Iranian Researchers Produce Wool Fat from Effluent of Washing Factories
“Lanolin or wool fat is a wax secreted by sheep's sebaceous glands. This material protects the sheep from weather hazards. Lanolin and its derivatives are used as water and oil emulsifiers, softeners, moisturizers, stabilizers and plasticizers in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and health, military weapons, food, oil, paint, construction, leather, etc. industries,” Kianoush Namayan, the managing director of the knowledge-based company, told ANA.
He explained that lanolin is the only source of cholesterol production and D3 precursor.
“Lanolin is also used in skin ointments as a repair agent, in suppositories as a drug carrier, in sutures as an agent in the wound healing process, in dressings, burn ointments and wound sprays and in surgical adhesive tapes as a plasticizer agent and it is an agent that accelerates the wound healing process. It has applications as emulsifier, stabilizer, softener and acceleration agent in the wound healing process,” Namayan said.
Lanolin, also called wool fat, is a wax secreted by the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals. Lanolin used by humans comes from domestic sheep breeds that are raised specifically for their wool. Historically, many pharmacopoeias have referred to lanolin as wool fat (adeps lanae); however, as lanolin lacks glycerides (glycerol esters), it is not a true fat. Lanolin primarily consists of sterol esters instead.
Lanolin's waterproofing property aids sheep in shedding water from their coats. Certain breeds of sheep produce large amounts of lanolin.
Lanolin's role in nature is to protect wool and skin from climate and the environment; it also plays a role in skin (integumental) hygiene. Lanolin and its derivatives are used in the protection, treatment, and beautification of human skin.
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