3.castor

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  Colour 

oval , slightly flattened 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.

6.

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