• Plant seed oil is commonly used as a cooking ingredient.cooking oil image by Gary Walker from Fotolia.com
  
  Plant seeds contain the genetic material needed to create new plants. In addition, some of types of plants produce seeds that are grown and harvested for the oil they contain. In addition to use as a cooking ingredient, certain plant seed oils are consumed as a health supplement based on their nutritional value, while other plant-seed oils are used as a topical component in skincare products.
  
  

Sesame Seeds

• Sesame oil is most often found in baked goods.sesame seeds image by Steve Lovegrove from Fotolia.com
  
  Sesame plants (Sesamum indicum) grow 5 to 6 feet in height and feature 1-inch-long, bell-shaped, white flowers. Between one and three seed capsules, each with eight rows of seeds, will grow at each leaf axil, depending on the plant variety. These light-colored small seeds, which are flat and pointed on one end, are considered high in oil since oil makes up 50 percent of their weight. In the U.S., sesame oil is mostly used as an ingredient in baked goods. Because of its concentration of antioxidants, sesame oil is also considered more stable than other types of vegetable oils.
  
  

Flax Seeds

• Flax seed oil is available in capsules for those seeking the health benefits of Omega-3 fatty acid.capsules image by Pefkos from Fotolia.com
  
  Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is a broad-leaf plant that grows 30 to 36 inches tall. Its numerous stems feature blue flowers that bloom for several weeks before developing into 1/3-inch-wide seed capsules. Each capsule houses four to 10 seeds. Flax seed is about 40 percent oil by weight, with Omega-3 fatty acid composing 55 percent of this oil. Flax seed oil has gained popularity in recent years due to health benefits attributed to Omega-3 fatty acid, also known as alpha linolenic acid. According to the Mayo Clinic, flax seed oil may be helpful for certain health conditions including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and menopause symptoms.
  
  

Sunflower Seeds

• Sunflower seed oil has gained popularity in the U.S. due to its lower saturated fat content.sunflower and sunflower seeds image by Andrey Chmelyov from Fotolia.com
  
  Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is a rapidly growing, broad-leaf plant that can reach 7 feet in height, although some larger varieties can reach 10 feet. Its distinctive yellow flower, the face of which is composed of hundreds of disk flowers that eventually form seeds, can reach 1 foot in diameter. Though sunflower oil was first used as a cooking oil in Russia during the 19th century, sunflowers have only been grown for the purpose of oil production for about 25 years in the U.S. Sunflower seed oil has gained popularity due to the fact that it has less saturated fat than many vegetable oils and has a longer shelf life.
  
  

Amaranth Seeds

• Amaranth's high concentration of squalene makes it a desirable ingredient in skincare products.body lotion image by PinkShot from Fotolia.com
  
  Amaranth (Amaranthus) is a broad-leaf plant that encompasses about 60 different species. As such, it can range in size from 2 to 8 feet tall. Amaranth produces grain heads that are 4 to 12 inches long with masses of crimson or maroon flowers. The oil contained in amaranth seeds is considered valuable due to its high concentration of squalene, which is sold for thousands of dollars per pound. Squalene is an antioxidant that can easily penetrate the skin, making amaranth seed oil a coveted ingredient in skincare products.