Croton Oil

**Semantic type:** Hazardous or Poisonous Substance

**Definition:** A yellow to brown colored, thick, foul smelling, very toxic oil obtained from the seeds of a tropical plant, Croton Tiglium. Croton oil was used as a drastic purgative agent, but is now mostly used as a standard irritant in pharmacological research. Exposure to this substance causes severe skin irritation and affects the small intestine leading to severe diarrhea. Croton oil is a possible human carcinogen. (NCI05)

**Synonyms:** - CROTON OIL