What is "ricinolein"

Ricinolein \Ric`in*o"le*in\, n. [L. ricinus castor-oil plant + oleum oil.] (Chem.) The glycerin salt of ricinoleic acid, occuring as a characteristic constituent of castor oil; -- formerly called palmin.

n. (context chemistry English) The glycerin salt of ricinoleic acid, occurring as a characteristic constituent of castor oil.

Ricinolein is the chief constituent of castor oil and is the triglyceride of ricinoleic acid. Castor oil, the expressed natural fatty oil of the seeds of Ricinus communis also contains mixtures of the glycerides of isoricinoleic acids and much smaller traces of tristearin and the glyceride of dihydroxysteric acid. Ricinolein is the active principle in the use of castor oil as a purgative and solvent for several medically useful alkaloids.