Coconut Oil

Synonyms:  Aceite de coco; cocois oleum raffinatum; coconut butter; copra oil; oleum cocois; Pureco 76; refined coconut oil.

Description: Coconut oil generally occurs as a white to light-yellow mass or colorless or light-yellow clear oil, with a slight odor characteristic of coconut and a mild taste. Refined coconut oil is a white or almost white unctuous mass. The form that coconut oil takes depends on temperature; it occurs as a pale yellow to colorless liquid between 28C and 30C, as a semisolid at 20C , and as a hard brittle crystalline solid below 15C.

Chemical Name: Coconut oil

Emollient; ointment base.

• Coconut oil has traditionally been used in ointments where it forms a readily absorbable base.

• It has been used particularly in preparations intended for application to the scalp, where it could be applied as a solid but would liquefy when applied to the skin.

• Coconut oil is readily saponified by strong alkalis even in the cold and, as the soap produced is not readily precipitated by sodium chloride, it has been used in the making of ‘marine’ soap.

• Coconut oil may be used in the formulation of a range of other preparations including emulsions and nanoemulsions, intranasal solutions, and rectal capsules and suppositories.

• In addition, coconut oil has been reported to have antifungal activity against a range of Candida species.

• Coconut oil has been used therapeutically in a lotion for the eradication of head lice and was included in a regime used to treat a patient who had ingested 16.8 g aluminum phosphide.

• Concern has been expressed at the potential use of coconut oil as a suntan lotion as it does not afford any protection against ultraviolet light.

Coconut oil reacts with oxidizing agents, acids and alkalis. Polyethylene is readily permeable to coconut oil. It has been shown that the increased force required to expel coconut oil from plastic syringes was due to uptake of the oil into the rubber plunger; this resulted in swelling of the rubber plunger and an increased resistance to movement down the syringe barrel

When administered orally, coconut oil is essentially nontoxic, although ingestion of large amounts may cause digestive or gastrointestinal irritation or upset. Coconut oil can act as an irritant when applied to the skin and when in contact with the eyes; it may be absorbed through the skin. Inhalation of mist or vapor may cause respiratory tract irritation.

Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of the material handled. Coconut oil should be kept away from heat and sources of ignition, and contact with oxidizing agents, acids, and alkalis should be avoided.

Almond oil; canola oil; castor oil; castor oil, hydrogenated; corn oil; cottonseed oil; medium-chain triglycerides; olive oil; peanut oil; sesame oil; soybean oil; sunflower oil.