Description
Caprylic/capric triglyceride is a natural coconut and palm kernel oil derived mixture ofglycerin triester with caprylic and capric acids, which can be used as an alternative to mineral and vegetable oils. It is a mixed ester composed of caprylic and capric fatty acids attached to a glycerin backbone. It is an excellent moisturising emollient oil with good skin care properties, giving a pleasant non-slippery after feel on the skin. It is used as a less oily alternative to castor oil in lipsticks and in colour cosmetics.?
Chemical Properties
A colorless to slightly yellowish oily liquid that is practically
odorless and tasteless. It solidifies at about 0°C. The oil is free from
catalytic residues or the products of cracking.
Uses
Caprylic/capric triglyceride can also function as a thickener or penetration enhancer, but its chief job is to moisturize and replenish skin. Caprylic triglycerides can be found in topical skin care products including facial moisturizers, anti-aging serums, sunscreens, eye creams, etc. to increase the shelf life of cosmetic products, make your skin brighter and not greasy, enhance the antioxidants in the product. Caprylic triglyceride is also a common ingredient in makeup and other cosmetic products. It keeps the ingredients evenly distributed in the cosmetic formula without feeling greasy on your skin.
Production Methods
Medium-chain triglycerides are obtained from the fixed oil
extracted from the hard, dried fraction of the endosperm of Cocos
nucifera L. Hydrolysis of the fixed oil followed by distillation yields
the required fatty acids, which are then re-esterified to produce the
medium-chain triglycerides.
Although the PhEur 6.0 specifies that medium-chain fatty acids
are obtained from coconut oil, medium-chain triglycerides are also
to be found in substantial amounts in the kernel oils of certain other
types of palm-tree, e.g. palm kernel oil and babassu oil. Some
animal products, such as milk-fat, also contain small amounts (up
to 4%) of the medium-chain fatty acid esters.
benefits
Caprylic/capric triglyceride has a range of uses in cosmetic, skin care, and hair care products. It rapidly penetrates the skin and hair to provide maximum benefits.
Skin care: Its main function is moisturizing and hydrating the skin. It forms a barrier on the skin to prevent further water loss, thus leaving it supple. In skin care, it also acts as an anti-aging ingredient by reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Hair care: It offers similar hydrating properties. Since it is made of rich oils like palm and coconut, Caprylic/capric triglyceride leaves the hair silky smooth and reduces the problem of hair tangling.
Pharmaceutical Applications
Medium-chain triglycerides have been used in a variety of
pharmaceutical formulations including oral, parenteral, and topical
preparations.
In oral formulations, medium-chain triglycerides are used as the
base for the preparation of oral emulsions, microemulsions, selfemulsifying
systems, solutions, or suspensions of drugs that are
unstable or insoluble in aqueous media, e.g. calciferol. Mediumchain
triglycerides have also been investigated as intestinalabsorption
enhancersand have additionally been used as a
filler in capsules and sugar-coated tablets, and as a lubricant or
antiadhesion agent in tablets.
In parenteral formulations, medium-chain triglycerides have
similarly been used in the production of emulsions, solutions, or
suspensions intended for intravenous administration.In rectal
formulations, medium-chain triglycerides have been used in the
preparation of suppositories containing labile materials. In cosmeticsand topical pharmaceutical preparations, medium-chain
triglycerides are used as a component of ointments, creams, and
liquid emulsions.
Therapeutically, medium-chain triglycerides have been used as
nutritional agents.Diets containing medium-chain triglycerides
are used in conditions associated with the malabsorption of fat,
such as cystic fibrosis, since medium-chain triglycerides are more
readily digested than long-chain triglycerides. Medium-chain
triglycerides have been particularly investigated for their use in
total parenteral nutrition (TPN) regimens in combination with longchain
triglycerides.
Although similar to long-chain triglycerides, medium-chain
triglycerides have a number of advantages in pharmaceutical
formulations, which include better spreading properties on the
skin; no impedance of skin respiration; good penetration properties;
good emollient and cosmetic properties; no visible film on the skin
surface; good compatibility; good solvent properties; and good
stability against oxidation.
Safety
Medium-chain triglycerides are used in a variety of pharmaceutical
formulations including oral, parenteral, and topical products, and
are generally regarded as essentially nontoxic and nonirritant
materials.
In acute toxicology studies in animals and humans, no irritant or
other adverse reactions have been observed; for example, when they
were patch-tested on more than 100 individuals, no irritation was
produced on either healthy or eczematous skin. Medium-chain
triglycerides are not irritating to the eyes.
Similarly, chronic toxicology studies in animals have shown no
harmful adverse effects associated with medium-chain triglycerides following inhalation or intraperitoneal, oral, and parenteral
administration.
In humans, administration of 0.5 g/kg body-weight mediumchain
triglycerides to healthy individuals produced no change in
blood or serum triglycerides compared to subjects receiving the
same dose of the long-chain triglyceride triolein.
In patients consuming diets based on medium-chain triglycerides,
adverse effects reported include abdominal pain and diarrhea.
LD50 (mouse, IV): 3.7 g/kg
LD50 (mouse, oral): 29.6 g/kg
LD50 (rat, oral): 33.3 g/kg
Source
Caprylic/capric triglyceride is made from the fatty acids found in coconut oil. Firstly, pressure and heat are applied to the oil to separate fatty acids and glycerol. The separated fatty acids further undergo an esterification process. The clear liquid (or oil) that results is known as Caprylic or Capric triglyceride.
storage
storage temperatures that can be experienced in tropical and
temperate climates. Ideally, however, they should be stored at
temperatures not exceeding 25°C and not exposed to temperatures
above 40°C for long periods. At low temperatures, samples of
medium-chain triglycerides may become viscous or solidify.
Samples should therefore be well melted and mixed before use,
although overheating should be avoided.
In the preparation of microemulsions and self-emulsifying
systems, emulsions, or aqueous suspensions of medium-chain
triglycerides, care should be taken to avoid microbiological
contamination of the preparation, since lipase-producing microorganisms,
which become active in the presence of moisture, can
cause hydrolysis of the triglycerides. Hydrolysis of the triglycerides
is revealed by the characteristic unpleasant odor of free mediumchain
fatty acids.
Medium-chain triglycerides may be sterilized by maintaining at
170°C for 1 hour.
Medium-chain triglycerides should be stored protected from
light in a well-filled and well-closed container. When stored dry, in
sealed containers, medium-chain triglycerides remain stable for
many years.
Incompatibilities
Preparations containing medium-chain triglycerides should not
come into contact with polystyrene containers or packaging
components since the plastic rapidly becomes brittle upon contact.
Low-density polyethylene should also not be used as a packaging
material as the medium-chain triglycerides readily penetrate the
plastic, especially at high temperatures, forming an oily film on the
outside. High-density polyethylene is a suitable packaging material.
Closures based on phenol resins should be tested before use for
compatibility with medium-chain triglycerides. Polyvinyl chloride
packaging should also be tested for compatibility since mediumchain
triglycerides can dissolve some plasticizers, such as phthalates,
out of the plastic.
Materials recommended as safe for packaging medium-chain
triglycerides are low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, glass,
and metal.
Regulatory Status
GRAS listed. Included in the FDA Inactive Ingredients Database
(topical preparations). Included in nonparenteral and parenteral
medicines licensed in Europe. Included in the Canadian List of
Acceptable Non-medicinal Ingredients.