castor oil (redirected from Castor oil plant)

cas·tor oil (kstr)

n.

A colorless or pale yellowish oil extracted from the seeds of the castor-oil plant, used pharmaceutically as a laxative and skin softener and industrially as a lubricant.

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castor oil

a fixed oil obtained from the seed of the castor bean plant (ricinus communis); it has an irritant effect on the intestines and acts as a powerful purgative. Castor oil is also used externally as an emollient in seborrheic dermatitis and other skin diseases.

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castor oil plant

see ricinus communis.

false castor oil plant

see datura.

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castor oil An oil cold-pressed from the kernel of Ricinus communis seeds, which contains glycerides of ricinoleic and isoricinoleic acids–eg, dihydroxystearin, isoricinolein, palmitin, and triricinolein; it has been used externally as an emollient and internally as a laxative. See Castor bean, Ricin.