Obtained from

Ricinus communis
Euphorbiaceae
Indigenous to
India
Collected from wild
(large seeds) as
well as from
cultivated sources
(small seeds )
 Cultivation
 Cultivated for production of medicinal oil
 Soil is deeply & well tilled

 Seeds sown after soaking in water by dibbling

method , about 3-4 seeds in a hole , 15cm
apart
 Plants are thinned out leaving the strongest
ones & spaced about 1.5-2mts apart
 Plants start bearing the fruits when they are
about 6 months old
 Number of spikes of flowers on each plant is
increased by nipping back the main stem
 Collection
 Fruits are collected when they begin
to turn to brown
 They were exposed to sun on
concrete floors surrounded by
boarding to a ht of 1 or 2 mts to
prevent loss of seeds due to violent
bursting of capsules
 Husk is removed by winnowing
 Description
 Testa hard , glossy , smooth
 Within the testa papery remains of
nucellus present as a colourless membrane
surrounding the kernel
 Kernel consists of abundant oily
endosperm
 In the endosperm colourless leafy
cotyledons of embryo are present
 Caruncle is present at one end
 Radicle pierces the layer of endosperm &
points towards micropyle immediately
below caruncle
 Raphe runs from Caruncle & terminates in
a slightly raised chalaza at the opposite
end
 Description
 Shape oval , slightly flattened
 Colour grey / brown / black /
mottled
 Slight odour
 Taste acrid
 Microscopy

 Testa
 Nucellus
 Endosprem
 Cotyledons
 Constituents
 Fixed oil 50%
Glycosides of ricinolieic acid
iso ricinolieic acid
stearic acid &
dihydroxy stearic acid
 Proteins 26%
 Cake left after expression contains ricins
(poisonous substance )
 Also contain lipases , alkaloid ( ricinine )
 Uses
 Oil & seeds purgative
 Oil contraceptive , in skin diseases
 Oil & derivatives in the mfg of soaps ,
paints , varnishes , lubricants ,
plasticisers

Tests
5. Mixes with half its volume of light
petroleum ether
6. When equal volume of ethanol added
it remians clear