Yellowhorn (Xanthoceras sorbifolium): A Climate-Resilient Oilseed for Industrial Applications

Xanthoceras sorbifolium (Yellowhorn) is an underutilized, multipurpose, climate-resilient oilseed with emerging food and industrial potential. This review consolidates current knowledge on its botany, agronomy, kernel composition, extraction technologies, protein and bioactive functionality, food uses, regulatory considerations, and sustainability challenges. Yellowhorn offers high-quality oil with ≈94% unsaturated fatty acids (notably 3.5–4% nervonic acid), while defatted kernel meal contains 31–37% protein (w/w). The matrix also carries bioactives such as tocopherols in the oil (70–530 mg/kg), phytosterols (1420–2970 mg/kg), and saponins (up to 11.62%), alongside flavonoid extracts that show promising antioxidant activity (DPPH EC50 ≈ 10.7 µg/mL). Extraction methods, including cold pressing, solvent systems, and supercritical CO2, present trade-offs in yield (≈87.8%, ≈60.4–98.04%, and ≈56.5–89.63% respectively), bioactive retention, and scalability, while co-product valorization can improve economic and environmental performance. Regulatory acceptance in the U.S. will likely depend on a refined-oil, specification-driven Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) pathway supported by compositional and toxicological evidence. Sustainability priorities include breeding improvements and supply-chain development on marginal lands, valorization of co-products, and integration of life cycle assessment (LCA), both of which are currently under-reported for Yellowhorn. Future directions emphasize process optimization for simultaneous oil-protein recovery, selective purification of functional lipids, encapsulation for stability, and human studies to substantiate claims. Collectively, Yellowhorn represents a promising climate-ready ingredient system requiring targeted research to enable safe, scalable, and sustainable adoption.