Zinc Ricinoleate

Safety Information

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes castor oil on its list of natural flavoring substance and on its list of multipurpose direct food additives. Castor oil is also classified by the FDA as safe and effective as a stimulant laxative.

Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety

The safety of Ricinus Communis (castor) seed oil, cetyl rinoleate, ethyl ricinoleate, glyceryl ricinoleate, glyceryl ricinoleate SE, glycol ricinoleate, hydrogenated castor oil, isopropyl ricinoleate, methyl ricinoleate, octyldodecyl ricinoleate, potassium ricinoleate, ricinoleic acid, sodium ricinoleate and zinc ricinoleatehave been assessed by the Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety. The Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and noted the overall pattern of use of these ingredients in different product categories. The Expert Panel concluded that castor oil and its derivatives were safe for use as cosmetic ingredients.

The Expert Panel considered that the available data on Ricinus Communis (castor) seed oil, hydrogenated castor oil, ricinoleic acid, and salts and esters of ricinoleic acid were sufficient for evaluating the safety of these ingredients. Because Ricinus Communis (castor) seed oil contains ricinoleic acid as the primary fatty acid group, safety test data on the oil was considered broadly applicable to this entire group of cosmetic ingredients. Overall, the available data demonstrated few toxic effects in acute, subchronic or chronic toxicity tests. Additionally, there were no genotoxic effects of castor oil in in vitro or in vivo tests. UV absorption spectra on Ricinus Communis (castor) seed oil and glyceryl ricinoleate indicated maximum absorbance at 270 nm, suggesting there would be no photosensitization potential of glyceryl ricinoleate or Ricinus Communis (castor) seed oil in human subjects exposed to the sun. Reactions classified as either significantly irritating or allergic were not observed in studies on ethyl ricinoleate, and the Expert Panel concluded that the castor oil derivatives were not sensitizers. The Expert Panel also determined that these ingredients may be used safely in aerosolized products because packaging and use ensure that particulates are not respirable.

Link to FDA Code of Federal Regulations regulation for castor oil:

Ricinus Communis (castor) seed oil, cetyl rinoleate, ethyl ricinoleate, glyceryl ricinoleate, glyceryl ricinoleate SE, glycol ricinoleate, hydrogenated castor oil, isopropyl ricinoleate, methyl ricinoleate, octyldodecyl ricinoleate, potassium ricinoleate, ricinoleic acid, sodium ricinoleate and zinc ricinoleate may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Regulation of the European Union.

Link to the EU Cosmetic Regulation:
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/product_labelling_and_p…

The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives has established an acceptable daily intake of 0-0.7 mg castor oil/kg body weight.

https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/jecfa_additives/docs/Monograph1/Additive-120.pdf

Resources

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Substances Generally Recognized As Safe
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EU Cosmetics Inventory
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Zinc Ricinoleate


Chemical image provided by National Cancer Institute
What Is It?

Ricinus Communis (castor) seed oil is a vegetable oil obtained from the seeds of the Ricinus communis plant. A number of ingredients made from castor oil may also be used in cosmetic products. These ingredients include cetyl rinoleate, ethyl ricinoleate, glyceryl ricinoleate, glyceryl ricinoleate SE (SE stands for self-emulsifying, which means it contains a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate), glycol ricinoleate, hydrogenated castor oil, isopropyl ricinoleate, methyl ricinoleate, octyldodecyl ricinoleate, potassium ricinoleate, ricinoleic acid, sodium ricinoleate and zinc ricinoleate. In cosmetics and personal care products, castor oil and related ingredients are used in the formulation of many different cosmetic and personal care products, including lipstick, skin-care products and bath soaps.

Why Is It Used?

The following functions have been reported for these ingredients.

  • Anticaking agent – Zinc Ricinoleate
  • Deodorant agent – Zinc Ricinoleate
  • Emulsion stabilizer – Glycol Ricinoleate
  • Opacifying agent – Zinc Ricinoleate
  • Skin conditioning agent – emollient – Ethyl Ricinoleate, Glyceryl Ricinoleate, Glyceryl Ricinoleate SE, Glycol Ricinoleate, Isopropyl Ricinoleate, Methyl Ricinoleate
  • Skin conditioning agent – occlusive – Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil; Cetyl Ricinoleate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Octyldodecyl Ricinoleate
  • Surfactant – cleansing agent – Potassium Ricinoleate, Sodium Ricinoleate, Ricinoleic Acid
  • Surfactant – emulsifying agent – Glyceryl Ricinoleate, Glyceryl Ricinoleate SE, Potassium Ricinoleate, Sodium Ricinoleate
  • Viscosity increasing agent – nonaqueous – Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Scientific Facts

Ricinus Communis (Castor) seed oil consists primarily of the oils of fatty acids. Ninety percent of the fatty acids in castor oil are ricinoleic acid which is a monounsaturated, 18-carbon fatty acid. Castor oil maintains its fluidity at both extremely high and low temperatures. Castor oil and its derivatives have applications in the manufacturing of soaps, pharmaceuticals and perfumes.

Castor oil is obtained by the cold pressing of seeds of the Ricinus communis plant followed by clarification of the oil by heat. Castor oil is used primarily as a skin conditioning agent – occlusive in cosmetics and personal-care products. Some people ask whether or not castor oil (and its derivatives) contain the highly toxic compound ricin. Castor oil does not contain ricin because it is water-soluble and does not dissolve in the oil obtained from the castor beans. However, care must be exercised whenever castor beans are handled.

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