Camellia oleifera oil: unveiling health benefits and exploring novel applications

oil demonstrates hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities through antioxidant pathways and immune modulation. Its benefits include mitigating liver damage, improving glycemic control, and exhibiting anticancer properties. The oil's potential to alleviate inflammatory bowel disease and acute kidney injury underscores its therapeutic versatility. Beyond its culinary applications, it is also utilized in functional foods, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics due to its antioxidant and emollient properties. This review summarizes the research on its composition, extraction methods, and health impacts, addressing existing mechanistic gaps and outlining future research directions to optimize its industrial and medical applications.