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Medicinal Plant details |
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Information |
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| Sanskrit Name |
Erund, Gandharvahasta, Rubuk, Chitrabija, Triputiphala, Vardhamana (WOA, 1998). |
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| Common name in English |
Castor, Castor oil plant, Palma christi.
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| Botanical Name |
Ricinus communis L. |
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| Parts Used |
Leaves, Seeds. |
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| Human Medicinal Usage |
Root is used for heating, carminative; useful in inflammations, pains, ascites, fevers glands, asthma, eructations, bronchitis, leprosy, diseases of rectum and head. It is purgative, alterative; useful in skin-diseases. Leaves are useful in "Vata" and "Kapha", intestinal worms, strangury, night-blindness, headache; increase biliousness galactagogue. Leaves applied to abdomen are said to promote menstrual discharge, good for burns and used as purgative. The studies on fresh leaf extract in rats shows effect against liver injury induced by carbon tetra chloride. Flowers are Useful in glandular tumours, anal troubles, vaginal pains. In Ayurveda, fruit used as appetiser; useful in pains, tumours, piles, liver and spleen diseases. Seed and oil - cathartic, aphrodisiac; oil-anthelmintic, alterative; useful in heart diseases, some fevers, ascites, inflammations, typhoid, pain in back, lumbago leprosy, elephantiasis, convulsions; increases "Kapha"; causes biliousness. Seeds contain a toxic substance called ricin, which is a powerful poison. It is used as purgative; in liver troubles, body pains, lumbago, boils, piles, ring-worm, paralysis, inflammations, ascites, asthma, rheumatism, dropsy and amenorrhoea in Yunani medicine system. Oil from seed is a non-irritant, mild and safe purgative, seldom griping or causing flatulency. It is administered in all sorts of bowel complaints in children, adults, etc. In constipation it is used as an enema. In cases of foreign bodies causing pain and irritation to the eye, a few drops of oil temporarily relieve the pain. The oil of the seeds is used as a laxative and a vermicide (Shah & Shah, 1972; Scarpa & Antonio, 1982; Hemadri & Rao, 1984; Agrawal et al., 1986; Bisht et al., 1988; Banerjee et al., 1991; Uniyal & Joshi, 1993; Rajasekhar et al., 1997; Muzaffer et al., 1998; Makonnen et al., 1999; Ranjan, 1999).
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| Veterinary Medicinal Usage |
To treat yolk gall abscess a balm is made out of castor oil, copper sulphate, boron, turmeric powder, bark of Calotropis gigantea and lime powder (Vivekanandan, 1998). A spun of cotton lint dipped in castor (Ricinus communis) seed oil is put on the wound (Chauhan, 1996). To ease stomach pain, back of the animal is massaged with castor oil and a heat treatment is given to the animal using copper vessel filled with hot water (Lakshmi, 2000). Local application of salt mixed with castor oil is used for the treatment of tick burrowed into an animal's udder (Patel, 1993). Clean, powdered turmeric mixed with castor oil is applied to the inflamed udder three times a day to treat mastitis (Reddiyapatti, 1995). Ash obtained from burning the sesame plant is mixed with castor oil and fermented rice-water and administered to the animal to expel a dead foetus (Anonymous, 1995). The infecton of fleas is treated woth dry leaves of mahua (Madhuca indica), castor oil, turmeric and avchi-bavchi (Moschosma polystachyum) plant (Chauhan, 1998). Calotropis spp. leaves smeared with castor oil and wrapped around inflamed legs reduce pain (Geervani, 1997).
The rotting horn is cut away with a hack-saw leaving four cm stub. Approximately 100 g of castor oil is applied on exposed cut surface of the horn (Desai, 1994). The curative treatment for mouth lesions includes oral administration of banana fruits mixed together with castor oil and grated coconut (Vivekanandan, 2002). Ash obtained by burning of outer thick cover of the coconut is mixed with castor oil and applied on the scratches on the udder. It helps to heal the scratches quickly (Patel, 1994). To prevent premature delivery in cattle, farmers give approximately one kg of castor oil to the animal in the morning, in three to four split doses, along with other feed (Chamar, 1993). Intestinal parasites are expelled by feeding castor oil, 50-70 ml, to the animal successively for three to four days (Chauhan, 1992). Castor oil, 200-300 ml, is given to cows and camels that are unable to conceive (Rabari, Patel; 1992). Banana fruits are soaked in castor oil overnight, and fed to FMD affected animal (Vivekanandan, 1996, 2000). To treat constipation, castor oil (200 ml) or castor seed powder (made out of 200 g of castor seeds) is mixed with water and given to the animal to drink (Vivekanandan, 1996). Castor seed powder is used for deworming in pigs (Pradhan, 1998).
To treat asphyxia, pour water or castor oil inside one of the nostrils of animals so that any material blocking will be ejected through the other nostril of the animal (Kannappan, 1995). |
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| Agriculture Usage |
Castor is sown as border crop in the field with groundnut as main crop. Castor acts as a trap crop for control of larval pests of the groundnut crop. To control heliothis in crops like wheat, gram, moong (Vigna radiata), adad (Vigna mungo), jav (barley) and paddy, the filtrate of the husk of castor seeds, leaves of tobacco, kadvi kukadvel, kidamari (Aristolochia bracteata) climber and dhatura leaves is applied (Bhagwanbhai, 2002). The predominant use of organic manure using shells of castor pods, leaves of mango and castor, cow dung and other farm litter is incorporated into the soil before sowing of groundnut crop helps increase productivity of the crop (Gupta, 1995). Mixing castor seeds with pulse seeds reduces the attack of storage pests (Rathwa, 1999). Commonly known diseases like ratdo or radiyo, similar to red rot are treated by making a mixture of equal quantities of lime and castor cake and sprinkling it between two rows of the sugar cane crop and covering it with soil (Patel, 1995). Growing castor beans and castor oil around garden and soil helps control shallow tunneling by rabbits, squirrels etc (Gupta, 1995). To attract Spodoptera litura, castor is grown on borders of cotton fields. The adult moths are attracted to lay eggs on the under surface of castor leaves. Castor leaves reduce the chances of infestation by newly hatched larvae (Gajera, 1994).
Castor oil is poured in the water canal while irrigating the plants (Chauhan, 1992). For treatment of Gundariyo (Gummy disease) in lemon one kg of tobacco powder is sprayed on the plant. Within two to three days the plant starts recovering from this disease (Patel, 1997). Farmers apply castor oil in the furrow prior to planting okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) to enhance the luster of its fruits (Patel, 1993). The traditional method for control of termite uses salt, juice of lemon and castor cake added to hot water is poured inside the termite mound (nest) after digging them up to some depth (Gupta, 1993).
About two to three weeks before harvesting, castor oil is mixed in running water supplied to the banana trees. The treatment is supposed to control the bursting of bananas due to excessive heat at harvest time (Gupta, 1993). To improve the size, weight and luster of the fruit, castor cake is applied to banana crop three to four months before harvesting (Bhat , Patel; 1993). A mixture of ash (2-3 Kg) and castor oil (0.7-0.8 Kg) is spread on the seedbed of one `Guntha' (0.01 ha.) area to control damping off of tobacco crop (Kheda, Parmar; 1992).
Mix neem cake and castor cake in equal proportion and apply 25 to 30 g around each sucker after 60 days of planting. During the eighth month, apply 50 g of groundnut cake. This will ensure protection of banana plants from the damage by nematodes (Annonymous, 2000). Occasionally, fruits of banana crack and fail to fill out. Empty castor pods are incorporated in to saline soil as part of reclamation and controlling termites (Reddy, Bharadiya ;1992, Patel , 1994).
Farmers smear castor oil on the seeds of cereals to minimize the infestation of Talkidi in the crop (Sakaria, 1991). To minimize the problem of shedding of flowers and young balls in cotton crop, farmers pour castor oil (approximately 50 ml) near the stem in the soil (Karamiya, 1992). A little quantity of castor oil is added during irrigation in the water channel to reduce aphid population (Desai, 1991). Papers pasted with castor oil or grease are hung at five to six places in the cotton fields to get rid of whiteflies. Then air is blown using a sprayer over the crop. The disturbed adult flies (white fly) come out of the plant and stick to the oily paper (Gupta; 2000-2001). As FYM application alone enhances the incidence of termites, farmers use either mixture of FYM and castor cake or castor cake alone before the sowing of mustard and wheat crop in the soil to control termite population (Dholkiya, 1991).
Farmers pour the castor oil on the lower portion of the pant stem of ber (Ziziphus mauritiana) plantation to control termites (Raval, 1991). People smear the seeds of wheat and many other crops with castor oil for long term preservation (Raval, 1991). Rhinoceros beetle is a major problem in coconut and to get rid of this pest, two kg of castor is ground and placed in a pot filled with one to two litre of country liquor. This pot is then placed in the farm to possibly trap the beetles (Gupta; 2000-2001). To get rid of rhinoceros beetles (Oryctes rhnoceros) in coconut plantations, a mud pot is buried in the soil with its mouth in level with the soil. Three quarters of the pot is filled with water containing 250 g powdered castor cake. The mixture attracts the beetles which fall into the water and drown (Vivekanandan, 1996). If it rains, after the sowing, the top layer of the soil will form a hard crust, which comes in the way of germination. Hence to overcome this problem, farmers sow one castor seed per hill while dibbling cotton seeds.
Castor germinates more or less simultaneously with cotton. The castor seedlings break through the hard soil crust making way for the cotton seedlings to sprout (Kanai, 1995). Cumin seeds are smeared with castor oil before sowing at the rate of two kg oil per 25 kg seed to control wilting (Thakor, 1998; 2000-2001). When storing sesame seeds for a long period of time, a combination of red chilli along with castor seeds is used effectively to ward off any pests in the stored sesame seeds (Rathwa, 1999). To prevent seeds from pest attack during storage, seeds can be coated with castor oil, dried and then stored in earthen vessels. The vessels are covered with lids and sealed with cow dung (Prasad, 1998). Seeds can also be mixed with turmeric (Curcuma longa) powder and castor (Ricinus communis) oil and then dried in the sun (Prakash, 1999). To control white coloured ant like pests in chilly and brinjal, alum and empty castor (Ricinus communis) shells are used (Rathwa, 1999). Castor is useful in silk worm rearing (Pradhan, 1998). Farmers grow castor (Ricinus communis) crop in the field having severe problem of termites (Raval; Patel, 1991). It is a common practice in Andhra Pradesh to grow castor as a border crop in tobacco fields to keep Spodoptera litura under check since the pest prefers castor leaves (Gupta, 1992). Few castor (Ricinus communis) plants are raised on the boundary of chilli fields to attract the thrips and jassids which otherwise cause heavy damage to the chilli crop (Gupta, 1992). Mix castor seeds with pulses to reduce attacks by pests on the pulse grains. Fried and powdered castor seeds mixed with red gram seeds are use to control pests (Gupta, 1998). Castor cake is applied to soil to control the termite infestation (Patel, 1991). |
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| Other Usage |
Castor is used as a lightning conductor. A concoction of dried leaves and water repel soldier ants. The dry hollow stem is used to filter a local brew enguli (crude alcohol) (Aluma et al, 1998). Turkey-red oil from the castor oil tree can be used for dyeing and printing cotton and woollen fabrics (Vivekanandan, 1996). |
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| Synonyms |
Ricinus digitatus Nor. |
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| Family |
Euphorbicaceae |
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| Description |
A tall glabrous annual or perennial shrub or small tree, growing to a height of 3-8 m. Stem: erect, partially hollow, smooth, glaucous, either red or green or with shades of both, nodded; from each node a leaf arises. Leaves: 5-11 lobed; lobes fairly broad, notched at margins, glossy green with prominent veins on the under surface, dark to light green; petioles long stout. Inflorescence: terminal on the main and lateral branches. Fruit: a capsule with three project insides, covered with tough spines, divided into three loculi, each containing one seed. Seeds: varying in colour and mottling, with brittle and polished hard seed coat (WOA, 1998).
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| Common Name in India |
Bheranda (Bengali); Divald, Divaligo, Tirki (Gujarati); Arand, Erand (Hindi); Eranda, Haralu, Vardhaman (Kannada); Erand (Marathi) (WOA, 1998).
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| Habitat |
Grows well in good soil; generally cultivated as non-edible oil crop, also found in forest (WOA, 1998). |
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| Rainfall |
The plants grow in normal rainfall areas.
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| Soil (Physical/Chemical) |
Plant can survive in the soil having pH 5-10 (WOA, 1998).
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| Regional Distribution |
Widely cultivated, also found as an escape in the forest and near habitations throughout in India (WOA, 1998). |
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| Global Distribution |
Probably it is native of Africa; widely cultivated in tropical countries. |
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| Harvest |
Depending upon the variety, the crop matures between 145-280 days after planting. Harvesting is done when capsules turn yellowish. However, all the spikes do not mature at the same time. The central spike on main rach matures first and thereafter the spikes on the side branches start manuring. Therefore, usually two to three pickings may be needed for harvesting the entire crop. The spikes should be dried in the sun for four to five days and then threshed. It is essential to dry the seeds completely before storage.
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| Pests / Diseases |
Seedling Blight (Phytophthora parasitica), Twig Blight (Glomerella cingulata), Alternaria Blight (Alternaria ricini), Pod Rot (Cladosporium oxysporum), Bacterial Leaf Spot (Xanthomonas ricinicola), Rust (Melampsora ricini), Castor Hairy Caterpillar, Castor Semi-Looper, Castor Capsule and Shoot Borer, Jassids, Red-spider Mite are some of the important diseases and pests of the plant. |
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| Chemical composition |
Seed coat contains 1.50-1.62% lipids, higher amounts of phosphatides and non saponifiable matter.
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REFERENCES |
| SR No. |
NAME |
ARTICLE TITLE |
AUTHOR |
PLACE OF PUBLICATION |
VOLUME/ISSUE |
YEAR |
PUBLISHER |
COMMENT |
| 1 |
Ind J Pharmacol. |
Screening of Phyllanthus niruri L. and Ricinus communis L. on alcohol-induced liver cell damage in non-hepatectomized and partially hepatectomized rats. |
Agrawal, SS, Garg, A, Agrawal, S. |
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18(4): 211-214. |
1986. |
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| 2 |
Ind J Pharmacol. |
Further studies on the anti-inflammatory activities of Ricinus communis in albino rats. |
Banerjee, S, Bandhopadhyay, SK, Mukherjee, A, Siksar, S. |
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23(3): 149-152. |
1991. |
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| 3 |
Ancient Science of Life. |
Comparative study of herbal agents used for fumigation in relation to formalin. |
Bisht, LSB, Brindavanam, NB, Kimothi, GP. |
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8(2): 125-132. |
1988. |
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| 4 |
Honey Bee. |
Imparting puberty. |
Patel, KB. |
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3(2): 22. |
1992. |
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| 5 |
Honey Bee. |
Constipation. |
Vivekanandan, P. |
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7(3): 11. |
1996. |
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| 6 |
Honey Bee. |
Ericulture: Non-violent silk. |
GIAN. |
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9(4): 18. |
1998. |
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| 7 |
East African Medical Journal. |
Antifertility activity of Ricinus communis seed in female guinea pigs. |
Makonnen, E, Zerihun, L, Assefa, G, Rostom, AA. |
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76(6) : 335-337. |
1999. |
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| 8 |
J Ethnopharmacol. |
Various uses of the castor oil plant (Ricinus communis L.) - A review. |
Scarpa, Antonio, Antonio, G. |
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5: 117-137. |
1982. |
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| 9 |
Sachitra Ayurved. |
Historical view of the basic principles of the identification of controversial drugs, problems and suggestion |
Uniyal, M.R. and G.C., Joshi, GC. |
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45, (7),: 531-536. |
1993 |
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| 10 |
WOA |
The Wealth of Asia |
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New Delhi |
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1998 |
National Institute of Science Communication, CSIR |
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| 11 |
WOA |
The Wealth of Asia |
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New Delhi |
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1998 |
National Institute of Science Communication, CSIR |
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