Castor Oil Facts

CONTENTS

1. Castor Oil Basics.
2. Fatty Acids or Triglycerides.
3. Castor Seed Oil and Medicine: Medicinal Warnings and Technical Tips: Past and Present Medicinal Castor Oil Uses.
4. Medicinal Castor Seed Oil Derivatives:  Medicinal Castor Oil Derivative Uses:   Anti-Cancer Drugs:  Anti-Fungal Drugs:  Heart and Blood Pressure Drugs:  HIV Drugs:  Organ Transplant Drugs.
5. Castor Seed Oil and Beauty:  Cosmetic Castor Oil Uses.
6. Industrial Castor Oil:  Biodegradable Plastics:  Industrial Castor Oil Applications.
7. Castor Oil and Food.
8. Traditional or Folk Medicinal Use.
9. Other Castor Oil Uses.
10. Growing Plants.
11. Seed Oil Pressing:  Seed Warnings and Technical Tips:  Seeds and Mold:  Seeds and Toxins:  Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
12. Ricin.
Summary.
Last data input: April 16, 2008 { chapter 7 }
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1. CASTOR OIL BASICS

Castor oil is vegetable-based oil because it's made from Castor plant (ricinus communis) seeds. It naturally biodegrades quickly, is non-toxic (1A,1B,1C,1D) and comes from a renewable energy resource (plants). The Castor plant is perennial, so it maintains its beauty and function throughout the year (with care) to continously produce Castor seeds.
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2. FATTY ACIDS OR TRIGLYCERIDES

Plant seeds create life and they store vegetable oils, which contain triglycerides or fatty acids (concentrated energy) as energy sources for seeds when they germinate (begins growth). Seed oils are life-creating oils, since they're the energy base that feed seedlings when they germinate (2A,2B). In 1929, certain oils, in particular, the polyunsaturated fatty acids linoleic acid (omega-6) and linolenic acid (omega-3), were found to be essential for life and health (2C,2D,2E). In addition, refined and processed vegetable oils don't have the same qualities as unrefined or unprocessed vegetable oils (e.g., first cold pressed) (2F).

First cold pressed Castor oil was one of the world's first medicinal oil's because it naturally contains a unique and beneficial mixture of triglycerides or fatty acids. About 90% of Castor seed oil contains the unusual hydroxy fatty acid ricinoleate (ricinoleic acid) (2G,2H). Ricinoleic acid inhibits the growth of many viruses, bacteria, yeasts, and molds, like its derivative undecylenic acid (2I). Also, "topical application of ricinoleic acid, the main component of Castor oil, exerts remarkable analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects (2J)."

Average Fatty Acid Composition of Castor Seed Oil

Common name	Acid name	Average Percentage Range
Ricinoleate	Ricinoleic acid	85	to	95%
Oleate	Oleic acid	6	to	2%
Linoleate	Linoleic acid (LA)	5	to	1%
Linolenate	Linolenic acid (ALA)	1	to	0.5%
Stearate	Stearic acid	1	to	0.5%
Palmitate	Palmitic acid	1	to	0.5%
Dihydroxystearate	Dihydroxystearic acid	0.5	to	0.3%
Trace amounts (other)	Fatty acids	0.5	to	0.2%

Oleic acid (omega-9) is a monounsaturated fatty acid that's used in Lorenzo's oil. Palmitic acid and stearic acid are saturated fatty acids.
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3. CASTOR SEED OIL AND MEDICINE

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes medicinal Castor oil as generally safe and effective (GRASE) for over-the-counter use as a laxative (3A). Castor oil is currently in the disputed (3B,3C,3D) stimulant laxative drug category. Castor oil and its derivatives are used to make many modern drugs; for instance, anticancer drugs, antifungal drugs, heart and blood pressure drugs, HIV drugs, organ transplant drugs, etc. (3E).

Medicinal Warnings and Technical Tips

A. Never consume Castor oil during pregnancy (3F).
B. Avoid contact with eyes (3G). Pure cold pressed Castor seed oil is potent (unlike its diluted imitations) and can be an eye irritant similar to pepper spray.
Note: Pure cold pressed Castor seed oil is really tasteless and odorless. When additives are added to pure cold pressed Castor oil, the oil becomes adulterated, so the taste and smell can change according to the additives.
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PAST AND PRESENT MEDICINAL CASTOR OIL USES

A. Medicinal Castor oil is used throughout the world to help women during childbirth (4A,4B).
B. Using a Castor oil-balsam of Peru-trypsin ointment to assist in healing skin (4C,4D,4E,4F,4G).
C. Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of three irrigating solutions in teeth with pulpal necrosis (4H,4I).

Schistosomiasis (a.k.a., Bilharzia, Swimmers itch) is just under malaria on the parasitic (worm) disease ladder affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide (4J) and experiments have shown medicinal Castor oil as an oral anti-penetration agent to prevent Schistosomiasis (4K).
E. Various uses of the Castor oil plant (Ricinus communis L.). A review (4L).
F. Castor oil decreases pain during extracorporeal shock wave application (4M).
G. The reduction of coma time in lipophilic drug overdose using castor oil (4N).
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4. MEDICINAL CASTOR OIL DERIVATIVES

Cremophor: Modern drugs are rarely given in a pure chemical state, so they are combined with excipients or additives (vehicles) such as Cremophor or Castor oil to make the drug work. "Polyethoxylated Castor oil, also known as Cremophor EL or Cremophor, is approved for human use as a vehicle for oral and intravenous administration of water-insoluble compounds (5A)."

Polyethylene glycol (PEG): "Peg-40 is a hydrogenated Castor oil used in pegylation (5B,5C)." "Pegylation is now an established method for increasing the circulating half-life of protein and lipsomal pharmaceuticals. Pegylation agents are beneficial for patients with cancer (5D,5E,5F,5G,5H,5I)."

Emulphor: Another polyethoxylated Castor oil drug vehicle is called Emulphor (5J,5K).

Undecylenic acid: Undecylenic acid is an organic fatty acid derived from natural Castor oil (5L) and is FDA approved for over-the-counter use on skin disorders or skin problems (5M). Undecylenic acid (our sweat and tears have it) has "anti-fungus, anti-bacterial, and anti-virus activity (5N)" and is extracted from the unsaturated fatty acid ricinoleic acid.
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MEDICINAL CASTOR OIL DERIVATIVE USES

ANTI-CANCER DRUGS

A. An obstacle to successful chemotherapy and cancer treatment is multidrug resistance (MDR). Cremophor (Castor oil) is a chemomodulator and a MDR reversing agent used in anti-cancer drugs (6A,6B,6C,6D).
B. Cremophor is a major contributor in the formulation of drugs that work, because "Cremophor is not an inert vehicle, but exerts a range of biological effects (6E,6F,6G)."
C. "Overall, this study provides further evidence on the important role of CrEL (Cremophor EL) in the pharmacological and toxicological profile of cisplatin, and implies that reformulation of cisplatin with CrEL for systemic treatment might achieve an improvement of its therapeutic index (6H)."
D. Cremophor EL alone is active against patient tumour cells (6I,6J)." "Taxol seems to contain two components active against patient tumour cells in vitro (6K)."
E. "Polyoxyethylated Castor oil is manufactured by reacting Castor oil with ethylene oxide, and we speculate that residual ethylene oxide or a polymerization product may be responsible for the in vitro neurotoxicity (6L)."
F. "Teniposide (VM-26) has been widely used in the treatment of small cell lung cancer, malignant lymphoma, breast cancer, etc. (6M)," and "the main ingredient of VM-26 solvent (vehicle) is PECO (Cremophor) (Vumon) (6N)."
G. Cremophor minimizes the negative effects of radiation chemotherapy (6O).
H. "Cremophor EL is a Castor oil surfactant used as a vehicle for formulation of a variety of poorly water-soluble agents, including paclitaxel (6P,6Q)" and "The efficacy of paclitaxel against some tumors may be aided by its administration in a vehicle solution containing Cremophor (6R)."
I. "Fulvestrant is a pure antiestrogen. In in vivo and in vitro breast cancer models, fulvestrant has anticancer activity at least as good as tamoxifen and is superior to tamoxifen in some models. Fulvestrant requires intramuscular administration in a proprietary formulation of Castor oil and alcohols (6S,6T)." "Preclinical studies have confirmed the potential of fulvestrant to inhibit the growth of tamoxifen-resistant, as well as tamoxifen-sensitive, human breast cancer cell lines. Clinical studies have demonstrated that fulvestrant is an effective treatment option in postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer who have progressed on proir endocrine therapy (6U)."
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ANTIFUNGAL DRUGS

A. Undecylenic acid is the active ingredient in over-the-counter medications for skin infections, and relieves itching, burning, and irritation. For example, it's used against fungal skin infections (mycosis) such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candida albicans, etc. (7A). It's also used in the treatment of Psoriasis (7B). Undecylenic acid also has anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties that are effective on viral skin infections such as the herpes simplex virus, cold sores, warts, etc. (7C).
B. Cutaneous alternariosis treated with miconazole and 10 ml of Cremophor EL (7D).
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HEART AND BLOOD PRESSURE DRUGS

A. Digoxin with Cremophor helps the heart and is used to treat certain heart conditions (8A,8B).
B. "The diluent Cremophor contributes to the antiproliferative effects of the taxane paclitaxel (8C)."
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Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Protease Inhibitors

A. Saquinavir (SQV) with Cremophor is a HIV specific protease inhibitor (9A,9B,9C).
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ORGAN TRANSPLANT DRUGS

A. Cyclosporin is considered to be the best immunosuppressive molecule in transplantation (10A) and help from its vehicle Cremophor should not be overlooked (10B,10C).
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5. CASTOR SEED OIL AND BEAUTY

"Castor oil has been used in skin care products for centuries, and continues to play an important part in the production of soaps and cosmetics (12A)." Cosmetic manufacturers use Castor oil and its derivatives in formulating non-comedogenic cosmetics (cosmetics that don't exacerbate or contribute to acne) and emollients (softens) (12B).
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COSMETIC CASTOR OIL USES

Castor oil and derivatives are used in soaps, creams (tretinoin) (12C), shampoos, perfumes, lip gels, lipsticks, hair oil's (increases hair luster) (12D), deodorants, lubricants, sunscreens (12E), and many other personal hygiene and beauty products (12F). Undecylenic acid is also used in cosmetics and is the active ingredient in over-the-counter medications for skin infections and relieves itching, burning, and irritation.
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6. INDUSTRIAL CASTOR OIL

Vegetable oils, like Castor oil, have been used as lubricants for centuries prior to the discovery of crude oil and its petroleum-based derivatives (mineral oils, etc.). "Vegetable oils offer unique advantages over petroleum derived products for lubricity and biodegradability (14A)." Castor oil's high lubricity (reduces friction) is superior to other vegetable oils and petroleum-based lubricants (14A,14B). It really clings to metal, especially hot metal, and is used in racing and jet (turbine) engines.

BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS

Castor oil is non-toxic, and quickly biodegrades; whereas, petroleum-based oils are potential health hazards, and take a very long time to biodegrade, thus can damage the environment when concentrated (14C,14D). "Plastic waste disposal is a huge ecotechnological problem and one of the approaches to solving this problem is the development of biodegradable plastics" (14E) from renewable resources such as Castor oil (14F).

Castor oil's value was recognized by the United States Congress in the Agricultural Materials Act of 1984, and classified as a strategic material.
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INDUSTRIAL CASTOR OIL APPLICATIONS

Industrial "Castor oil is used directly in many products, such as transparent soaps, waxes and polishes, hydraulic fluids, inks, and metal drawing oils. However, most Castor oil is further processed. The resulting derivatives are used in a wide range of applications. For example, hydrogenated Castor fatty acids are an ingredient in lubricating greases for cars, trucks, boats, railcars, aircraft, and industrial equipment. Nylon-11 is used in engineering plastics and powder coatings. Dehydrated Castor oil and its fatty acids are components of coatings, inks, and sealants. Polyurethanes are used in electrical and telecommunication casting resins and coatings (15A)."

"Castor oil has over 1000 patented industrial applications (15B,15C)." It's used in the following industries: automobile, aviation, cosmetics, drug, electrical, electronics, food, manufacturing, plastics, and telecommunications.
Nylon 11 is made from aminoundecanoic acid and aminoundecanoic acid is made from Castor oil (15D).

Castor oil is used in products such as adhesives, brake fluids, caulks, cosmetics, drugs, dyes, electrical liquid dielectrics, humectants, hydraulic fluids, inks, lacquers, leather treatments, lubricating greases, machining oils, paints, pesticides-fungicides (15E), pigments, refrigeration lubricants, rubbers, sealants, textiles, washing powders, and waxes.
Non-polluting inks are made with Castor oil (15F).
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7. CASTOR OIL AND FOOD

Food grade Castor oil is used in additives (11A), flavorings, candy (e.g., chocolate) (11B), as a mold inhibitor, and in packaging. Cremophor, also known as polyoxyethylated Castor oil (11D), is also used in the foodstuff industry (11C).
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"Mr. President...Economy is old-fashioned. It reminds me of the sweet young mother who called the doctor to come and attend her baby. Finally the doctor said, "Well, my dear, just give the baby some Castor oil." She was a very arty person, and she said, "Doctor, Castor oil is so old-fashioned." The kindly doctor said, "I know, my dear, but babies are old-fashioned things, too."
Quote by the late Honorable Senator Everett Dirksen. Congressional Record, March 15, 1951, p.2480.

8. TRADITIONAL OR FOLK MEDICINAL USE

Pure cold pressed Castor oil has been used or time-tested for centuries throughout the world for its medicinal properties long before any government agency was created to regulate medicines. In addition, the time-tested pure cold pressed Castor oil of the past was both tasteless and odorless, so if you find Castor oil that tastes or smells bad, you can be assured, it's not pure cold pressed Castor oil.
Pure cold pressed Castor oil was used for or on:

Abrasions: topical analgesics (pain relievers), disinfectant, protected abrasions and promoted healing.
Allergies: a cotton swab (i.e., Q-tip) dipped in oil is gently inserted into nasal canal and then swab is rotated in a circle. A few minutes later fluids run from nose and congestion clears, providing rapid pain and pressure relief without a bitter after-taste.
Antibiotics for infections: a teaspoon/day with meals and plenty of fluids for 5 days.
Arthritis: rubbed on affected area as needed for pain relief.
Burns: topical analgesics (pain relievers), disinfectant, protected burns and promoted healing.
By midwives to initiate labor (16A).
Cuts: topical analgesics (pain relievers), disinfectant, protected cuts and promoted healing.
Dental or tooth problems (e.g., abscesses, infections, etc.).
Decongestant: a cotton swab (i.e., Q-tip) dipped in oil is gently inserted into nasal canal and then swab is rotated in a circle. A few minutes later fluids run from nose and congestion clears, providing rapid pain and pressure relief without a bitter after-taste.
Deodorant: was applied under (clean) armpits to prevent odor causing bacteria growth.
Ear infections: a couple of drops in ear (tilted head helps oil into ear canal) for a couple of days.
Ear wax removal: a couple of drops in ear (tilt head), and a few hours later wax was removed with oil.
Hair oil
Lacerations: topical analgesics (pain relievers), disinfectant, protected lacerations and promoted healing.
Laxative
Lubrication: used as a personal lubricant, e.g., applied under foreskin of uncircumcised penis to prevent bacteria growth, etc.
Skin disorders: used on all skin disorders (e.g., herpes, cold sores, warts, etc.).
Skin problems: used on all skin problems (e.g., acne, etc.).
Sunburns: topical analgesics (pain relievers), disinfectant, protected sunburns and promoted rapid healing.
Weight loss
Worms or Parasites
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9. OTHER PLANT and OIL USES

Gophers eat tree or plant roots; thus, the tree or plant can eventually starve to death, thereby limiting a farmer's crop or yield. Within a year, literally hundreds of gophers can occupy a space of two and a half acres or one hectare. Castor plants are used to make gopher-fences because gophers don't like Castor plant roots. Gopher-fences are made by planting Castor plants about two yards or two meters apart, along the perimeter of a property and act as a deterrent against gopher entry.

Castor oil is used as a natural pesticide or fungicide by mixing it with liquid soap and spraying it on leaves of affected trees or plants before budding.

Castor oil is semi-drying oil (slow to oxidize); thus, it remains liquid for a long time. As a result, it was used as a multi-purpose lubricant, and a fuel for lamps (17B) before alternating current electricity (AC) was invented. By the way, AC electricity powers our world today, and was invented by Nikola Tesla (17C).

"It is said to be the best lamp oil in use in India, giving an excellent white light, vieing in brilliancy with electricity, far superior to petroleum, rape seed, and all other oils, whether vegetable, animal or mineral (17A)."
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10. GROWING PLANTS

The Castor plant is hardy and easy to grow in a sub-tropical or tropical climate. The Castor seed can germinate into a seedling just by falling on the ground. However, it's best to bury seeds a shallow depth. A couple of inches (@ 5 cm) deep is good enough. The Castor plant likes water and good soil. As a result, it will produce seeds a few months after germination.

11. SEED OIL PRESSING

There are three basic ways to extract oils from any seed, nut, fruit, etc.; dry, wet, and solvent extraction.

The dry way produces the best quality (medicinal) oil. The oil is obtained by (cold) pressing the seeds, nuts, fruits, etc. via any manual or mechanical means such as a hydraulic or screw press to squeeze out the oil. The wet way uses heat, such as, boiling water to cook seeds, nuts, fruits, etc., and then the oil is skimmed from the surface. Solvent extraction should only be considered or used as industrial grade oil because the seeds, nuts, fruits, etc. are crushed, cooked, and then mixed with solvents (e.g., petroleum-based hexane, etc.) to remove the oil. Large commercial oil processors usually use solvents to remove the oil because it's cheaper and more efficient.

Seed Warnings and Technical Tips

A. Do not press seeds, nuts, fruits, etc., for human or animal consumption that have mold on them. Molds can have mycotoxins (poisonous), which can be extremely harmful to humans and animals alike (18A).

B. Many plants and seeds in the natural world have toxins because it's universal that living matter can have defense mechanisms or protection (e.g., toxins) against predators, insects, bacteria, fungi, etc. Likewise, the Castor seed contains the toxin ricin. Ricin is a protein (a solid); whereas, Castor oil is a fatty acid or oil (a liquid), and cold pressing Castor seeds separates the two. The toxin ricin (solid) stays with the seed because it's not oil (liquid); thus, cold pressed and filtered Castor oil is non-toxic (18B,18C,18D).

C. Anytime you process the Castor plant or Castor seeds and create dust, you should use personal protective equipment (PPE), such as a dust mask, safety glasses and gloves. PPE will protect you from excessive exposure to the dust, which can cause problems breathing and eye irritation. In other words, PPE can save your life because a lack of oxygen can lead to death. Working safely with Castor plant or Castor seed dust means working with PPE. It boils down to a respect for nature's power and a reverence for life.

D. Pure cold pressed Castor seed oil is potent (unlike its diluted imitations) and can be an eye irritant similar to pepper spray, so avoid contact with eyes (18E).

Approximate number of Castor seeds needed to make (X) amount of Cold Pressed Castor Oil

Number of Seeds	Castor Oil volume (X) in ounces (U.S. avoirdupois)	Metric equivalent
300	1	29.5 ml
600	2	59 ml
1200	4	118 ml
2400	8	237 ml
4800	16	473 ml
19,200	64	1.89 liters
38,400	128/ 1 gallon	3.79 L

12. RICIN

The Castor seed contains ricin (see oil pressing) and ricin is a potent cellular poison that can be lethal if inhaled or injected. On the other hand, ingestion may cause toxicity but rarely death (19A,19B,19C).

Therapeutically, ricin is used against cancer (19D,19E) and in magic bullets to specifically target and destroy cancer cells (19F).
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SUMMARY

The modern world and its industries could not have been created without help from the botanical world. Likewise, humans cannot exist without help from plants. The Castor plant is not edible; yet, vegetable-based Castor seed oil, due to its exceptional properties, is never idle in the modern world. First cold pressed Castor oil was one of the world's first lubricants and medicinal oil's. Today, it's still one of the best, if not best, multi-purpose natural lubricants.
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