Castor oil is an important vegetable oil obtained from castor beans. It has been traditionally used for various medicinal purposes.

Biological activity

Antioxidant activity

• It exerts powerful antioxidant activity that helps in protecting the body from oxidative damages
• It plays vital role in neutralizing the effects of free radicals in body, which ultimately helps in preventing oxidative stress as a result aids in reducing the susceptibility of developing chronic diseases as oxidative stress is considered as one of the leading causes of diseases
• It is also associated with protecting the body from the detrimental effects of reactive oxygen species
• It helps to protect various important biological substances of our body
  (like proteins, DNA, RNA etc.) from oxidation thus helps in sustaining their activity
• It helps to prevent lipid peroxidation as well
• It also helps in preventing cellular damages which helps to promote their activity that ultimately ensures overall wellbeing

Anti-inflammatory activity                              

• It exhibits potent anti-inflammatory activity, which helps in preventing inflammation
• It is very effective for preventing arthritis as it helps to prevent joint swelling

• It significantly improves the symptoms of osteoarthritis especially of the knee and plays vital role in relieving the pain
• Its anti-inflammatory activity is also related with preventing sore muscle as well as nerve inflammation
• It is also very effective for preventing joint pain. It has seen that massaging the joint with this oil followed by hot water pack significantly reduces the pain. It is thus considered as one of the most important massaging oils that can be applied on aching joint as well as on muscle, it can provide quick relief

Antimicrobial activity

• It exerts potent antimicrobial activity that helps in suppressing the growth of microbes within host thus its consumption is thought to be very effective for decreasing the susceptibility of developing infectious diseases
• It has seen that utilization of castor oil is extremely useful against fungus especially against Candida albicans
• Individual suffer from dental infections caused by Candida albicans can include castor oil in their diet as it plays vital role in eliminating Candida albicans from the contaminated tooth roots as a result helps in improving the symptoms
• It is also associated with preventing denture-related stomatitis

Anti-carcinogenic activity

• It plays vital role in decreasing the prevalence of carcinoma as it has anti-carcinogenic activity

• Its oxidative stress reducing capacity is also considered as one of the important factors responsible for reducing the susceptibility of cancer as it helps to protect the DNA from damages (free radical induced oxidative damages) and also helps in preventing genetic mutation
• It is also associated with suppressing the growth of malignant cell within body by inducing apoptosis

Health benefits

Role on immunity

• It is very effective for boosting up the overall immunity of the body especially for those individual who follow naturopathy
• It helps in improving the immunological responses of the body and plays important role in strengthening the defense mechanism of the body
• It is also associated with stimulating the production of WBC, which ultimately helps to make the body able to fight against infections
• It helps to increase the count of T-11 cell as well as lymphocytes
• It helps to make the body able to produce more antibodies that help to kill harmful microbes and other harmful foreign invaders thus help in protecting the body from their harmful effects
• It is also associated with promoting the health and activity of lymphatic system, which plays vital role in detoxifying the body

Role on digestive health

• It plays vital role in promoting overall digestive health

• It helps in digestion too
• It has been traditionally used as an imperative remedial action for constipation as ricinoleic acid component of castor oil is responsible for binding with receptor present on the muscle cell of intestinal wall that helps in contracting the muscles and pushes out stool hence helps in preventing constipation
• It is also associated with improving bowel movement

Role on circulation

• It is very useful for improving the circulation
• As it is related with increasing the blood flow thus its utilization is thought to be very effective for promoting the supply of oxygen and nutrients throughout the body hence helps in our surviving

Role on maternal health

• It is very useful during pregnancy especially in the third trimester
• It has seen that many pregnant women have taken castor oil orally because it plays vital role in inducing labour by pushing uterus contraction thus helps in delivery
• Whereas it has seen that excessive consumption of castor oil may make the women feel more nauseous thus it is better to consume it as per the recommendation of nutritionists or health experts

Role on oral health

• It is very effective for promoting overall oral health and hygiene
• Its antimicrobial activity is accountable for reducing the susceptibility of developing dental infections as it helps in hindering the growth of those microbes (especially fungus) responsible for dental problems like dental plaque formation, root canal infections etc

Role on skin

• It is extremely useful for promoting overall skin health as it helps in nourishing the skin inside out as a result helps in making the skin healthy and supple
• Ricinoleic acid component of castor oil helps in moisturizing the skin and also helps to keep the skin hydrated
• On the other hand ricinoleic acid acts as an important humectants as well, which helps to prevent water loss thus helps in retaining moisture
• It also acts as an important cleanser as its triglyceride component helps in removing dirt from the skin
• It helps to improve the smoothness as well as the softness of facial skin
• It is also related with restoring uneven skin tones
• It plays important role in improving the symptom of psoriasis
• It is also associated with preventing acne. Its anti-inflammatory activity, antimicrobial activity and ricinoleic acid component are accountable for soothing the inflamed as well as the irritated skin
• It helps to prevent wrinkles as well

Role on hair

• It is widely used for promoting overall hair growth as it plays vital role in enriching the scalp
• Its omega 6 fatty acid component and ricinoleic acid components are responsible for increasing blood circulation to the scalp, which subsequently stimulates hair growth
• It helps to make the hair strong
• It also helps to moisturize the hair
• It is associated with preventing hair loss
• It also helps to reduce the prevalence of breakage
• It helps to prevent dandruff as well

Therapeutic uses

It has been traditionally used for various therapeutic uses, like –

• It helps in accelerating wound healing process
• It helps to prevent menstrual cramps
• It is also related with reducing the prevalence of multiple sclerosis
• It helps to improve the symptoms of migraine
• It plays vital role in reducing the susceptibility of Parkinson’s disease and all the credit goes to its anti-inflammatory activity, which is responsible for delaying the onset of neuro-inflammatory events

Risk factors

Some people experience some adverse effects of using castor oil like itching, skin rashes, swelling, nausea, vomiting etc. thus it is better to use it as per recommendation.

Garry, D., Figueroa, R., Guillaume, J. and Cucco, V., 2000. Use of castor oil in pregnancies at term. Alternative therapies in health and medicine, 6(1), p.77.

Missiriya, S., 2015. Effectiveness of castor oil massage with hot application on knee joint pain among women. Education, 25(40), p.50.

Settanni, C.R., Ianiro, G., Franceschi, F., Gasbarrini, G. and Gasbarrini, A., 2020. From Regular Catharsis with Castor Oil to Recognizing the Importance of the Intestinal Microbiota. Digestive Diseases, 38(2), pp.128-136.

YEBOAH, A., YING, S., LU, J., XIE, Y., AMOANIMAA-DEDE, H., BOATENG, K.G.A., CHEN, M. and YIN, X., 2020. Castor oil (Ricinus communis): a review on the chemical composition and physicochemical properties. Food Science and Technology.

You, H.C.O.C.B. and Oil, W.I.C., All You Should Know About Castor Oil: An Age-Old Home Remedy.