NTP Technical Report on the Toxicity Studies of Castor Oil in F344/N Rats andB6C3F1 Mice (Dosed Feed Studies)

摘要

Castor oil is a natural oil derived from the seeds of the castor bean, Ricinuscommunis. It is comprised largely of triglycerides with a high ricinolin content. Toxicity studies with castor oil were performed by incorporating the material at concentrations as high as 10% in diets given to F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice of both sexes for 13 weeks. Genetic toxicity studies also were performed and were negative for mutation induction in Salmonella typhimurium, for induction of sister chromatid exchanges or chromosomal aberrations in Chinese hamster ovary cells, and for induction of micronuclei in the peripheral blood erythrocytes of mice evaluated at the end of the 13-week studies. No significant adverse effects of castor oil administration were noted in these studies.