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Eranda

Ricinus communis L.

Eranda (Ricinus communis L.) is a plant drug, also called Citra, Gandharvahasta and Pahchangul, from the Euphorbiaceae family. WHO/FAO Joint Expert Committee established ADI for castor oil; included in multiple national pharmacopoeias; WHO recognizes traditional medicinal use.

Key facts
Botanical nameRicinus communis L.
FamilyEuphorbiaceae · other entries in this family
OrderMalpighiales
Pharmacopoeia statusWHO/FAO Joint Expert Committee established ADI for castor oil; included in multiple national pharmacopoeias; WHO recognizes traditional medicinal use
Taxon identifiersGBIF 5380041 · Wikidata Q155867 · NCBI Taxonomy 3988
Names in other languages
SanskritCitra, एरण्ड (eraṇḍa), Gandharvahasta, Pahchangul, पञ्चाङ्गुल (pañcāṅgula), Rubu, Vatari
Hindiअरंडी (araṃḍī), Andi, रेंड़ी (reṃṛī), Rend
EnglishCastor oil plant
Tamilஆமணக்கு, Amanakku
MalayalamAbanakka, Ambanakka, Avanakku
TeluguAmudamu, Amudanu, Amudapu veru, Amudmuchetu
KannadaHarlu, Oudala gida
MarathiEramd, Erand
BengaliBherenda
GujaratiErando
UrduArand, Bedanjir
PunjabiArind
OriyaBheranda, Gaba, Jada
AssameseEda, Era
KashmiriAran, Banangir

Sources: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (column alignment reconstructed); CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants (Umberto Quattrocchi), via the Wisdom Library entry for Rendi: 'Rendi in India is the name of a plant defined with Ricinus communis.'; National Institute of Ayurveda herbal-garden monograph for Ricinus communis Linn.: 'Eranda, pancangulah'; SDM Ayurveda College Dravyaguna entry 'Eranda' for Ricinus communis.; National Institute of Ayurveda herbal-garden monograph for Ricinus communis: 'Eranda, pancangulah'.; University of Madras Tamil Lexicon (via agarathi.com): 'Castor-plant, s. tr., Ricinus communis'; J.P. Fabricius: 'the castor plant, ricinus communis'; Miron Winslow: 'The castor plant, ஏரண்டம், Ricinus...'; Wisdom Library 'Local Names of Plants and Drugs': 'Arandi [अरंडी] in the Hindi language is the name of a plant identified with Ricinus communis L. from the Euphorbiaceae (castor) family.'. How we source.

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 2018 to 2026, every one with a DOI.

  • 2Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
  • 10Other clinical studies and reviews

A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishCastor oil plant
Latin/BotanicalRicinus communis L.

Key Phytochemical Constituents

How does it work?

  • Purgative: Ricinoleic acid activates EP3 prostanoid receptors in intestinal smooth muscle, stimulating peristalsis and fluid secretion
  • Anti-inflammatory: Ricinoleic acid activates PPAR-gamma, suppressing NF-kB-mediated inflammatory gene expression; quercetin and ellagic acid inhibit COX-2
  • Analgesic: Capsaicin-like mechanism through TRPV1 receptor interaction by ricinoleic acid metabolites reduces pain signaling

Which traditional uses are supported by research?

These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.

  • Virechana (purgation): traditionally used as a purgative. Studies have reported an EP3 receptor-mediated action on intestinal smooth muscle.
  • Vatahara: traditionally used for arthritic conditions. Studies have reported anti-inflammatory activity of ricinoleic acid through PPAR-gamma activation.
  • Traditionally used for wounds. Studies have reported antimicrobial activity and the promotion of granulation tissue formation in wound models.

What do recent studies show?

Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.

Recent safety updates

  • Castor oil is safe at standard laxative doses (FAO/WHO acceptable daily intake: 0-0.7 mg/kg body weight); ricin toxin is absent in properly extracted oil
  • Seeds are highly toxic due to ricin content (a lethal lectin); never consume raw seeds; contraindicated in pregnancy (uterine stimulant activity) and intestinal obstruction

What is it made of?

Key Active Markers

  • Quercetin
  • Apigenin
  • Sitosterol
  • Ricinine
  • Kaempferol
  • Ricinoleic acid
  • Ricin
  • Ellagic acid

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Taila (castor oil - primary form), Churna (root powder), Kashayam (root decoction), Paka (processed preparation), Capsule (oil-filled), Tablet (root extract)

Standard Dosage: Castor oil: 15-30ml as purgative (single dose); 5-10ml for mild laxative; Root: 3-5g powder twice daily; 500mg root extract capsule twice daily

Optimal Timing: Castor oil: early morning on empty stomach with warm water or milk for purgation; Root decoction: before meals for Vata disorders; External application: at bedtime with gentle massage

Storage: Castor oil: airtight containers, room temperature, protected from light. Root powder: airtight, moisture-proof containers below 25 deg C. Do not store near food products if handling raw seeds. Oil may become viscous at low temperatures - store above 15 deg C.

Marker Compounds: Ricinoleic acid (oil), Ricinine (root - alkaloid), Linoleic acid (oil), Oleic acid (oil), N-demethylricinine (root), Stigmasterol

Synergistic Combinations

  • With Haritaki for mild, balanced purgation (Gandharvahastadi)
  • With Sunthi (ginger) to reduce griping during purgation
  • With Dashamoola for Vata disorder management
  • With Nirgundi for external anti-inflammatory application
  • With Devadaru for musculoskeletal pain (external)

Published research

Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses2

  1. Inácio Silveira DQ, Lia EN, Massignan C and others. 2023. Natural products for the treatment of denture stomatitis: A systematic reviewThe Journal of prosthetic dentistry. PMID 34247854 · doi:10.1016/j.prosdent.2021.05.022
  2. Widmer J, Norgrove L. 2023. Identifying candidates for the phytoremediation of copper in viticultural soils: A systematic reviewEnvironmental research. PMID 36273594 · doi:10.1016/j.envres.2022.114518

Other clinical studies and reviews10

  1. Mtendwa S, Rungqu P, Maqanda V. 2026. Phytochemistry, Pharmacological Potential and Industrial Applications of Ricinus communis L.: A ReviewPharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 42653756 · doi:10.3390/ph19081258
  2. Ramothloa TP, Mkolo NM, Motshudi MC and others. 2025. Phytochemical Composition and Multifunctional Applications of Ricinus communis L.: Insights into Therapeutic, Pharmacological, and Industrial PotentialMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 40807390 · doi:10.3390/molecules30153214
  3. Fiume MM, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV and others. 2025. Re-Review Summary of Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil and Ricinoleates as Used in CosmeticsInternational journal of toxicology. PMID 40932363 · doi:10.1177/10915818251361102
  4. Botelho FD, Franca TCC, LaPlante SR. 2024. The Search for Antidotes Against RicinMini reviews in medicinal chemistry. PMID 38350844 · doi:10.2174/0113895575270509231121060105
  5. Bernstein N, Akram M, Yaniv-Bachrach Z and others. 2021. Is it safe to consume traditional medicinal plants during pregnancy?Phytotherapy research : PTR. PMID 33164294 · doi:10.1002/ptr.6935
  6. Abbes M, Montana M, Curti C and others. 2021. Ricin poisoning: A review on contamination source, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and reporting of ricin poisoningToxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology. PMID 33711365 · doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.03.004
  7. Sandford EC, Muntz A, Craig JP. 2021. Therapeutic potential of castor oil in managing blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction and dry eyeClinical & experimental optometry. PMID 33037703 · doi:10.1111/cxo.13148
  8. Franke H, Scholl R, Aigner A. 2019. Ricin and Ricinus communis in pharmacology and toxicology-from ancient use and "Papyrus Ebers" to modern perspectives and "poisonous plant of the year 2018"Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology. PMID 31359089 · doi:10.1007/s00210-019-01691-6
  9. Sowa-Rogozińska N, Sominka H, Nowakowska-Gołacka J and others. 2019. Intracellular Transport and Cytotoxicity of the Protein Toxin RicinToxins. PMID 31216687 · doi:10.3390/toxins11060350
  10. Duracova M, Klimentova J, Fucikova A and others. 2018. Proteomic Methods of Detection and Quantification of Protein ToxinsToxins. PMID 29495560 · doi:10.3390/toxins10030099

Reference lists that include it

Ellagic acid, Kaempferol, Quercetin, Stigmasterol

Procedures that name it

Bāṣpa Sveda (Steam-Box Sudation), Patra-Piṇḍa Sveda (Leaf-Bolus Fomentation), Patra-Piṇḍa-Sveda, Kerala Specialty Form, Svedana (Sudation Therapy)

Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.

Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.

Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.