. Potential Uses of Grape Seed Oil for Cancer

The grape seed oil contains phenolic compounds that might show anticancer properties without affecting healthy cells. Cheah et al., 2014 showed that the presence of procyanidins in grape seed oil might be helpful against colon cancer. In addition, several experiments showed the efficacy of grape seed oil against head, neck, and prostate squamous cell carcinoma.^2,3 As cancer is a severe condition, kindly consult the doctor for proper treatment. Do not try to self-medicate. 

3. Potential Uses of Grape Seed Oil for Skin

In a study conducted by the University of Maryland Medical Center, consuming grape seed oil may raise the antioxidant levels in the blood. It might also help reduce dark circles under the eye and maintain the presence of collagen and elastin which may help in reducing the wrinkles on the face. By its antioxidant properties, it might be helpful in skin protection against UV radiation from the sun. It may also be used as a skin moisturizer as it is very light, soothes the skin, doesn’t leave oil residue, and reduces water loss.⁵ Even so, you must consult the doctor before using grape seed oil as it may cause side effects.  

4. Potential Uses of Grape Seed Oil for the Wound Healing Process

Grape seed oil may heal wounds and reduce scars in humans. In a study, grape seed extract was administered to injuries on the skin of animals and humans. It showed that wounds treated with the grape seed oil extract healed faster than wounds that did not receive it.⁵ But kindly consult the doctor for better results, and do not self-medicate as it may cause pain. 

5. Potential Uses of Grape Seed Oil for Hair

Grape seed oil might help improve blood flow in the scalp region in the condition called androgenetic alopecia, which can cause hair loss in men, especially those over 50 years. In addition, essential oils such as rosemary and lavender, along with grape seed oil, may provide conditioning effects and shine to the hair. It may also improve hair’s texture and gives a pleasant aroma.⁵ However, more research is needed on the impact of grape seed oil on hair. Kindly consult the doctor for better results. 

6. Potential Uses of Grape Seed Oil for Cholesterol

Grape seed oil may lower cholesterol absorption in the intestine. As a result, it may lower plasma cholesterol levels. Kim et al., 2010 investigated the effects of grape seed oil in rats. The results showed a decrease in total cholesterol. However, more research is needed to demonstrate the effects of grape seed oil on human cholesterol levels.¹ So, please consult the doctor for diagnosis and treatment. 

7. Potential Uses of Grape Seed Oil for Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a disease that affects brain cells and can cause memory loss and confusion. Berahmand et al. evaluated the efficacy of grape seed oil (GSO) on Alzheimer’s in male rats. It showed that grape seed oil might enhance antioxidant efficiency. In addition, it might stop the signals related to cell death and DNA damage, which might reduce Alzheimer’s disease.⁶ However, kindly consult the neurologist for diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, avoid using grape seed oil as self-medication, as there could be severe side effects.  

Though there are studies that show the benefits of grape seed oil in various conditions, these are insufficient and there is a need for further studies to establish the true extent of grape seed oil herb on human health.  

Based on my medical experience, I have observed that grape seed oil may exhibit antimicrobial properties and might have a toxic effect on certain pathogens. Studies have shown that the oil extracted from grape seeds may also have inhibitory effects on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, suggesting its potential as an antimicrobial agent.

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

How to Use Grape Seed Oil?

Grape seed oil can be used as follows: 

• You can use grape seed oil as a culinary oil in deep frying and baking. 
• You can massage your body with the help of grape seed oil. 
• You can apply it as a lotion to protect skin from sun radiation.  
• You can use it on hair as an oil. 
• You can apply it on the body as creams, lip balm, and hand creams.  

You must consult a qualified doctor before taking grape seed oil in large quantities or any herbal supplements. Do not discontinue or replace an ongoing treatment of modern medicine with an ayurvedic/herbal preparation without consulting a qualified doctor.   

Side Effects of Grape Seed Oil:

As a natural preparation, grape seed oil has no known side effects. However, if any unpleasant reaction occurs, seek immediate medical treatment. Consult the ayurvedic physician who prescribed it to you; they will be able to discover the problem and effectively treat it. 

Precautions to Take with Grape Seed Oil:

There have been no reports of precautions to be taken with grapeseed oil. Also, there are no special precautions to consider before giving grape seed oil to pregnant women, youngsters or the elderly. However, please consult a doctor before giving grape seed oil to pregnant women, children, or the elderly.   

Interactions with Other Drugs:

There are no adverse drug reactions with grape seed oil reported. However, more study is needed in this field to ensure that it does not interact with other drugs and is entirely safe for use. As a result, your Ayurveda physician’s advice must be carefully followed, as their prescription is based on your health condition. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

References:

1. Shinagawa FB, SANTANA FC, TORRES LR, Mancini-Filho J. Grape seed oil: a potential functional food?. Food Science and Technology. 2015 Oct 9;35:399-406. Available from: https://www.scielo.br/j/cta/a/rCVZt5vQbbRHScKqf6Y5y7j/?format=pdf&lang=en 

2. Garavaglia J, Markoski MM, Oliveira A, Marcadenti A. Grape seed oil compounds: Biological and chemical actions for health. Nutrition and metabolic insights. 2016 Jan;9:NMI-S32910. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4988453/pdf/nmi-9-2016-059.pdf 

3. Kwatra B. A review of potential properties and therapeutic applications of grape seed extract. World J. Pharm. Res. 2020 Mar 19;9:2519-40. Available from: https://wjpr.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/article_issue/1588592267.pdf 

4. FoodData Central. Celery, Raw U.S.[Internet]. Department of Agriculture. [Cited 2022, Sep 26] Available from: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/1664790/nutrients 

5. Sotiropoulou EI, Varelas V, Liouni M, Nerantzis ET. Grape seed oil: From a winery waste to a value added cosmetic product-a review. Edible Med. Non-Med. Plants. 2012;2:867-78.Available from: http://uest.ntua.gr/iwwatv/proceedings/pdf/Sotiropoulou_et_al.pdf 

6. Berahmand F, Anoush G, Hosseini MJ, Anoush M. Grape seed oil as a natural therapy in male rats with alzheimer’s diseases. Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 2020 Jul;10(3):430. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7335983/pdf/apb-10-430.pdf 

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