HERBAL MONOGRAPHS CASTOR OIL PLANT /^159Flower and Fruit: The inflorescences are terminal and
almost panicled and 15 to 50 cm long. The pedicled female
flowers are in the upper section and the male flowers are
clustered in the lower section of the inflorescence. The male
ones have a 3 to 5 part perianth with numerous, heavily
w* branched stamens which bear up to 1,000 separate bursting
anthers. The female perianth is divided in 5. The ovary is
trilocular. The style has 3 red, doubly split stigma branches.
Habitat: The plant is cultivated widely today in the tropics
and subtropics and in temperate latitudes where maize
thrives.Not to be Confused With: May be confused with the
poisonous seeds of other Euphorbiaceae.
Other Names: Castor Bean, Mexico Seed, Castor Oil Plant,
Castor Oil Bush, Palma Christi
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
CASTOR OIL SEEDS
Fatty oil (42 to 55%, see below for constituents)Proteic substances (20 to 25%)
Lectins (0.1 to 0.7%): including ricin D (RCA-60, severely
toxic), RCA-120 (less toxic)Pyrridine alkaloids: ricinine (up to 0.3%)
Triglycerides: chief fatty acids ricinoleic acid (12-hydroxy-
oleic acid, 85 to 90%)
Tocopherols (vitamin E)
EFFECTS
The laxative principle of Castor Oil is the ricinolic acid.
Ricinolic acid is anti-absorptive and secretogogic. In animalexperiments, stimulation of PgE2 synthesis in the small
intestine was proven. The possible reason for effectiveness
of ricini semen is the antimicrobial activity of the seeds
(ricin is highly toxic).
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: Castor Oil is used internally in folk
medicine for acute constipation, intestinal inflammation, for
removal of worms, and as a form of birth control. The oil is
used externally for inflammatory skin disorders, furuncles,
carbuncles, abscesses, inflammation of the middle ear and
headaches (poultice.)
Chinese Medicine: In China, Castor Oil is used to treat sore
throat, facial paralysis, dry stool, furuncles, ulcers and
festering inflammation of the skin.
Indian Medicine: In India, the drug is used for dyspeptic
complaints and joint pains.
Homeopathic Uses: Ricinus communis is used to treat
diarrhea.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Castor Oil is contraindicated in intestinal obstruction, acute
inflammatory intestinal diseases, appendicitis, abdominal
pain of unknown origin, during pregnancy and while
nursing. The drug is not to be administered to children under
12 years of age.
PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
General: No health hazards or side effects are known in
conjunction with the proper administration of designated
therapeutic dosages of Castor Oil. Allergic skin rashes have
been observed in rare cases.
Pregnancy: Not to be used during pregnancy.
OVERDOSAGE
Overdosage can lead to gastric irritation with nausea,
vomiting, colic and severe diarrhea. Long-term use leads to
loss of electrolytes, especially potassium ions. This effect
may lead to hyperaldosteronism, inhibition of intestinal
motility and enhancement of the effect of cardioactive
steroids.Castor beans are severely poisonous due to the toxic lectin
content. The ricinus lectins disturb the function of ribosomes
and thereby prevent protein synthesis. 12 castor beans are
believed to be fatal for an adult. Symptoms include severe
gastroenteritis with bloody vomiting and bloodyv diarrhea,
kidney inflammation, loss of fluid and electrolytes and
ultimately circulatory collapse. Death is usually the result of
hypovolemic shock.Following gastrointestinal emptying (inducement of vomit-
ing, gastric lavage with burgundy-colored potassium per-
manganate solution, sodium sulfate) and installation ofThe fruit capsule is soft prickly or smooth and grooved, 1 to
2.5 cm in diameter. The capsule bursts open when ripe
flinging out the large brightly speckled seeds.
Leaves, Stem and Root: Ricinus communis is an annual plant
in Central Europe, a bi- or -triennial shrub in Southern
Europe and a perennial tree in the tropics. There is a taproot
and lateral roots near the surface. The stem is erect and
hollow. As it grows older, the stem becomes green or
brownish-red. The leaves are petioled, greenish or reddish,
often frosted blue, and arranged in a spiral. The leaf blade is
peltate, 10 to 60 cm long and wide. The blade is usually
divided into palmate, ovate-oblong or lanceolate lobes. The
ribs are palmate and the margins are irregularly serrate.Production: Castor Oil is fatty oil obtained from the seeds of
Ricinus communis. It is obtained by mechanical harvesting
followed by sorting. Fruits that open by bursting when ripen,
must be harvested before ripening and then threshed.