Wool fat Topic presentation from Lipids(Waxes, fats and fixed oils), chapter from the subject PHARMACOGNOSY AND PHYTOCHEMISTRY 1 of semester 3. Thanks for viewing.

1. Wool Fat
By,
Jahanvi P. Tankaria
B.Pharma. Sem 3
Akshar Preet Institute of pharmacy

2. Synonyms:
• Lanolin, Adeps Lanea, Anhydrous Lanolin, Hydrous wool fat.
• Hydrous wool fat is the purified fat.
• It is obtained from the wool of the sheep Ovis aries Linn, family :
Bovidae.
• It is the secretion of sebaceous gland of sheep deposited on to
the wool fibres.
Biological source:

3. Geographical source:
• Commercially lanolin is manufactured in Australia, USA
and very less extent in India.
• Raw wool contains 31 % wool fibers, suinnt or wool
sweat(chemically potassium salts of fatty acids), 32%
earthy matter and 25% wool grease or crude lanolin.
• Crude lanolin is separated by washing with sulphuric acid
or suitable organic solvent or soap solution.
• It is further purified or bleached.
• The product is known as anhydrous lanolin or wool fat.
• The hydrous wool fat is produced by mixing wool fat with
30% water.
Method of preparation:

4. Description:
• Color : Whitish-yellow
• Odour : Faint and characteristic
• Taste : Bland
• Found in the form of ointment like mass and on
heating in water bath, it separates into two layers.
• Partially insoluble in water
• Soluble in chloroform & solvent ether with
separation of water.
Extra features:
Solubility:

5. Standards:
• Melting point : 34-44°c
• Acid value : not more than 1
• Iodine value : 18-36
• Saponification value : 90-105
• Dissolve 0.5g wool fat in chloroform + 1ml acetic anhydride +
few drops of sulphuric acid
produced deep green colour
indicates presence of cholesterol.
Identification test:

6. • Complex mixture of esters & polyesters of 33 high mol.
wt. alcohols and 36 fatty acids.
• Hydrous wool fat contains mainly esters of cholesterol
& isocholesterol with caranubic, oleic, myristic,
palmitic, lanoceric, and lanopalmitic acids.
• It also contains 50% water.
Chemical constituents:

7. Uses:
• As water absorbable ointment base.
• As common ingredient and base for water
soluble creams and cosmetics.
• Can be allergic also.

8. Adulteration:
• It is adulterated with soft paraffin wax or with
animal and vegetable oils and fats.
• If adulterated with vegetable and animal fats and
oils, the saponification value is increased to
higher range.
• Glycerol if present, is detected by shaking wool
fat with hot water and evaporating the aqueous
solution.