Journal of Applied Sciences1812-56541812-5662Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/jas.2011.797.805AlruzK. AbuAfanehI. A.QuasemJ. M.HmidatM. A.AbbadyJ. MazahrehA. S.52011115The level of delta-7-stigmastenol (D-7-stigmastenol) contained in olive oil is a new criterion for oil quality, particularly its purity from adulteration with other seed oils. In this study, 79 olive samples were collected and analyzed from different areas of Palestine to study the factors affecting D-7-stigmastenol levels in the oil. These areas included the provinces of Jericho, Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Salfeet, Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarem and Qalqilyah. The study began in October 2007 and ended in July 2008. The following 11 factors were taken into consideration during sample collection: olive fly infection, topography, olive storage before pressing, geographical area, effect of olive seeds during oil extraction, effect of pressing temperature, presence of olive leaves during oil extraction, soil type, maturity index of the olive fruit, olive variety and oil preservation and storage in terms of storage container types. The results show that soil type, region, maturity index and olive fly infection are the main factors affecting D-7-stigmastenol. Pressing temperature, olive storage before pressing, olive variety and oil storage showed a moderate effect. Olive seeds, topography and presence of olive leaves had a negligible effect on D-7-stigmastenol levels in the oil.]]>Andres, A., E. Fernandez, F. Montero, J. Granell and J.E. Pardo,200314852Arvanitoyannis, I.S. and A. Vlachos,200747441498Codex Alimentarius Commission,20072007Covas, M.I., V. Ruiz-Gutierrez, R. de la Torre, A. Kafatos and R.M. Lamuela-Raventos et al.,200664S20S30Guil-Guerrero, J.S. and J. Urda-Romacho,200960125133International Olive Oil Council,20012001International Olive Oil Council,20092009Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs,20072007Jumana, A.,20042004Mailer, R.J., J. Ayton and K. Graham,201087877884Oueslati, I., H. Manai, F. M. Haddad, J. Sanchez, E. Osorio and M. Zarrouk,200915513Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics,20092009Pehlivan, B. and E. Yılmaz,201087865875Ranalli, A., S. Contento, C. Schiavone and N. Simone,2001103228238Mailer, R.J. and J. Ayton,20082008Salvador, M.D., F. Aranda and G. Fregapane,2001734553Tarnendjari, A., F. Angerosa, S. Mettouchi and M.M. Belial,2009Bactrocera oleae) on the quality and phenolic content of chemlal olive oil.]]>60507513Ben Temime, S., H. Manai, K. Methenni, B. Baccouri and L. Abaza et al.,2008110368374The World Bank,20062006Alberto, P.J., M.R. Alves, S. Casal and M.B.P.P. Oliveira,200416355365Bendini, A., L. Cerretani, M.D. Salvador, G. Fregpane and G. Lercker,200921389406Carelli, A.A.,20082008Di Giovacchino, L., S. Sestili and D. Di Vincenzo,2002104587601Faci, J.M., M.J. Berenguer, J.L. Espada and S. Gracia,2002Olea europaea L.) cv. Arbequina in Aragon (Spain). II. Extra virgin oil quality parameters.]]>2002Gomez-Caravaca, A.M., L. Cerretani, A. Bendini, A. Segura-Carretero and A. Cichelli et al.,2008Bactrocera oleae) on the phenolic profile and selected chemical parameters of olive oil.]]>5645774583Guillaume, C., L. Ravetti and J. Johnson,20102010Gutierrez, F., I. Varona and M.A. Albi,20004811061110Di Giovacchino, L., F. Angerosa and L. Di Giacinto,199673371374Lazzez, A., E. Perri, M.A. Caravita, M. Khlif and M. Cossentinin,200856982988Luaces, P., C. Romero, F. Gutierrez, C. Sanz and A.G. Perez,20078727212727Mraicha, F., M. Ksantini, O. Zouch, M. Ayadi, S. Sayadi and M. Bouaziz,20104832353241Rodriguez, G., A. Lama, R. Rodriguez, A. Jimenez, R. Guillen and J. Fernandez-Bolanos,20089952615269Stefanoudaki, E., K. Chartzoulakis, A. Koutsaftakis and F. Kotsifaki,200152202206Tedeschini, J., F. Thomaj, M. Bregasi, D. Panajoti and B. Ferraj et al.,20032003Vekiari, S.A., P. Papadopoulou and A. Kiritsakis,200758237242Di Terlizzi, B., A. Dragotta and M. Jamal,20072007Kiritsakis, A. and W.W. Christie,20002000pp: 285-353pp: 285-353