Castor oil
Regulatory sources consulted
Approved indications
- In adults, a purgative laxative to facilitate bowel evacuation.
Contraindications
Absolute
- Hypersensitivity; children under 12; inflammatory bowel disease; unexplained abdominal pain; obstruction, occlusion, stenosis, ileus or faecal impaction; severe dehydration; appendicitis or compatible symptoms; pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Clinical warnings
- Major warning · This is a single-dose treatment: avoid prolonged use or misuse. It may cause dehydration, fluid/electrolyte imbalance and hypokalaemia. — CIMA, ficha técnica Aceite de Ricino Reig Jofre
Drug interactions
- ModerateOtros medicamentos orales
Mechanism: La aceleración del tránsito puede disminuir la absorción oral.
Recommendation: Separar las tomas y pedir consejo profesional.
CIMA FT 34912
- HighSotalol, amiodarona, digitálicos, diuréticos, corticosteroides o regaliz
Mechanism: La hipopotasemia puede aumentar el riesgo de arritmias o toxicidad digitálica.
Recommendation: Evitar la combinación o consultar antes de usarla.
CIMA FT 34912
Adverse events
Common (≥1%)
Náuseas · vómitos · cólico o dolor abdominal · diarrea intensa
Pregnancy and lactation
Contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding in the CIMA product information.
Recent literature (PubMed)
This review assessed the efficacy and safety of pharmacologic agents (prostaglandins, oxytocin, mifepristone, hyaluronidase, and nitric oxide donors) and mechanical methods (single- and double-balloon catheters, laminaria, membrane stripping, and amniotomy) and those generally considered under the rubric of complementary medicine (castor oil, nipple stimulation, sexual intercourse, herbal medicine, and acupuncture). A substantial body of published reports, including 2 large network meta-analyses, support the safety and efficacy of misoprostol (PGE1) when used for cervical ripening and labor induction. Misoprostol administered vaginally at doses of 50 μg has the highest probability of achieving vaginal delivery within 24 hours. Regardless of dosing, route, and schedule of administration, when used for cervical ripening and labor induction, prostaglandin E2 seems to have similar efficacy in decreasing cesarean delivery rates. Globally, although oxytocin represents the most widely used pharmacologic agent for labor induction, its effectiveness is highly dependent on parity and cervical status. Oxytocin is more effective than expectant management in inducing labor, and the efficacy of oxytocin is enhanced when combined with amniotomy. However, prostaglandins administered vaginally or intracervically are more effective in inducing labor than oxytocin. A single 200-mg oral tablet of mifepristone seems to represent the lowest effective dose for cervical ripening. The bulk of the literature assessing relaxin suggests this agent has limited benefit when used for this indication. Although intracervical injection of hyaluronidase may cause cervical ripening, the need for intracervical administration has limited the use of this agent. Concerning the vaginal administration of nitric oxide donors, including isosorbide mononitrate, isosorbide, nitroglycerin, and sodium nitroprusside, the higher incidence of side effects with these agents has limited their use. A synthetic hygrosco
Coconut, castor, and argan oils are popular commercial hair oils culturally rooted in current and historical Indian and African heritages. Dermatologists treating hair and scalp conditions often face challenging patient questions of whether over-the-counter hair oils should be used. This is particularly challenging given the deeply rooted cultural practices of some skin of color patients. As a result, many dermatologists recommend patients to continue using hair oils not based on clinical efficacy but rather lack of foreseeable side effects. We analyzed the literature to investigate claims to substantiate whether these hair oils can improve hair growth, hair quality, and treat infestation clinically. Based on 22 articles that met inclusion criteria, coconut oil has been shown to treat both brittle hair and hair infestation clinically, with limited evidence regarding its impact on hair growth. There is weaker evidence for castor oil improving hair quality by increasing hair luster, and no strong evidence supporting its use for hair growth or treatment of infestation. Argan oil does not have any significant evidence supporting its use to improve hair growth, quality, or treatment of infestation. J Drugs Dermatol. 2022;21(7):751-757. doi:10.36849/JDD.6972.
Hair oils are used all over the world since time immemorial; however, their exact effect on the hair and scalp remains obscure. They are usually easily accessible and are inexpensive. A wide variety of oils have been used and newer ones are coming up every day. The primary function of most of the hair oils is to act like an emollient but the unique characteristics of various hair oils suggests its action just more than emollient action. This article focuses on the different types of hair oils and their possible beneficial effects on the hair. Dermatologists need to be aware of the effects of hair oils and their usage.
Castor oil is a vegetable product extracted from Ricinus communis L (castor seed), which is primarily considered an important commercial value for the manufacturing of soaps, lubricants, coatings, etc. It is rich in hydroxylated fatty acids (ricinoleic acid, 89-92%) and is widely used in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, oleochemical, and agricultural industries. This oil has also been confirmed as a bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, and antiherpetic agents, due to the ricinoleic acid having functional groups, such as -COOH, -OH, and -C=C-. Furthermore, it is converted into various acid derivative compounds with several applications. Therefore, this article reviewed some reaction stages to the preparation of ricinoleic acid from castor oil. Several methods or reaction pathways were employed in the preparation procedure, such as the Twitchell and Colgate-Emery processes, as well as the alkaline catalyzed, transesterification with methyl ricinoleic, and lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis, respectively. Although each of these preparation methods has advantages and disadvantages, the most effective technique was the hydrolysis through the use of the enzyme lipozyme TL IM. Besides being a green method, the conversion rate in the hydrolysis process was 96.2 ± 1.5.