# Egg oil

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Oil derived from yolk of chicken eggs

An intact yolk surrounded by [egg white](/source/Egg_white)

**Egg oil** ([CAS No.](/source/CAS_registry_number) 8001–17–0, [INCI](/source/INCI): egg oil), also known as [egg yolk](/source/Egg_yolk) oil or ovum oil, is derived from the [yolk](/source/Yolk) of [chicken](/source/Chicken) eggs consisting mainly of [triglycerides](/source/Triglyceride) with traces of [lecithin](/source/Lecithin), [cholesterol](/source/Cholesterol), [biotin](/source/Biotin), [xanthophylls](/source/Xanthophyll) [lutein](/source/Lutein) and [zeaxanthin](/source/Zeaxanthin), and immunoglobulins. It is free of egg proteins[1] 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 The product has several historical references in [Unani](/source/Unani) (Greek) medicine for [hair care](/source/Hair_care). [Traditional Chinese medicine](/source/Traditional_Chinese_medicine) uses egg oil for burns, [eczema](/source/Eczema), [dermatitis](/source/Dermatitis), [mouth ulcers](/source/Mouth_ulcer), [skin ulcers](/source/Skin_ulcer), chapped nipples, [tinea capitis](/source/Tinea_capitis), [ringworm](/source/Ringworm), [nasal vestibulitis](/source/Nasal_vestibulitis), [frostbite](/source/Frostbite), and [hemorrhoids](/source/Hemorrhoids).[2]

## Production

Extracted egg oil

In [alchemy](/source/Alchemy), the oil was traditionally extracted from the yolk by a fairly simple process,[3][*[failed verification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability)*] by which fifty eggs yielded approximately five ounces of oil.[4] Modern methods of production include [liquid–liquid extraction](/source/Liquid%E2%80%93liquid_extraction)[5] using common solvents such as [hexane](/source/Hexane),[6] [petroleum ether](/source/Petroleum_ether), [chloroform](/source/Chloroform), and [ethanol](/source/Ethanol). Unlike traditional egg oil produced by heat, solvent extracted product also contains [immunoglobulins](/source/Immunoglobulins),[7] which are destroyed at higher temperatures. There are only a few commercial producers globally.

## Composition

The [fatty acid](/source/Fatty_acid) composition of egg oil is rich in long-chain [polyunsaturated fatty acids](/source/Polyunsaturated_fatty_acid) (LCPUFA) such as [omega-3 fatty acids](/source/Omega-3_fatty_acid) (including [docosahexaenoic acid](/source/Docosahexaenoic_acid)) and [omega-6 fatty acids](/source/Omega-6_fatty_acid) (including [arachidonic acid](/source/Arachidonic_acid)), and closely resembles the fatty acid profile of [human milk](/source/Breast_milk),[8] as well as the [lipid profile](/source/Lipid_profile) of human skin.

### Complete fatty acid profile

- 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

- 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.[9] Several popular modern cosmetic brands contain egg oil.

#### Hair care

Egg oil is widely used in India for hair care.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

#### 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.[10]

### Pharmaceuticals

#### Scabies

For treatment of [scabies](/source/Scabies) in Spain, oil of egg yolk was used along with oil of castor and roses[11] in ancient [Andalusia](/source/Andalusia).

#### Wounds

Egg oil was traditionally used in treating [wounds](/source/Wounds) and injuries.[12] In the 16th century, [Ambroise Paré](/source/Ambroise_Par%C3%A9) used a solution of egg yolk, oil of roses, and [turpentine](/source/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](/source/Arquebus) and firearms* in 1545.

#### Infant nutrition

Egg oil is a potential source of [polyunsaturated fatty acids](/source/Polyunsaturated_fatty_acid) such as [docosahexaenoic acid](/source/Docosahexaenoic_acid) and [arachidonic acid](/source/Arachidonic_acid) for infant nutrition[13] or combined with fish oil for infant formula production.[14] It is also a source of [vitamin D](/source/Vitamin_D).[15][*[unreliable source?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reliable_sources)*]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [The Journal of Nutrition 82:64 Jane B. Walker, Gladys Emerson](http://jn.nutrition.org/content/82/3/311.full.pdf)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Xie Xinmei, Pang Xiaobin:Henan University (Medical Sciences)2012"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150209175116/http://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-KFYZ201202007.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-KFYZ201202007.htm) on 2015-02-09. Retrieved 2013-01-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [US 4219585](http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4219585.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20121103022755/http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4219585.pdf) 2012-11-03 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Samuel Frederick Gray (1821). [*A supplement to the pharmacopoeia: being a treatise on pharmacology in general*](https://archive.org/details/asupplementtoph00graygoog). Thomas and George Underwood. p. [227](https://archive.org/details/asupplementtoph00graygoog/page/n255). Retrieved Sep 6, 2016. egg oil medicinal.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Warren, M. W.; Brown, H. G.; Davis, D. R. (2014). "Solvent extraction of lipid components from egg yolk solids". *Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society*. **65** (7): 1136. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/BF02660569](https://doi.org/10.1007%2FBF02660569). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [83807139](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:83807139).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Aleksandrs Kovalcuks, Mara Duma. ["Solvent Extraction of Egg Oil of From Liquid Egg Yolk"](http://llufb.llu.lv/conference/foodbalt/2014/FoodBalt_Proceedings_2014-253-256.pdf) (PDF).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Tini M, Jewell UR, Camenisch G, Chilov D, Gassmann M (2002). "Generation and application of chicken egg-yolk antibodies". *Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A*. **131** (3): 569–574. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/S1095-6433(01)00508-6](https://doi.org/10.1016%2FS1095-6433%2801%2900508-6). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [11867282](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11867282).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [American Journal of Clinical Nutrition](http://www.ajcn.org/content/47/6/954.full.pdf+html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Cavallo, P.; Proto, M. C.; Patruno, C.; Del Sorbo, A.; Bifulco, M. (April 2008). ["The first cosmetic treatise of history - A female point of view"](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1468-2494.2007.00414.x). *International Journal of Cosmetic Science*. **30** (2): 79–86. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/j.1468-2494.2007.00414.x](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1468-2494.2007.00414.x). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [18377616](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18377616). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [3758696](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:3758696).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Halldor Thormar (2010-12-28). [*Lipids and Essential Oils as Antimicrobial Agents*](https://books.google.com/books?id=6ZepRgMaa2gC&q=%22egg+yolk+oil%22+skin&pg=PT467). John Wiley & Sons. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780470976678](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780470976678).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["El Tratamiento De Las Enfermedades Infecciosas en Al-Andalus"](http://www.seq.es/seq/0214-3429/17/4/350.pdf) (PDF). *Rev Esp Quimioterap*. **17** (4): 350–356. December 2004.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [US patent 2555731](https://worldwide.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=US2555731), W.B. Cooper, "Oil Produced from Eggs"

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Simopoulos, AP; Salem Jr, N (1992). ["Egg yolk as a source of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in infant feeding"](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fajcn%2F55.2.411). *The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition*. **55** (2): 411–4. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/ajcn/55.2.411](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fajcn%2F55.2.411). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [1734678](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1734678).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [US patent 4670285](https://worldwide.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=US4670285)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** M. P. Sinha (2010-09-01). [*Csir-Ugc Net/jrf/slet General Sciences \[paper-I (part-A)*](https://books.google.com/books?id=JWvNlq78MucC&q=%22egg+yolk+oil%22+skin&pg=PA314). Upkar Prakashan. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9788174829023](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9788174829023).

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Egg oil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egg_oil) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egg_oil?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.