CASTOR OIL

Synonym                                              :  Olium Ricini .

Occurance/ Biological Source               :  Castor oil is the fixed-oil obtained from the seeds

                                                                of Ricinus Communis .

Scientific Name                                    :  Ricinus Communis .

Family                                                  :  Euphorbiacea .

Geographical Distribution                      :  About 90% of the oil comes from India and Brazil

                                                               It is also cultivated in China , Thiland , Soviet

                                                                  -  Union .

Organoleptic / Morphological / Macroscopical Evaluation :

           

            i)  Colour          :  Pale-yellow / Almost colourless lipid .

            ii) Odour          :  Slight or Characteristics .

            iii) Taste           :  First it is bland ( mild or having a  soothing effect ) but

                                       afterwards slightlt acrid ( bitter , burning , irritating ) and usually

                                        nauseating ( Increase vomiting tendency ) . It is a viscous

                                        transparent .

            iv) Solubility      : It is soluble in alcohol , miscible in chloroform , solvent ether ,

                                       glacial acetic acid and petroleum-ether .

                                             It is insoluble in mineral-oil .

Chemical Constituents :  Castor-oio chiefly contains triglyceride of Ricinoleic-acid

                                         ( About 80%) . Other glycosides are also present in the drug .

                                          The fatty acids are representated by Isoricinoleic , Linoleic ,

                                          Stearic , Isoistearic-acids . 

                                                The viscosity of Castor-oil is dude to Resinolic-Acid .

Identification Test : Add to the oil in an equal volume of Ethanol , clear liquid is obtained 

                                 On cooling at 0ֺc and on storage for 3 Hrs , the liquid remains clear

                                  ( Distinctiobn from other fixed-oil).

Therapeutic Use :

i)                    Castor-oil used as Purgative .

ii)                   It is used in abortificient( drug used to induce abortion ) paste and ricinoleic-acid is used in contraceptic creams and gellies .

iii)                 It is also used as an Emolliant ( having a softening and shoothing effect specially to skin ) in preparation of Lip-stick .

iv)                 The Castor-oil is used in the preparation of paints , enamel , ;polishes , varnishes , printing-ink etc.