Liver and spleen of hosts of Rhipicephalus linnaei exposed to synthetic (afoxolaner) and natural acaricides (esters from castor oil). A comparative clinical-morphological study.

In dogs, Rhipicephalus linnaei transmits pathogens such as Ehrlichia canis, Babesia vogeli, and Hepatozoon canis. The veterinary market has synthetic acaricides to ticks control. Esters derived from castor oil are efficient. However, there is little information about their effects on non-target organisms. This work consisted of a clinical (AST, ALT, and ALP) and histological and histochemical analysis (liver and spleen) of female rabbits exposed to these esters and afoxolaner. The rabbits were divided into three groups: control group (CG) received Bandeirante® rabbit feed; the afoxolaner treatment (TG1) received rabbit feed and two doses of afoxolaner; castor oil esters treatment (TG2) received rabbit feed enriched with esters (1.75 g esters/kg). No alterations were observed in the AST, ALT, and ALP enzymes in exposure to esters TG2. Rabbits from TG1 showed changes in AST. The liver of rabbits exposed to afoxolaner underwent histological and histochemical changes, such as steatosis and vacuolation, as well as poor protein labeling. Polysaccharides were intensely observed in the group exposed to esters. The spleen showed no changes in any of the exposure. Esters from castor oil caused fewer liver changes when incorporated into the feed and fed to rabbits than exposure to afoxolaner.

Castor oil-based waterborne polyurethane/tunicate cellulose nanocrystals nanocomposites for wearable strain sensors.

In this study, tunicate cellulose nanocrystals (TCNCs) were introduced into castor oil-based waterborne polyurethane (WPU) to prepare bio-based nanocomposites through a simple solution blending method. The effect of TCNCs content on the particle size and stability of the composite dispersions, as well as the thermophysical and mechanical properties of the composite films were studied and discussed. The unique structure and properties of TCNCs, such as high crystallinity, large aspect ratio and high modulus, not only greatly improved the storage stability of WPU, but also showed significant reinforcing/toughening effects and excellent compatibility to WPU. By drip-coating silver nanowires (AgNWs) on the surface of the composite films, the flexible strain sensors were fabricated, which showed excellent sensitivity in monitoring human movement.

Preparation of Ricinoleic Acid from Castor Oil:A Review.

Castor oil is a vegetable product extracted from Ricinus communis L (castor seed), which is primarily considered an important commercial value for the manufacturing of soaps, lubricants, coatings, etc. It is rich in hydroxylated fatty acids (ricinoleic acid, 89-92%) and is widely used in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, oleochemical, and agricultural industries. This oil has also been confirmed as a bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, and antiherpetic agents, due to the ricinoleic acid having functional groups, such as -COOH, -OH, and -C=C-. Furthermore, it is converted into various acid derivative compounds with several applications. Therefore, this article reviewed some reaction stages to the preparation of ricinoleic acid from castor oil. Several methods or reaction pathways were employed in the preparation procedure, such as the Twitchell and Colgate-Emery processes, as well as the alkaline catalyzed, transesterification with methyl ricinoleic, and lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis, respectively. Although each of these preparation methods has advantages and disadvantages, the most effective technique was the hydrolysis through the use of the enzyme lipozyme TL IM. Besides being a green method, the conversion rate in the hydrolysis process was 96.2 ± 1.5.

Environmentally friendly ZnO/Castor oil polyurethane composites for the gas-phase adsorption of acetic acid.

HYPOTHESIS: Acetic acid, a common pollutant present in museums and art galleries, can irreversibly damage works of art. Herein, a sustainable and scalable synthesis of zinc oxide-castor oil polyurethane hybrids (ZnO/COPs), to be used as acetic acid removers in the preventive conservation of Cultural Heritage, is reported. EXPERIMENTS: The adsorption capacities of ZnO/COPs were studied in saturated acetic acid atmosphere, at low acetic acid gas concentration, and inside a wooden crate (naturally emitting acetic acid) representative of those used in the storage deposits of museums and art collections. FINDINGS: Upon exposure, acetic acid interacts with the castor oil polyurethane and diffuses to the surface of ZnO particles where is stably fixed as zinc acetate crystals. Zinc acetate domains form homogeneously on the surface and are distributed evenly within the ZnO/COPs, thanks to weak interactions between the polyurethane matrix and acetic acid that favour the transport of the acid up to reach the zinc oxide surfaces, resulting in a synergistic effect. The ZnO/COPs composites showed significantly enhanced adsorption capacities of acetic acid surpassing those of the activated carbon benchmark, with the advantage of being easily handled and movable, without the health issues and risks associated to the use of non-confined micro/nano-powders.

Electrosprayed cashew gum microparticles for the encapsulation of highly sensitive bioactive materials.

This study focuses on the production and characterization of electrosprayed cashew gum (CG) microparticles that encapsulate ß-carotene. CG is an inexpensive, non-toxic polysaccharide obtained from Anacardium occidentale trees. Encapsulation of ß-carotene in CG was performed by electrospraying from two emulsion formulations (water : oil ratios 80:20 and 90:10 (v/v)) in which the dispersed phase consisted of ß-carotene dissolved in castor oil, and the continuous phase was a CG aqueous solution. Spherical particles with smooth surface and medium size between 3 and 6 µm were obtained. The particles produced from the 90:10 (v/v) emulsion showed a loading capacity of 0.075 ± 0.006 % and a minor amount of extractable ß-carotene, 10.75 ± 2.42 %. ATR-FTIR confirmed the absence of interaction between the particles' components. CG demonstrated to offer thermoprotection, and photoprotection for short periods of time. These results make CG a viable candidate to encapsulate bioactive compounds via electrospraying for agricultural, food and pharmaceutical applications.

Polyurethane derived from castor oil monoacylglyceride (Ricinus communis) for bone defects reconstruction: characterization and in vivo testing.

Biomaterials used in tissue regeneration processes represent a promising option for the versatility of its physical and chemical characteristics, allowing for assisting or speeding up the repair process stages. This research has characterized a polyurethane produced from castor oil monoacylglyceride (Ricinus communis L) and tested its effect on reconstructing bone defects in rat calvaria, comparing it with commercial castor oil polyurethane. The characterizations of the synthesized polyurethane have been performed by spectroscopy in the infrared region with Fourier transform (FTIR); thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTG); X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). For the in vivo test, 24 animals have been used, divided into 3 groups: untreated group (UG); control group treated with Poliquil® castor polyurethane (PCP) and another group treated with castor polyurethane from the Federal University of Piauí - UFPI (CPU). Sixteen weeks after surgery, samples of the defects were collected for histological and histomorphometric analysis. FTIR analysis has shown the formation of monoacylglyceride and polyurethane. TG and DTG have indicated thermal stability of around 125 °C. XRD has determined the semi-crystallinity of the material. The polyurethane SEM has shown a smooth morphology with areas of recesses. Histological and histomorphometric analyzes have indicated that neither CPU nor PCP induced a significant inflammatory process, and CPU has shown, statistically, better performance in bone formation. The data obtained shows that CPU can be used in the future for bone reconstruction in the medical field.

Highly Active, Entirely Biobased Antimicrobial Pickering Emulsions.

We present the development of surfactant-free, silica-free and fully biobased oil-in-water antimicrobial Pickering emulsions, based on the self-assembly of ß-cyclodextrin and phytoantimicrobial oils (terpinen-4-ol or carvacrol). Undecylenic acid (UA), derived from castor oil, can be used as bio-based drug to treat fungal infection, but is less effective than petroleum-based drugs as azole derivatives. To maximize its antifungal potential, we have incorporated UA in fully biobased Pickering emulsions. These emulsions are effective against fungi, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The carvacrol emulsion charged with UA is +390 % and +165 % more potent against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), compared to UA and azole-based commercial formulations. Moreover, this emulsion is up to +480 % more efficient that UA ointment against C. albicans. Finally, remarkable eradication of E. coli and MRSA biofilms was obtained with this environmental-friendly emulsion.

Electrospun lignin-PVP nanofibers and their ability for structuring oil.

This work explores the electrospinnability of low-sulfonate Kraft lignin (LSL)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) solutions in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and the ability of the different micro- and nano-architectures generated to structure castor oil. LSL/PVP solutions were prepared at different concentrations (8-15 wt%) and LSL:PVP ratios (90:10-0:100) and physico-chemically and rheologically characterized. The morphology of electrospun nanostructures mainly depends on the rheological properties of the solution. Electrosprayed nanoparticles or micro-sized particles connected by thin filaments were obtained from solutions with low LSL/PVP concentrations and/or high LSL:PVP ratios, whereas beaded or bead-free nanofibers were produced by increasing concentration and/or decreasing LSL:PVP ratio, due to enhanced extensional viscoelastic properties and non-Newtonian characteristics. Electrospun LSL/PVP nanofibers are able to form oleogels by simply dispersing them into castor oil at concentrations between 10 and 30 wt%. The rheological properties of the oleogels may be tailored by modifying the LSL:PVP ratio and nanofibers content. The potential application of these oleogels as bio-based lubricants was also explored in a tribological cell. Satisfactory friction and wear results are achieved when using oleogels structured by nanofibers mats with enhanced gel-like properties as lubricants. Overall, electrospinning of lignin/PVP solutions can be proposed as a simple and effective method to produce nanofibers for oil structuring.

Anaphylaxis Induced by Intravenous Tacrolimus Administration During Kidney Transplant Surgery: A Case Report.

A 35-year-old male patient with end-stage renal disease due to vesicoureteral reflux preemptively received a renal graft from his father. The patient had a history of allergy to contrast-enhancing media. He received oral tacrolimus (TAC) and mycophenolate mofetil without any problems for 2 days before kidney transplantation. During the induction period of the surgery, his systolic blood pressure (sBP) decreased to 60 mmHg approximately 1 hour after initiating intravenous tacrolimus (TAC-IV) and intravenous piperacillin (PIPC), and the anesthesiologist suspected drug-induced anaphylaxis and stopped administration of the medications. Because TAC had been administered preoperatively without any adverse events, PIPC was suspected as the causative agent of the anaphylaxis. After the patient's hemodynamics returned to baseline, TAC-IV was restarted. However, his sBP rapidly decreased to 40 mmHg and the patient developed wheezing. He was diagnosed with drug-induced anaphylaxis due to castor oil derivatives in the TAC-IV formulation. The patient's sBP was restored with the administration of some vasopressors, and kidney transplantation was then performed without difficulty. Two days after kidney transplantation, oral TAC was administered without anaphylaxis. Clinicians should consider that not only the drug itself but also its additives or metabolites could induce anaphylaxis.

Semi-interpenetrating polymer networks prepared from castor oil-based waterborne polyurethanes and carboxymethyl chitosan.

A series of vegetable oil-based waterborne polyurethane composites were prepared through construction of novel semi-interpenetrating polymers network using carboxymethyl chitosan (CA) as the secondary polymer phase. The effects of CA contents on storage stability, and particle size distribution of the composite dispersions and thermal stability, mechanical properties and surface wettability of composite films were investigated and discussed. The results showed that the composite dispersions displayed excellent storage stability and the biomass contents of resulting films were high up to 80 %. A significant increase in crosslinking density and glass transition temperature of the composite films were observed as the CA contents increased, which was attributed to the increasing hard segment of films and strong hydrogen bonding interaction between polyurethanes and CA. This work provided a simple method to tailor the performance of environmentally friendly vegetable oil-based waterborne polyurethane, which could find application in the field of coatings, adhesives, ink and so on.

Starch and castor oil mutually modified, cross-linked polyurethane for improving the controlled release of urea.

Due to the poor controlled release ability, bio-based materials are difficult for large scale application on controlled release fertilizers (CRFs). Starch-based polyol (SP) and castor oil (CO) were mutually modified, and a cross-linked polymer film was formed on the surface of urea by in-situ reaction, which improved the slow release ability of the bio-based material. The results showed that increasing the CO ratio reduced porosity of coating and prolonged the nitrogen (N) release period, while the SP changed the high-temperature wrinkle characteristics and regulated the early N release rate. The mutual modification achieved an ultra-long release period of bio-based CRUs for 7 months. The degradation rate during nine months of bio-based coatings (5.05 %) was significantly higher than that of petroleum-based (3.74 %), and the coating was non-toxic to rice seeds. Mutual modification provided a safe and effective solution for the preparation of bio-based CRFs with long-term controlled release capability.

Differential responses of thiol metabolism and genes involved in arsenic detoxification in tolerant and sensitive genotypes of bioenergy crop Ricinus communis.

Castor, a non-food, dedicated bioenergy crop, has immense potential to be used for phytoremediation/revegetation of heavy metal contaminated sites. In the previous study, we identified arsenate [As(V)]-tolerant (WM) and As(V)-sensitive (GCH 2) genotypes of castor (Ricinus communis L.) with differential accumulation and tolerance of arsenic [As]. The role of thiols in As(V) toxicity and tolerance mechanism in the castor plant is not fully understood. On the one hand, thiol-dependent reduction of As(V) to As(III) by arsenate reductase (AR) makes it capable of reacting with thiol groups of protein leading to disturbed metabolic pathways; on the other hand, reduction of As(V) to arsenite [As(III)] by AR and then complexation of As(III) with phytochelatins (PCs) and compartmentalization of As(III)-PC complex are considered as the major detoxification mechanisms of As(V). In our study, the expression of RcAR increased in leaves and roots of As(V)-tolerant castor genotype WM but decreased in sensitive genotype GCH 2 due to 200 µM As(V) treatment. The activity of glutathione reductase (GR) increased significantly in the tolerant genotype, whereas it remained same in the sensitive genotype. GSH/GSSH ratio declined substantially in the sensitive genotype. The increased expression of phytochelatin synthase 1 isoform 1 (RcPCS1X1) in roots, RcPCS1X2 and metallothionein type 2 (RcMT2) in leaves, and c-type ABC transporter (RcABCC) in roots and leaves of WM was observed, but the expression of these genes declined or remained the same in GCH 2. Overall, our results suggest the essential roles of GR, RcAR, RcPCS1, RcMT2, and RcABCC in the tolerance of WM castor genotype to As(V) toxicity.

Development and Characterization of A New Dimethicone Nanoemulsion and its Application for Electronic Gastroscopy Examination.

PURPOSE: Although the effective and safe medical defoamers, dimethicone (DM) and simethicone (SM) are widely used in electronic gastroscope examination (EGE), their preparations are presented in the form of suspensions or emulsions, these are untransparent or milk-like in appearance and can easily cause misdiagnosis as a result of an unclear field of vision if the doctor does not master the amount of defoamer or operates incorrectly. At the same time, it is also difficult to wash out the camera and pipeline, due to the large oil droplets of preparations. The purpose of this study was to develop a new clear and transparent oil in water (O/W) DM nanoemulsions (DMNs) and observe the effect of application in EGE. METHODS: The oil phase was chosen for its antifoaming activity and viscosity. The emulsifier and co-emulsifier were selected according to the solubility of the oil phase in them. The water titration method was used to make the pseudoternary phase diagrams of nanoemulsions and optimize the prescription composition. DM-in-water nanoemulsion was prepared by the low energy method and evaluated for appearance, antifoaming ability, droplet size, and stability. The effect of DMNs utilized in EGEs was also observed. RESULTS: The optimal formulation of DMNs contained CRH-40 as an emulsifier, PEG-400 as a co-emulsifier, DM as oil phase with the viscosity of 10 mPa.s, and their proportion was 4.5:4.5:1, respectively. DMNs obtained the average particle size of 67.98 nm with the polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.332, and 57.14% defoaming rate. The result of using an EGE showed that DMNs were superior in comparison to the emulsions with regard to the defoaming effect, visual clarity, and easy cleanup. CONCLUSION: DMNs were found to provide excellent visual clarity to its other preparations. The novel DMNs is a promising substitute for DM emulsions or suspensions in EGEs.

Eco-Friendly Castor Oil-Based Delivery System with Sustained Pesticide Release and Enhanced Retention.

The deposition of pesticides and their retention on plant surfaces are critical challenges for modern precision agriculture, which directly affect phytosanitary treatment, bioavailability, efficacy, and the loss of pesticides. Herein, a novel and eco-friendly waterborne polyurethane delivery system was developed to enhance the spray deposition and pesticide retention on plant surfaces. More specifically, biobased cationic and anionic waterborne polyurethane dispersions were synthesized from castor oil. Both cationic and anionic polyurethane dispersions exhibited remarkable microstructural, amphiphilic, and nanoparticle morphologies with a core-shell structure that served to encapsulate a biopesticide (azadirachtin) in their hydrophobic cores (WPU-ACT). The results indicated that the cationic WPU-ACT carriers exhibited a better sustained release behavior and a better protective effect from light and heat for azadirachtin. In addition, the simultaneous spray of anionic and cationic WPU-ACT significantly enhanced the spray deposition and prolonged the retention of pesticides due to the reduced surface tension and surface precipitation induced by the electrostatic interaction when two droplets with opposite charges come into contact with each other. A field efficacy assessment also indicated that the simultaneous spray of anionic and cationic WPU-ACT could control the infestation of brown planthopper in rice crops. Castor oil-based waterborne polyurethanes in this study work as an efficient pesticide delivery system by exhibiting enhanced deposition, rainfastness, retention ability, protection, and sustained release behavior, holding great promise for spraying pesticide formulations in modern and environmentally friendly agricultural applications.

Bio-based electrospun mats composed of aligned and nonaligned fibers from cellulose nanocrystals, castor oil, and recycled PET.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), castor oil (CO), and recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (rPET), were used to add value to renewable raw materials and to a recycled polymer produced worldwide, producing mats composed of fibers on the nano- and submicrometric (ultrathin) scales through a sustainable process. Bio-based electrospun mats composed of aligned (rotary collector) and nonaligned (static collector) nanofibers/ultrathin fibers were produced from the electrospinning of solutions prepared from rPET (mixed with CO, CNCs, or CNCs/CO). The contact angle results showed that the CNC mat surfaces composed of nonaligned fibers were hydrophilic, and in contrast, these surfaces were hydrophobic when composed of aligned fibers. Among the mats composed of nonaligned fibers, PET/CO/CNC exhibited storage and Young's moduli approximately eleven and ten times, respectively, better than those of neat rPET. The PET/CO/CNC mat showed both modulus and tensile strength values higher than those of PET/CNC, when characterized in the preferential direction of fiber alignment. Electrospun mats were obtained from environmentally sound raw materials with diversified properties, which were modulated by the type of collector used, as well as whether CO and CNC were mixed with rPET, and have the potential for use in applications such as membrane separation processes and biomedical applications.

Acetone Prospect as an Additive to Allow the Use of Castor and Sunflower Oils as Drop-In Biofuels in Diesel/Acetone/Vegetable Oil Triple Blends for Application in Diesel Engines.

The present paper investigates the feasibility of using acetone (ACE) in triple blends with fossil diesel (D) and straight vegetable oils (SVOs) as alternative fuel for diesel engines. In this respect, ACE is selected as an oxygenated additivedue to its favorable propertiesto be mixed with vegetable oils and fossil diesel. In fact, the very low kinematic viscosity allows reduces the high viscosity of SVOs. ACE's oxygen content, low autoignition temperature, and very low cloud point and pour point values highlight its possibilities as an additive in D/ACE/SVO triple blends. Moreover, ACE can be produced through a renewable biotechnological process, an acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation from cellulosic biomass. The SVOs tested were castor oil (CO), which is not suitable for human consumption, and sunflower oil (SO), used as a standard reference for waste cooking oil. The viscosity measurement of the ACE/SVO double blend was considered crucial to choose the optimum proportion, which better fulfilled the specifications established by European standard EN 590. Moreover, some of the most significant physicochemical properties of D/ACE/SVO triple blends, such as kinematic viscosity, cloud point, pour point, and calorific value, were determined to assess their suitability as fuels. The blends were evaluated in a conventional diesel generator through the study of the following parameters: engine power, smoke emissions, and fuel consumption. Despite the low calorific value of ACE limits its ratio in the mixtures due to engine knocking problems, the experimental results reveal an excellent performance for the blends containing up to 16-18% of ACE and 22-24% of SVO. These blends produce similar engine power as to fossil diesel, but with slightly higher fuel consumption. Considerable reductions in emissions of air pollutants, as well as excellent cold flow properties are also obtained with these triple blends. In summary, the use of these biofuels could achieve a substitution of fossil diesel up to 40%, independently on the SVO employed.

Enzymatic Synthesis of Ricinoleyl Hydroxamic Acid Based on Commercial Castor Oil, Cytotoxicity Properties and Application as a New Anticancer Agent.

BACKGROUND: New anticancer agents that rely on natural/healthy, not synthetic/toxic, components are very much needed. METHODS: Ricinoleyl hydroxamic acid (RHA) was synthesized from castor oil and hydroxylamine using Lipozyme TL IM as a catalyst. To optimize the conversion, the effects of the following parameters were investigated: type of organic solvent, period of reaction, amount of enzyme, the molar ratio of reactants and temperature. The highest conversion was obtained when the reaction was carried out under the following conditions: hexane as a solvent; reaction period of 48 hours; 120 mg of Lipozyme TL IM/3 mmol oil; HA-oil ratio of 19 mmol HA/3 mmol oil; and temperature of 40°C. The cytotoxicity of the synthesized RHA was assessed using human dermal fibroblasts (HDF), and its application towards fighting cancer was assessed using melanoma and glioblastoma cancer cells over a duration of 24 and 48 hours. RESULTS: RHA was successfully synthesized  and it demonstrated strong anticancer activity against glioblastoma and melanoma cells at as low as a 1 µg/mL concentration while it did not demonstrate any toxicity against HDF cells. CONCLUSION: This is the first report on the synthesis of RHA with great potential to be used as a new anticancer agent.

Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of (R)- and (S)-ricinoleic acid derivatives.

(R)-ricinoleic acid is the main component of castor oil from Ricinus communis L. Due to the presence of the hydroxyl group in homoallylic position and asymmetrically substituted carbon atom, it may undergo a number of chemical and biochemical transformations resulting in the products with some specific bioactivities. Conversion of (R)-ricinoleic acid into its (S)-enantiomer enables synthesis of both (R)- and (S)-ricinoleic acid derivatives and comparison of their biological activities. In the present research, (R)- and (S)-ricinoleic acid amides synthesized from methyl ricinoleates and ethanolamine or pyrrolidine as well as acetate derivatives of ethanolamine amides were studied to demonstrate their biological activities using HT29 cancer cells. Double staining of cells with fluorochromes (Hoechst 33258/propidium iodide) as well as 2,'7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCF) and comet assays were performed. Both the tested amides and acetates caused DNA damage and induced apoptotic and necrotic cell death. In the case of (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of one of the tested acetates, significant difference in the ability to induce DNA damage was observed, which showed the impact of the stereogenic center on the activities of these compounds.

Epoxy Coatings Based on Modified Vegetable Oils for Wood Surface Protection against Fungal Degradation.

The study describes the curing and thermal behavior of a new castor oil maleic anhydride adduct/epoxy oils/5-Bromosalicylic acid coatings and their composites with wood. The epoxidized oils were flax and hemp. The kinetic parameters of the curing and thermal degradation processes were calculated. The resistance of the coated wood surfaces against Cladosporium cladosporioides, Aspergillus brasiliensis, and Penicillium chrysogenum was tested. Color changes, FT-IR and SEM were conducted before and after fungal attack. The decay resistance and color change of raw wood and wood treated samples against fungi was tested. Based on the color changes and according to ASTM D 2017, the decay resistance rating for covered samples was considered as "highly resistant". Chemical resistance and coating performance tests were also undertaken. The obtained results recommend the described materials for applications in wood protective coatings.

Characterization of a PLDζ2 Homology Gene from Developing Castor Bean Endosperm.

Castor oil contains approximately 90% ricinoleic acid (RA) which is stored mainly in the form of tri-ricinoleic acid containing triacylglycerols (TAG). Ricinoleate is synthesized from oleate (18:1n-9) esterified to the sn-2 position of phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) catalyzed by oleoyl-12-hydroxylase. PtdCho-derived diacylglycerol (DAG) is an important substrate pool for TAG synthesis, and the interconversion between PtdCho and DAG has been shown to play a critical role in channeling hydroxy fatty acids (HFA) to TAG. Although phospholipase D (PLD) has been reported to catalyze the hydrolysis of PtdCho to produce phosphatidic acid which can then be converted to DAG, its potential functions in the channeling of RA from PtdCho to DAG and the assembly of RA on TAG is largely unknown. In the present study, 11 PLD genes were identified from the Castor Bean Genome Database. Gene expression analysis indicated that RcPLD9 is expressed at relatively high levels in developing seeds compared to other plant tissues. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses revealed that RcPLD9 is a homolog of Arabidopsis PLDζ2. Overexpression of RcPLD9 in the Arabidopsis CL7 line producing C18-HFA resulted in RA content reductions in the polar lipid fraction (mainly PtdCho) and mono-HFA-TAG, but increased RA content in di-HFA-TAG. Since part of RA in di-HFA-TAG is derived from HFA-DAG, the results indicated that RcPLD9 facilitates the channeling of RA from PtdCho to DAG for its assembly on TAG in developing seeds.