Sunflower

SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annuus L.), an annual plant of the family Compositae; native to Peru and Mexico; it is cultivated in the USSR, Hungary, India, and China, mainly for its seeds, which contain oil, and in the USSR also for edible seeds. Hungarian seeds are richer in oil than Russian ones, which usually yield 23% oil; the kernels of sunflower seeds, stripped of their husks, contain from 36.6% to 53% oil. At oil mills (factories), 23-30% oil is obtained from the seeds. According to Brautigam, the sunflower contains solantic acid and rubber in its herbaceous part, constituting 0.2% of the weight of the plant parts taken for extraction. The most resinous part is the sunflower's flower head. According to E. Schmidt, sunflower seeds contain heliantheic acid, which is identical to chlorogenic acid isolated from raw coffee. In folk medicine, a sunflower tincture in vodka is used, prepared from all the above-ground parts of the fresh plant together with the flowering heads, but before the formation of seeds. The use of such a tincture (Tinctura Helianthidis) as an anti-malarial agent was recommended by Prof. Filatov, especially in pediatric practice: ¹/₂-1-2 teaspoons 3 times a day, for adults 3-6 small glasses a day. This same tincture is a component of the so-called Vinogradov anti-malarial drops (Kazan). The sunflower is rich in fiber; its fibers and husks have been used as a source for obtaining artificial silk. Sunflower husks and stalks are currently burned and provide potash fertilizer. Sunflower oil (Oleum Helianthidis) is obtained by pressing from sunflower seeds freed from their husks; it is a transparent, light-yellow oil with a faint, peculiar, not unpleasant odor and a delicate taste. It is sparingly soluble in alcohol, easily soluble in ether, chloroform, and carbon disulfide; it belongs to the semi-drying (weakly drying) oils; it consists of olein, linolein, palmitin, and a small amount of arachin. Completely fresh oil contains no free or volatile acids. During storage, sunflower oil oxidizes and turns rancid quite quickly, especially with simultaneous exposure to air and light, and becomes unsuitable for medical purposes. For the constants of sunflower oil, see Fats. Requirements for sunflower oil according to OST No. 81: refraction in a Zeiss butter refractometer 58.0-73.0 at 25°; specific gravity at 15° 0.920-0.930; acid value not more than 2.25; iodine value, according to Hübl, 120-142; saponification value 185-198. Requirements according to the Pharmacopoeia of the USSR: specific gravity at 15° 0.921-0.926; acid value not more than 2.8; iodine value, according to Hübl, 118-138; saponification value 188-198. Sunflower oil is adulterated with mineral, cottonseed, linseed, and less frequently, sesame oils. To detect mineral oil, a test for completeness of saponification is performed according to the Pharmacopoeia VII, or 10-20 drops of sunflower oil and 5-10 cm³ of a 10% alcoholic solution of caustic potash are heated with frequent shaking in a water bath, and upon completion of saponification, the resulting soap solution is diluted with 20-25 cm³ of water; if there was an admixture of mineral oil, a cloudy or even milky-cloudy liquid is obtained. An admixture of linseed oil is indicated by an increased iodine value and refraction. An admixture of cottonseed oil is detected by the Halphen reaction (see Fats). An admixture of sesame oil is detected by the Baudouin reaction (see Fats). Sunflower oil is used in medicine for the preparation of camphor oil, henbane oil, liniment, and Spanish fly ointment. Sunflower oil is also used instead of olive oil for emptying the gallbladder during duodenal probing (see Duodenal probe) and for oil enemas (see Enema). In the USSR, sunflower oil is consumed in large quantities as an edible fat. In industry, sunflower oil serves for the preparation of hydrogenated fat, margarine, soap, and varnishes.