Zahra Hesari - Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
Shirin Parvinroo - Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
Fateme Haji Karimkhani - Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
Abbas Naeimi kararoudi - Food and Drug Research Center, Food and Drug Deputy, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
Somayeh Ahmadi Gooraji - Department of Biostatistics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Background and objective: Olive oil has a lot of nutritional and medicinal benefits, which make it more valuable than other oils. Therefore, it is noticeable for adulteration by mixing with the cheaper oils. At this study, authenticity of virgin olive oils sold in herbal stores in north of Iran (Rasht) has been investigated.Material and methods: During ۲۰۱۹, ۲۶ samples of virgin olive oils were collected randomly from the herbal stores of Rasht city (Guilan, north of Iran). Fatty acid profile by gas chromatograph, peroxide value by calculation of milliequivalent of active oxygen per kilogram of oil, and acidity by titration of the samples with potassium hydroxide were determined in the laboratory and compared to the national regulation.Results and conclusion: Approximately, ۵۸% of the samples were out of the permitted range at least in one of the measured parameters. With regard to fatty acid profile, ۷۷% of the samples were within the normal range. Predominant fatty acids were included to oleic acid (۵۹.۸ ±۱۴.۳%), linoleic acid (۲۱.۴ ±۱۴.۱%), palmitic acid (۱۳.۸ ±۱.۴%), stearic acid (۲.۷ ±۰.۸%), and palmitoleic acid (۰.۷ ±۰.۳%). In case of peroxide value, ۹۲.۳% of the samples were within the acceptable range. Based on acidity, different virgin olive oils were differentiated as extra virgin (n = ۱, %۳.۸), first grade virgin (n = ۱۱, ۴۲.۳۱%), ordinary virgin (n = ۸, %۳۰.۷۷), and lampante virgin (n = ۶, %۲۳.۰۸). Our investigation revealed that the olive oils sold in herbal stores as traditional market should be monitored restrictedly to assess their originality and storage condition. Although, they should be examined periodically to find any adulteration, if exists.

acidity, Fatty Acid, herbal store, Peroxide, Rasht, virgin olive oil