Page 370 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303

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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