Physiological and medicinal properties of castor oil

摘要: Castor plant is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family that spreads throughout the tropical regions of the world. Increasing demand of biodiesel and other medicinal and industrial applications for vegetable oil have increased processing and production of castor oil worldwide. Ricinoleic acid is the most important component of castor oil. It has a variety of effects on the gastrointestinal tract, including inhibition of water and electrolyte absorption, stimulation of water secretion into the intestinal lumen and depression of small bowel contractile activity. Conjugated fatty acids from castor oil have attracted much attention as a novel type of biologically, physiologically and pharmaceutically beneficial functional lipid. Castor oil is well–known for numerous health properties being the most important medicinal oil as a cleansing laxative and purgative. Moreover, root and leaves of castor plant is also useful as an ingredient of different prescriptions for nervous diseases. Recently, FDA has been approved castor oil as a direct food additive for using as a flavoring agent and/or adjuvant. On the obtained reports and versatile application of castor oil in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, biodiesel, paint, soap and recently in food industry has led to much research being done on castor oil.