COTTON SEED OIL

The refined oil obtained either be expression or solvent extraction from the seeds of cotton plant, Gossypium herbaceum. Linn. and other species of Gossypium (Malvaceae). The plants are shrubs or small trees, which produce 3 to 5, celled capsules containing numerous seeds. The important sources of cottonseeds are U.S.A., Egypt, India, Pakistan and S. America. The cottonseed, after ginning off the fiber, is decorticated, cleaned of hulls, the kernels steamed and pressed to yield cotton seed oil. The oil thus obtained is turbid and reddish in colour, it is then refined by filtering, decolorizing and “Winter chilling” in order top remove Stearin.
Description:
It is pale yellow or yellow, odourless or nearly odourless oil with a bland nutty taste, it is a semi drying oil.
Constituents:
It consists of glycerides, the fatty acids of which are linoleic acid (39%), oleic acid (33) palmitic acid (19%) stearic acid (2%), arachidic acid (0.6%) and myristic acid (0.3%).
Physical and chemical characteristics:
Specific “Gravity: c.915-0.925; Iodine Value: 103-115 Saponification Value: 190-198; Refractive Index at 40, 104645-1.4655 Acid value not more than 4;
Solubility:
Almost insoluble in alcohol, miscible with carbondisulfide chloroform, ether and light petroleum. Identification tests: Mix equal quantities of the oil sample, amyl alcohol and one percent solution of sulphur in carob disulphide in a test tube. Heat on boiling water bath for a few minutes cottonseed oil gives a red colour.
Uses:
Cottonseed possesses the nutritive and emollient properties. It is employed pharmaceutically as a vehicle for a number of injections. The oil is used for the preparation of hydrogenated vegetable oil and in the manufacture of soap.
Toxic Effects:
Reactions occurring soon after the intravenous administration of cotton seed oil emulsion include pain in back or chest, fever, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, tachycardia, raised or reduced blood pressure, delayed reaction show mild anemia, defects of clotting, and bleeding from gastrointestinal tract.
Treatment of Toxic Effects:
Immediate reaction of the intravenous administration of cotton seed oil have been recorded to be treated with the intravenous administration of hydrocortisone sodium succinate 50gm and promethazine 50 mg. Heparin may be administered to aid the clearance of fat from the circulation.
Precautions:
Cottonseed oil emulsion should not be given to patient suffering from liver diseases or blood dyscrasias. It should not be given during pregnancy. It should be administered with care to the patient suffering from impaired respiratory function or gastric ulcer.