Name: Castor Oil
CAS No: Castor oil [8001-79-4]
BP: Virgin Castor Oil JP: Castor Oil PhEur: Castor Oil, Virgin USP: Castor Oil
EmCon CO; Lipovol CO; oleum ricini; ricini oleum virginale; ricinoleum; ricinus communis; ricinus oil; tangantangan.
Castor oil [8001-79-4]
Castor oil is a triglyceride of fatty acids. The fatty acid composition is approximately ricinoleic acid (87%); oleic acid (7%); linoleic acid (3%); palmitic acid (2%); stearic acid (1%) and trace amounts of dihydroxystearic acid.
See Section 4.
Castor oil is widely used in cosmetics, food products, and pharmaceutical formulations. In pharmaceutical formulations, castor oil is most commonly used in topical creams and ointments at concentrations of 5–12.5%. However, it is also used in oral tablet and capsule formulations, ophthalmic emulsions, and as a solvent in intramuscular injections.(1–3) Therapeutically, castor oil has been administered orally for its laxative action, but such use is now obsolete.
Castor oil is a clear, almost colorless or pale yellow-colored viscous oil. It has a slight odor and a taste that is initially bland but afterwards slightly acrid.
See Table I.
Autoignition temperature 4498C Boiling point 3138C Density 0.955–0.968 g/cm3 at 258C Flash point 2298C Melting point 128C Moisture content 40.25% Refractive index n D 25 = 1.473–1.477; Solubility Miscible with chloroform, diethyl ether, ethanol, glacial acetic acid, and methanol; freely soluble in ethanol (95%) and petroleum ether; practically insoluble in water; practically insoluble in mineral oil unless mixed with another vegetable oil. See also Section 11. Surface tension 39.0 mN/m at 208C; 35.2 mN/m at 808C. Viscosity (dynamic) 1000 mPa s (1000 cP) at 208C; 200 mPa s (200 cP) at 408C
Castor oil is stable and does not turn rancid unless subjected to excessive heat. On heating at 3008C for several hours, castor oil polymerizes and becomes soluble in mineral oil. When cooled to 08C, it becomes more viscous. Castor oil should be stored at a temperature not exceeding 258C in well-filled airtight containers protected from light
Castor oil is incompatible with strong oxidizing agents.
Castor oil is the fixed oil obtained by cold-expression of the seeds of Ricinus communis Linne´ (Fam. Euphorbiaceae). No other substances are added to the oil.
Castor oil is used in cosmetics and foods and orally, parenterally, and topically in pharmaceutical formulations. It is generally regarded as a relatively nontoxic and nonirritant material when used as an excipient.(4) Castor oil has been used therapeutically as a laxative and oral administration of large quantities may cause nausea, vomiting, colic, and severe purgation. It should not be given when intestinal obstruction is present. Although widely used in topical preparations, including ophthalmic formulations, castor oil has been associated with some reports of allergic contact dermatitis, mainly to cosmetics such as lipsticks.(5–8)
Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled. Castor oil may cause mild irritation to the skin and eyes. Castor oil is flammable when exposed to heat. Spillages are slippery and should be covered with an inert absorbant before collection and disposal.
GRAS listed. Included in the FDA Inactive Ingredients Database (IM injections; ophthalmic emulsions; oral capsules and tablets; topical creams, emulsions, ointments, and solutions). Included in nonparenteral medicines licensed in the UK. Included in the Canadian List of Acceptable Non-medicinal Ingredients.
Castor oil, hydrogenated.
Studies into the development of nanolipidic formulations as drug delivery systems using castor oil have been done.(9,10) A specification for castor oil is contained in the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC).(11) The EINECS number for castor oil is 232-293-8. The PubChem Compound ID (CID) for castor oil is 6850719.