Page 370 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303 (1)

Pharmacognosy-2 (PG303) Level 2 Clinical Pharmacy-Pharm D

Cod - Liver oil

Cod liver oil is the oil extracted from the fresh liver of the cod
Cadus callarias and other species of Gadus, family Cadidae.

Collection and In Norway and during the fishing season when the
preparations temperature is between -7 and 3, the fish are caught and landed
(usually about mid-day). They are opened and separated into
livers, heads, and flesh. The livers are freed from the gall
bladders and washed ready for extraction. The livers are placed
in steam-jacketed tapering kars commonly holding 6-8
hectolitres of livers and steam is admitted at a temperature not
exceeding 8-5 C for 30 minutes. This is to destroy the lipases.
The oil is run off into cooling tanks and cooled to -2 to -5 where
solid fat palmatin separated and filtered. The oil thus obtained is
the non-freezing medicinal oil of commerce. The oil should be
stored in well-filled airtight dark containers and in a cool place.
Characters Cod liver oil is a pale-yellow liquid with slightly fishy odour and
taste. Its specific gravity 0.92 to 0.929. it is readily soluble in
ether and chloroform, sparingly soluble in alcohol. The oil has a
high iodine value of 155- 173.

Constituents • Glycerides of unsaturated (oleic, gadoleic, linolenic,
decosahexanoic and clupandonic) acids (85%).
• Glycerides of saturated (myristic, palmitic, and stearic)
acids.
• Fat soluble Vitamins: Vit. D. (~ 100 IU/g) + Vit. A (~
5000 IU/g)
Uses • Prevention and Cure of Rickets and arthritis.
• Decreases cardiovascular diseases and heart attack.
• General health nutrient.

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