Nonproprietary Names
USP:Virgin Almond Oil
PhEur:Almond Oil, Virgin USP-NF: Almond Oil
Synonyms
Almond oil, bitter; amygdalae oleum virginale; artificial almond oil; bitter almond oil; expressed almond oil; huile d’amande; oleo de ameˆndoas; olio di mandorla; sweet almond oil; virgin almond oil.
Chemical Name and CAS Registry Number
Almond oil [8007-69-0]
Empirical Formula and Molecular Weight
Almond oil consists chiefly of glycerides of oleic acid, with smaller amounts of linoleic and palmitic acids. The PhEur 6.0 describes almond oil as the fatty oil obtained by cold expression from the ripe seeds of Prunus dulcis (Miller) DAWebb var. dulcis or Prunus dulcis (Miller) DAWebb var. amara (DC) Buchheim or a mixture of both varieties. A suitable antioxidant may be added. The USP32–NF27 describes almond oil as the fixed oil obtained by expression from the kernels of varieties of Prunus dulcis (Miller) D.A. Webb (formerly known as Prunus amygdalus Batsch) (Fam. Rosaceae) except for Prunus dolcii (Miller) D.A. Webb var. amara (De (Andolle) Focke).
Structural Formula
See Section 4. Almond Oil
Functional Category
Emollient; oleaginous vehicle; solvent.
Applications in Pharmaceutical Formulation or Technology
Technology Almond oil is used therapeutically as an emollient(1) and to soften ear wax. As a pharmaceutical excipient it is employed as a vehicle in parenteral preparations,(2) such as oily phenol injection. It is also used in nasal spray,(3) and topical preparations.(4)Almond oil is also consumed as a food substance; see Section 18.
Description
A clear, colorless, or pale-yellow colored oil with a bland, nutty taste.
Pharmacopeial Specifications
See Table I. Table I: Pharmacopeial specifications for almond oil. Test PhEur 6.0 USP32–NF27 Identification Absorbance Acid value þ þ42.0 þ — 40.5 Characters Peroxide value þ415.0 — 45.0 Saponification value — — Specific gravity — 0.910–0.915 Unsaponifiable matter 40.9% 40.9% Composition of fatty acids Saturated fatty acids < C16 þ 40.1% þ 40.1% Arachidic acid 40.2% 40.2% Behenic acid 40.2% 40.2% Eicosenoic acid 40.3% 40.3% Erucic acid 40.1% 40.1% Linoleic acid 20.0–30.0% 20.0–30.0% Linolenic acid 40.4% 40.4% Margaric acid 40.2% 40.2% Oleic acid 62.0–86.0% 62.0–76.0% Palmitic acid 4.0–9.0% 4.0–9.0% Palmitoleic acid 40.8% 40.8% Stearic acid 43.0% 43.0% Sterols 5-Avenasterol 7-Avenasterol þ 510.0% 43.0% þ 55.0% 43.0% Brassicasterol 40.3% 40.3% Cholesterol 40.7% 40.7% Campesterol 44.0% 45.0% Stigmasterol 43.0% 44.0% b-Sitosterol 7-Stigmasterol 73.0–87.0% 43.0% 73.0–87.0% 43.0%
Typical Properties
Flash point 3208C Melting point 188C Refractive index n 40D = 1.4630–1.4650 Smoke point 2208C Solubility Miscible with chloroform, and ether; slightly soluble in ethanol (95%).
Stability and Storage Conditions
Almond oil should be stored in a well-closed container in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and odors. It may be sterilized by heating at 1508C for 1 hour. Almond oil does not easily turn rancid.
Incompatibilities
—
Method of Manufacture
Almond oil is expressed from the seeds of the bitter or sweet almond, Prunus dulcis (Prunus amygdalus; Amygdalus communis) var. amara or var. dulcis (Rosaceae).(5) See also Section 4.
Safety
Almond oil is widely consumed as a food and is used both therapeutically and as an excipient in topical and parenteral pharmaceutical formulations, where it is generally regarded as a nontoxic and nonirritant material. However, there has been a single case reported of a 5-month-old child developing allergic dermatitis attributed to the application of almond oil for 2 months to the cheeks and buttocks.(6)
Handling Precautions
Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled.
Regulatory Status
Included in nonparenteral and parenteral medicines licensed in the UK. Widely used as an edible oil. 17 Related Substances Canola oil; corn oil; cottonseed oil; peanut oil; refined almond oil; sesame oil; soybean oil. Refined almond oil Synonyms Amygdalae oleum raffinatum. Comments Refined almond oil is defined in some pharmacopeias such as the PhEur 6.0. Refined almond oil is a clear, pale yellow colored oil with virtually no taste or odor. It is obtained by expression of almond seeds followed by subsequent refining. It may contain a suitable antioxidant.
Comments
A 100g quantity of almond oil has a nutritional energy value of 3700kJ (900kcal) and contains 100g of fat of which 28% is polyunsaturated, 64% is monounsaturated and 8% is saturated fat. Studies have suggested that almond consumption is associated with health benefits, including a decreased risk of colon cancer.(7) A specification for bitter almond oil is contained in the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC).(8) 19 Specific References 1 Pesko LJ. Peanut recipe softens brittle, split nails. Am Drug 1997; 214(Dec): 48. 2 Van Hoogmoed LM et al. Ultrasonographic and histologic evaluation of medial and middle patellar ligaments in exercised horses following injection with ethanolamine oleate and 2% iodine in almond oil. Am J Vet Res 2002; 63(5): 738–743. 3 Cicinelli E et al. Progesterone administration by nasal spray in menopausal women: comparison between two different spray formulations. Gynecol Endocrinol 1992; 6(4): 247–251. 4 Christen P et al. Stability of prednisolone and prednisolone acetate in various vehicles used in semi-solid topical preparations. J Clin Pharm Ther 1990; 15(5): 325–329. 5 Evans WC. Trease and Evans’ Pharmacognosy, 14th edn. London: WB Saunders, 1996; 184. 6 Guillet G, Guillet M-H. Percutaneous sensitization to almond in infancy and study of ointments in 27 children with food allergy. Allerg Immunol 2000; 32(8): 309–311. 7 Davis PA, Iwahashi CK. Whole almonds and almond fractions reduce aberrant crypt foci in a rat model of colon carcinogenesis. Cancer Lett 2001; 165(1): 27–33. 8 Food Chemicals Codex, 6th edn. Bethesda, MD: United States Pharmacopeia, 2008; 38. Alpha Tocopherol
General References
Allen LV. Oleaginous vehicles. Int J Pharm Compound 2000; 4(6): 470–472. Anonymous. Iodine 2% in oil injection. Int J Pharm Compound 2001; 5(2): 131. Brown JH et al. Oxidative stability of botanical emollients. Cosmet Toilet 1997; 112(Jul): 87–9092, 94, 96–98. Shaath NA, Benveniste B. Natural oil of bitter almond. Perfum Flavor 1991; 16(Nov–Dec): 17, 19–24.
Author
s SA Shah, D Thassu.
Date of Revision
12 February 2009.