contains no double bond and unsaturated fatty acids which contains one or more
double bonds. High molecular saturated long-chain fatty acids include palmitic,
stearic, arachidic lignoceric acids, whereas unsaturated long-chain fatty acids are
oleic acids, linoleic, linolenic, and erucic acids. Fixed oils are liquid in nature at
room temperature and have a comparatively high percentage of glycerides containing polyunsaturated fatty acids such as glycerin oleate, whereas fats are solid in
nature at room temperature and contain glycerides of saturated fatty acids such as
glycerin stearate (Fahyet al. 2009). Fixed oils show a lot of pharmaceutical
importance. Arachis oil obtained by expression of the seed kernel of Arachis
hypogea is used as a solvent for intramuscular injection, for the preparation of
liniment and soap. Castor oil obtained by cold expression of seeds of Ricinus
communis contains ricinoleic acid which exerts laxative property due to its irritant
action. Chaulmoogra oil is another fixed oil obtained by cold compression of ripe
seeds of Hydrocarpus anthelmintic. Chaulmoogra oil is used for the treatment of
leprosy due to its strong bactericidal activity. Linseed oil obtained by compression
of seeds of L. usitatissimum, family Linaceae, is recommended for external
preparation as lotions, liniments. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) present in few
fixed oils can cause the reduction of excretion of lipid peroxidation products and
hence they are recommended as good antioxidant potential and also act against
inflammation agents. Polyunsaturated fatty acids are generally used to reduce the
risk of atherosclerosis disease and for the treatment of other cardiovascular diseases
(Kokate et al. 2005; Wallis 2005). The hydrolytic products of glyceryl stearo oleo
linolein, a fat, is shown as follows:
H
H
O-OC-(CH 2 ) 7 -CH CH(CH 2 ) 7 CH 3
H
H
O-OC(CH 2 ) 16 CH 3
O-OC-(CH 2 ) 7 -CH CHCH 2 CH CH (CH 2 ) 4 CH 3
H
Glyceryl stearo oleo linolein (Fat)
On hydrolysis
Glycerol
Oleic acid
Linoleic acid
Stearic acid
+
+
+
10.7.2 Waxes
Waxes are fusible, oily, viscous solid substances with a waxy luster. They are ester
of long-chain monohydric alcohols with long-chain fatty acids. High molecular
weight monohydric alcohols include cetyl alcohol, cholesterol, and melissyl alcohol. Natural waxes consist of unsaturated bonds and several kinds of functional
groups like as primary and secondary alcohol, aldehydes, ketones, aromatic compounds, and ester of fatty acids, whereas synthetic waxes contain aliphatic hydrocarbons having no functional groups. Waxes are comparatively more resistant to
saponification than oils and fats. They are available from plant and animal sources.
The vegetable waxes include bayberry wax, seasal wax, carnauba wax, etc.,
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C. C. Kandar
double bonds. High molecular saturated long-chain fatty acids include palmitic,
stearic, arachidic lignoceric acids, whereas unsaturated long-chain fatty acids are
oleic acids, linoleic, linolenic, and erucic acids. Fixed oils are liquid in nature at
room temperature and have a comparatively high percentage of glycerides containing polyunsaturated fatty acids such as glycerin oleate, whereas fats are solid in
nature at room temperature and contain glycerides of saturated fatty acids such as
glycerin stearate (Fahyet al. 2009). Fixed oils show a lot of pharmaceutical
importance. Arachis oil obtained by expression of the seed kernel of Arachis
hypogea is used as a solvent for intramuscular injection, for the preparation of
liniment and soap. Castor oil obtained by cold expression of seeds of Ricinus
communis contains ricinoleic acid which exerts laxative property due to its irritant
action. Chaulmoogra oil is another fixed oil obtained by cold compression of ripe
seeds of Hydrocarpus anthelmintic. Chaulmoogra oil is used for the treatment of
leprosy due to its strong bactericidal activity. Linseed oil obtained by compression
of seeds of L. usitatissimum, family Linaceae, is recommended for external
preparation as lotions, liniments. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) present in few
fixed oils can cause the reduction of excretion of lipid peroxidation products and
hence they are recommended as good antioxidant potential and also act against
inflammation agents. Polyunsaturated fatty acids are generally used to reduce the
risk of atherosclerosis disease and for the treatment of other cardiovascular diseases
(Kokate et al. 2005; Wallis 2005). The hydrolytic products of glyceryl stearo oleo
linolein, a fat, is shown as follows:
H
H
O-OC-(CH 2 ) 7 -CH CH(CH 2 ) 7 CH 3
H
H
O-OC(CH 2 ) 16 CH 3
O-OC-(CH 2 ) 7 -CH CHCH 2 CH CH (CH 2 ) 4 CH 3
H
Glyceryl stearo oleo linolein (Fat)
On hydrolysis
Glycerol
Oleic acid
Linoleic acid
Stearic acid
+
+
+
10.7.2 Waxes
Waxes are fusible, oily, viscous solid substances with a waxy luster. They are ester
of long-chain monohydric alcohols with long-chain fatty acids. High molecular
weight monohydric alcohols include cetyl alcohol, cholesterol, and melissyl alcohol. Natural waxes consist of unsaturated bonds and several kinds of functional
groups like as primary and secondary alcohol, aldehydes, ketones, aromatic compounds, and ester of fatty acids, whereas synthetic waxes contain aliphatic hydrocarbons having no functional groups. Waxes are comparatively more resistant to
saponification than oils and fats. They are available from plant and animal sources.
The vegetable waxes include bayberry wax, seasal wax, carnauba wax, etc.,
368
C. C. Kandar