| Description |
Castor oil is a vegetable oil obtained by pressing the seeds of the castor oil plant (_Ricinus communis_ L.) mainly cultivated in India, South America, Africa, and China. Castor oil is a rich source of [DB02955], which represents up to 90% of the total castor oil content. It also consists up to 4% linoleic, 3% oleic, 1% stearic, and less than 1% linolenic fatty acids [A31170]. [DB02955] has a hydroxyl group that provides a functional group location for various chemical reactions, making it a favourable substance in industrial applications [A31170]. Castor oil does not contain ricin, which is a natural poison found in the castor oil plant; the toxic lectin remains in the bean pulp following oil isolation [F70]. Due to its renewability and high versatility in addition to being the only commercial source of a hydroxylated fatty acid [A31170], castor oil has been used as a vital raw material for the chemical industry [A33045]. Castor oil was mainly used in the manufacturing of soaps, lubricants, and coatings [A31170]. It is an FDA-approved food additive directly added to food products for human consumption. It can also be found in hard candies as a release agent and anti-sticking agent, or supplementary vitamins and mineral oral tablets as an ingredient for protective coatings. Castor oil is found in over-the-counter oral liquids as a stimulant laxative, and is also added in commercial cosmetic, hair, and skincare products.
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