Safflower oil

Chemical properties

Refined safflower oil is a clear, viscous, yellow to pale-yellow liquid, with a slight vegetable odor.

Occurrence

Saffl ower is found in the Mediterranean, Europe, and the United States.

The Uses of Safflower oil

safflower oil (Carthamus tinctorius) is a carrier oil also considered hydrating to the skin. It consists primarily of linoleic acid triglycerides. Safflower oil is a non-comedogenic raw material obtained from the plant’s seeds.

The Uses of Safflower oil

Pharmaceutic aid (vehicle, oleaginous).

The Uses of Safflower oil

Safflower Oil is an unsaturated oil obtained from the safflower seed of the plant carthamus tinctorius. it consists mainly of linoleic and oleic fatty acids. it is used principally as a drying oil in the usa.

What are the applications of Application

Safflower seed oil from Carthamus tinctorius seed is a raw oil without preservatives

Definition

Drying oil from safflower (carthamus) seed, somewhat similar to linseed oil. It is nonyellowing. Contains 78% linoleic acid (unsat- urated fatty acid).

Production Methods

Refined safflower oil is the fatty oil obtained from the seeds of Carthamus tinctorius L. (type I) or from seeds of hybrids of Carthamus tinctorius L. (type II) by expression and/or extraction followed by refining. Type II refined safflower oil is rich in oleic (cis- 9-octadecenoic) acid. It may contain a suitable antioxidant.
Safflower oil USP 32 is the refined fixed oil yielded by the seed of Carthamus tinctorius Linne′ (Fam. Compositae).

brand name

Liposyn (Abbott).

General Description

Pale yellow oily liquid with a weak odor.

Air & Water Reactions

Insoluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

Safflower oil react with acids to liberate heat. Heat is also generated by interaction with caustic solutions. Strong oxidizing acids may cause a vigorous reaction that is sufficiently exothermic to ignite the reaction products. Flammable hydrogen is generated by mixing with alkali metals and hydrides. React slowly with oxygen in the air to thicken and become rancid.

Health Hazard

Oil is essentially nontoxic. Contact with eyes can cause mild irritation.

Fire Hazard

Flash point data for Safflower oil are not available; however, Safflower oil is probably combustible.

Pharmaceutical Applications

Safflower oil is mainly used as an oleaginous vehicle in oral and topical formulations. It is also used as a component of parenteral fat emulsions for the preparation of parenteral nutrition solutions.
Safflower oil has been used as a vehicle in the development of an oral dosage form containing a novel viral-specific inhibitor of the replication of human rhinoviruses. It has also been used as a solvent for a capsule formulation containing a new antilipemic agent; formulations containing safflower oil were found to have the greatest bioavailability in dogs compared with formulations containing PEG 300 or water.
A topical lotion containing 3% safflower oil is commercially available, and parenteral fat emulsions containing a mixture of safflower oil 5% and soya oil 5%, or 10% and 10%, respectively, have been administered as part of total parenteral nutrition regimes.
Safflower oil is used as a food, being consumed in the form of soft margarine, salad oils, and cooking oils. It is also used in cosmetics products such as soaps, lotions, creams, and hair-care preparations.

Safety

Safflower oil is an edible oil and generally presents no significant health hazards following eye contact, skin contact, oral ingestion, or inhalation. Skin irritation or allergic reactions, or eye irritation may occur. Ingestion of large doses can cause vomiting. Safflower oil may cause diarrhea.
LD50 (mouse, IP): >50 g/kg

storage

Safflower oil thickens and becomes rancid on prolonged exposure to air. It is also sensitive to light. Safflower oil should be preserved in tight, light-resistant containers. Refined safflower oil should be stored in a well-filled, airtight container, protected from light.
Parenteral fat emulsions containing safflower oil are destabilized by electrolytes; severe droplet coalescence in the emulsion occurs 3–5 days after the addition of 10% v/v dimethyl sulfoxide, and after 10 days if 5% v/v is added. Parenteral fat emulsions are prone to bacterial and fungal growth. Generally, fat emulsions containing safflower oil or soybean oil show similar growth patterns, although growth of Candida albicans has been reported to be higher in safflower oil containing fat emulsions than in other types of emulsion.

Incompatibilities

Safflower oil is incompatible with strong oxidizing agents.

Regulatory Status

Included in the FDA Inactive Ingredients Database (topical lotion). Included in the Canadian List of Acceptable Non-medicinal Ingredients. Included in an intravenous fat emulsion (Liposyn II) available in the USA. Included in a capsule formulation available in Canada and in a non-medicinal capsule formulation previously available in the UK. It is also a component of a Canadian enteral nutrition preparation.