Recommendations / 22/02/2019

Is argemone oil harmful?

The toxicity of argemone oil has been attributed to two of its physiologically active benzophenanthridine alkaloids, sanguinarine and dihydrosanguinarine. Histopathological studies suggest that liver, lungs, kidney, and heart are the target sites for argemone oil intoxication.

Which harmful adulterant is often mixed with mustard oil?

Similarly, Argemone oil which is mixed with mustard oil is another most common toxic found during raids. “The consumption of oil mixed with argemone leads to dropsy (sudden inflammatory swelling of legs), often accompanied with diarrhoea, dyspnea, cardiac failure and even death.

Which oil can contaminate mustard oil and cause health hazards?

Consumption of adulterated mustard oil (Brassica nigra) with argemone oil (Argemone mexicana) even for a short duration leads to a clinical condition referred as epidemic dropsy.

Which disease is caused by mustard oil?

Epidemic dropsy is caused by consumption of mustard oil contaminated with argemone oil. It usually occurs in outbreaks with acute manifestation of bilateral pitting edema, erythema, and local tenderness along with cardiac and respiratory problems in severe cases leading to death.

What is the use of argemone oil?

Argemone mexicana (Argemone Seed) The oil may, however, be used for nonedible purposes, such as a solvent for pesticide preparations, biodiesel, soap manufacture, etc. The seeds of A. mexicana contain 35%–40% of orange-yellow oil which consists mainly of linoleic acid (54%–61%) and oleic acid (21%–33%) (Bosch, 2007).

What is argemone oil?

Argemone oil is extracted from argemone seeds. It is mixed with sunflower oil and sesame oil to increase their quantity. Consumption of this oil leads to health disorders among children. To avoid this, we must check the contents of the cooking oil. Many oil brands mention no argemone oil’ on their packs.

How is mustard oil adulterated?

In the case of adulterated mustard oil, an orange-yellow to red colour is developed in the acidic layer. “Sanguinarine is a toxic polycyclic salt present in Argemone oil. The reaction is very sensitive and the intensity of colour formed is due to the formation of sanguinarine nitrate,” mentions the video.

What is an example of an adulterant?

Some of the common adulterated foods are milk and milk products, atta, edible oils, cereals, condiments (whole and ground), pulses, coffee, tea, confectionary, baking powder, non – alcoholic beverages, vinegar, besan and curry powder.

What is Argemone oil?

Argemone oil is extracted from argemone seeds. It is mixed with sunflower oil and sesame oil to increase their quantity. Consumption of this oil leads to health disorders among children.

What happens if you mix mustard seeds with argemone oil?

Its seeds resemble mustard seeds in appearance. These seeds are mixed with mustard seeds during extraction of mustard oil. Health hazards: Argemone oil is very toxic and may cause eye disease leading to blindness. Regular consumption of it may also cause disease called epidemic dropsy, resembling wet beriberi.

What kind of seeds are used to make Argemone?

Argemone seeds are obtained from Argemone Mexican-the yellow flowered poppy plant. Its seeds resemÂble mustard seeds in appearance. These seeds are mixed with mustard seeds during extraction of mustard oil. Argemone oil is very toxic and may cause eye disease leading to blindness.

What kind of diseases can argemone oil cause?

Argemone oil is very toxic and may cause eye disease leading to blindness. Regular consumption of it may also cause disease called epidemic dropsy, resembling wet beriberi. In this disease watery fluid is collected in the tissues of the body causing swelling (edema).

Is the oil of Argemone mexicana seeds toxic?

The oil of Argemone mexicana seeds is pale yellow in colour and is almost tasteless. It has a specific gravity of 0.920 and remains clear at -8ºC. It contains toxic alkaloids namely Sanguinarine and Dihydro-sangunarine.