Botanical Name: Ricinus communis Linn.
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Synonyms: Gandharvahasta, Panchangula, Vyaghrapuccha, Aamanda, Vardhamana
Vernacular Name: Commonly known as “Castor” or “Castor Bean Plant.”
Classification: Belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family, classified as a perennial or annual
soft-wooded small tree.
Habitat: Native to the Middle East and northeastern Africa, now widely distributed in
tropical and subtropical regions. It grows in waste farms, rocky hillsides, and edges of
cultivated lands.
Morphology: A fast-growing shrub or small tree, reaching up to 3-5 meters in height. It
has glossy, green to purplish palmate leaves with 5-11 lobes, long petioles, and hollow
stems. The plant produces male flowers with yellow anthers and female flowers in egg
shaped capsules covered with soft spines.
Useful Parts: Roots, leaves, fruits, and seeds (especially for oil extraction).
Chemical Composition: Contains ricinoleic acid, ricinine, lupeol, lipids, arachidic acid,
palmitic acid, and stearic acid. Seeds are highly toxic due to the presence of ricin.
Pharmacological Action: Known for its purgative, anti-inflammatory, analgesic,
antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-ulcer properties. It is also used in treating Vata
disorders, skin diseases, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Formulation: Used in Ayurvedic preparations like Hingu Triguna Taila, Simhanada
Guggulu, Rasnaerandadi Kashaya, Vatari Guggulu, and Gandharvahastadi Taila.
Rasa: Madhura
Guna: Snigdha, Tikshan, Suksham
Virya: Ushna
Vipaka: Madhura