אנפקינון - שמן זית שלא הביא שליש

Omphacinum oil is the term used for the oil of unripe olives that was used in ancient times for cosmetic and medicinal purposes. This article reviews the classical and Jewish sources that discuss this oil. In particular, it addresses the question: At what stage of the development of the fruit was the oil produced? The conclusion is that the answer is the Sages’ definition, namely,that it is oil “that did not yield a third”, referring to the stage at which one third of the final yield can be obtained from the fruit.The oil of unripe olives is inedible, because it is very bitter and highly pungent,a product of the high level of poly phenols. However, these substances are now known to be effective in preventing disease as well as treating a variety of chronic diseases. Studying the textual sources using scientific tools, e.g.,examining the oil yield during the development of the fruit and the chemical composition of the unripe oil helps attain an understanding of the material aspect of the ancient sources.