{{Short description|Oil derived from yolk of chicken eggs}} [[Image:Raw egg.jpg|thumb|An intact yolk surrounded by [[egg white]]]]
'''Egg oil''' ([[CAS registry number|CAS No.]] 8001–17–0, [[INCI]]: egg oil), also known as [[egg yolk]] oil or ovum oil, is derived from the [[yolk]] of [[chicken]] eggs consisting mainly of [[triglyceride]]s with traces of [[lecithin]], [[cholesterol]], [[biotin]], [[xanthophyll]]s [[lutein]] and [[zeaxanthin]], and immunoglobulins. It is free of egg proteins<ref>[http://jn.nutrition.org/content/82/3/311.full.pdf The Journal of Nutrition 82:64 Jane B. Walker, Gladys Emerson]</ref> and hence may be used safely by people who are allergic to eggs, for topical applications such as hair and skin care. The product has several historical references in [[Unani]] (Greek) medicine for [[hair care]]. [[Traditional Chinese medicine]] uses egg oil for burns, [[eczema]], [[dermatitis]], [[mouth ulcer]]s, [[skin ulcer]]s, chapped nipples, [[tinea capitis]], [[ringworm]], [[nasal vestibulitis]], [[frostbite]], and [[hemorrhoids]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-KFYZ201202007.htm |title=Xie Xinmei, Pang Xiaobin:Henan University (Medical Sciences)2012 |access-date=2013-01-18 |archive-date=2015-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209175116/http://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-KFYZ201202007.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Production == [[Image:Egg Yolk Oil in a glass vial.jpg|thumb|Extracted egg oil]] In [[alchemy]], the oil was traditionally extracted from the yolk by a fairly simple process,<ref>{{cite patent | country = US | url = http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4219585.pdf | number = 4219585 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103022755/http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4219585.pdf |date=2012-11-03 }}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=July 2019}} by which fifty eggs yielded approximately five ounces of oil.<ref>{{cite book | author = Samuel Frederick Gray | date = 1821 | title = A supplement to the pharmacopoeia: being a treatise on pharmacology in general | url = https://archive.org/details/asupplementtoph00graygoog | quote = egg oil medicinal. | page = [https://archive.org/details/asupplementtoph00graygoog/page/n255 227] | publisher = Thomas and George Underwood | accessdate = Sep 6, 2016}}</ref> Modern methods of production include [[liquid–liquid extraction]]<ref>{{cite journal | doi = 10.1007/BF02660569| title = Solvent extraction of lipid components from egg yolk solids| journal = Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society| volume = 65| issue = 7| pages = 1136| year = 2014| last1 = Warren| first1 = M. W.| last2 = Brown| first2 = H. G.| last3 = Davis| first3 = D. R.| s2cid = 83807139}}</ref> using common solvents such as [[hexane]],<ref>{{cite web | author = Aleksandrs Kovalcuks, Mara Duma | title = Solvent Extraction of Egg Oil of From Liquid Egg Yolk | url = http://llufb.llu.lv/conference/foodbalt/2014/FoodBalt_Proceedings_2014-253-256.pdf}}</ref> [[petroleum ether]], [[chloroform]], and [[ethanol]]. Unlike traditional egg oil produced by heat, solvent extracted product also contains [[immunoglobulins]],<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Tini M, Jewell UR, Camenisch G, Chilov D, Gassmann M |title=Generation and application of chicken egg-yolk antibodies |journal=Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A|volume=131 |issue=3 |pages=569–574 |year=2002 |pmid=11867282 |doi=10.1016/S1095-6433(01)00508-6}}</ref> which are destroyed at higher temperatures. There are only a few commercial producers globally.
== Composition == The [[fatty acid]] composition of egg oil is rich in long-chain [[polyunsaturated fatty acid]]s (LCPUFA) such as [[omega-3 fatty acid]]s (including [[docosahexaenoic acid]]) and [[omega-6 fatty acid]]s (including [[arachidonic acid]]), and closely resembles the fatty acid profile of [[Breast milk|human milk]],<ref>[http://www.ajcn.org/content/47/6/954.full.pdf+html American Journal of Clinical Nutrition]</ref> as well as the [[lipid profile]] of human skin.
=== Complete fatty acid profile === :{|class="wikitable1" |- | [[Oleic acid]] (18:1) | 37.6% |- | [[Palmitic acid]] (16:0) | 35.7% |- | [[Linoleic acid]] (18:2) | 10.7% |- | [[Palmitoleic acid]] (16:1) | 7.7% |- | [[Stearic acid]] (18:0) | 3.3% |- | [[Myristic acid]] (14:0) | 1.1% |- | [[Docosahexaenoic acid]] (22:6) | 0.5% |- | [[Myristoleic acid]] (14:1) | 0.4% |- | [[Heptadecanoic acid]] (17:0) | 0.3% |- | [[Arachidonic acid]] (20:4) | 0.2% |- | [[Arachidic acid]] (20:0) | 0.2% |- | [[Linolenic acid]] (18:3) | 0.1% |- | [[Pentadecanoic acid]] (15:0) | 0.1% |}
=== Typical analysis === :{|class="wikitable1" |- | [[Visual appearance|Appearance]] | Yellow coloured, hazy liquid |- | [[Consistency]] | Viscous liquid/thickened/Semi-solid at 25 C. |- | [[Odour]] | Mild characteristic odour of egg |- | [[Refractive index]] | 1.46 – 1.48 |- | [[Cholesterol]] | 3% – 4.0% |- | [[Specific gravity]] | 0.93 – 0.98@25 deg. C |- | [[Gardner color scale]] | 11 Max. |- | [[Acid value]] | < 35.0 (mg KOH/g) |- | [[Iodine value]] | > 60 |}
== Uses ==
=== Cosmetics === Egg yolk has been used in traditional cosmetics since the eleventh century in Jewish, Greek, Arab, and Latin cultures.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Cavallo | journal = International Journal of Cosmetic Science | title = The first cosmetic treatise of history - A female point of view | doi=10.1111/j.1468-2494.2007.00414.x | volume=30 | issue = 2 | pages=79–86 | pmid=18377616 | date=April 2008| s2cid = 3758696 | doi-access=free |first=P.|last2=Proto|first2=M. C.|last3=Patruno|first3=C.|last4=Del Sorbo|first4=A.|last5=Bifulco|first5=M.}}</ref> Several popular modern cosmetic brands contain egg oil.
==== Hair care ==== Egg oil is widely used in India for hair care.{{cn|date=July 2024}}
==== Skin care ==== Egg oil can be used as an excipient/carrier in a variety of cosmetic preparations such as creams, ointments, sun-screen products, or lotions where it acts as an emollient, moisturizer, anti-oxidant, penetration enhancer, occlusive skin conditioner, and anti-bacterial agent.<ref>{{cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=6ZepRgMaa2gC&q=%22egg+yolk+oil%22+skin&pg=PT467 | author = Halldor Thormar | title = Lipids and Essential Oils as Antimicrobial Agents| isbn = 9780470976678 | date = 2010-12-28 | publisher = John Wiley & Sons }}</ref>
=== Pharmaceuticals ===
==== Scabies ==== For treatment of [[scabies]] in Spain, oil of egg yolk was used along with oil of castor and roses<ref>{{cite journal | url = http://www.seq.es/seq/0214-3429/17/4/350.pdf | title = El Tratamiento De Las Enfermedades Infecciosas en Al-Andalus | journal = Rev Esp Quimioterap | date = December 2004 | volume = 17 | issue = 4 | pages = 350–356}}</ref> in ancient [[Andalusia]].
==== Wounds ==== Egg oil was traditionally used in treating [[wounds]] and injuries.<ref>{{US patent reference | url = http://www.freepatentsonline.com/2555731.pdf | number = 2555731 | inventor = W.B. Cooper | title = Oil Produced from Eggs }}</ref> In the 16th century, [[Ambroise Paré]] used a solution of egg yolk, oil of roses, and [[turpentine]] for war wounds, an old method that the Romans had discovered 1000 years before him. He published his first book ''The method of curing wounds caused by [[arquebus]] and firearms'' in 1545.
==== Infant nutrition ==== Egg oil is a potential source of [[polyunsaturated fatty acid]]s such as [[docosahexaenoic acid]] and [[arachidonic acid]] for infant nutrition<ref>{{cite journal | pmid = 1734678 | year = 1992 | last1 = Simopoulos | first1 = AP | last2 = Salem Jr | first2 = N | title = Egg yolk as a source of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in infant feeding | volume = 55 | issue = 2 | pages = 411–4 | journal = The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition| doi = 10.1093/ajcn/55.2.411 | doi-access = free }}</ref> or combined with fish oil for infant formula production.<ref>{{US patent reference | url = http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4670285.pdf | number = 4670285 }}</ref> It is also a source of [[vitamin D]].<ref>{{cite book | author = M. P. Sinha | title = Csir-Ugc Net/jrf/slet General Sciences [paper-I (part-A) | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=JWvNlq78MucC&q=%22egg+yolk+oil%22+skin&pg=PA314| isbn = 9788174829023 | date = 2010-09-01 | publisher = Upkar Prakashan }}</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=August 2014}}
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
{{Eggs}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Eggs in culture]] [[Category:Traditional medicine]] [[Category:Cosmetics]] [[Category:Skin care]]