Vidanga
Embelia ribes Burm.f.
Vidanga (Embelia ribes Burm.f.) is a plant drug, also called Amoghah, Vidangah and Vidamga. Anthelmintic activity has been reported in in vitro and clinical studies in children with Ascaris infections. Listed in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India.
| Botanical name | Embelia ribes Burm.f. |
|---|---|
| Family | Primulaceae |
| Order | Ericales |
| Pharmacopoeia status | Listed in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Phytochemical standardization conducted per WHO guidelines. No dedicated WHO monograph; included in Indian traditional medicine pharmacopeias. |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 7330952 · Wikidata Q3595673 · NCBI Taxonomy 459629 |
| Sanskrit | आमोघः (āmoghaḥ), विडङ्गः (viḍaṅgaḥ) |
|---|---|
| Hindi | विडंग (viḍaṃga), बाबरंग (bābaraṃga) |
| Tamil | வாய்விலங்கம் |
Sources: Embelia ribes reviews in IJPSR ('Importance of Embelia ribes: An Update') and the Medicinal Plants compilation for E. ribes, giving Hindi 'Baberang, Karkannie, Vayvarang, Viranga'; Embelia ribes vernacular lists in the IJPSR review 'Importance of Embelia ribes: An Update' and the Medicinal Plants compilation entry for Embelia ribes, both giving Tamil 'Vaividangam' and 'Vayu-vilamgam'; Flowers of India's Vidang page gives Tamil 'vitankam, vivilangam, vollai'; Flowers of India, Embelia ribes ('Vidang') page: 'Hindi: विडंग Vidanga'; same page gives 'Sanskrit: आमोघः Amogha, मोघा Mogha, विडङ्गः Vidang'; Flowers of India, Embelia ribes ('Vidang') page: 'Sanskrit: आमोघः Amogha, मोघा Mogha, विडङ्गः Vidang'; Flowers of India, Embelia ribes page: 'Sanskrit: आमोघः Amogha, मोघा Mogha'. How we source.
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 2014 to 2024, every one with a DOI.
- 1Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
- 11Other 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
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Vidanga |
| Latin/Botanical | Embelia ribes Burm.f. |
Key Phytochemical Constituents
- Embelin (2,5-dihydroxy-3-undecyl-1,4-benzoquinone)
- Vilangin
- Christembine (alkaloid)
- Quercitol
- Embelinol
- Embeliaribyl ester
- Embeliol (1,2,4,5-tetrahydroxy-3-undecanyl benzene)
- Volatile oils and tannins
How does it work?
- XIAP inhibition: Embelin is a cell-permeable small-molecule inhibitor of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein, inducing caspase-dependent apoptosis in cancer cells.
- NF-kB suppression: Blocks TNF-alpha-induced NF-kB activation, suppressing expression of antiapoptotic and metastatic gene products.
- PI3K/AKT pathway modulation: Inhibits PI3K/AKT signaling leading to reduced cell proliferation and survival in tumor cells.
- Anthelmintic action: Causes neuromuscular paralysis in helminths through disruption of energy metabolism; tannins and alkaloids precipitate worm proteins.
- Antioxidant activity: Embelin and vilangin scavenge free radicals and reduce oxidative stress markers including lipid peroxidation.
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- In vitro and clinical studies have reported anthelmintic activity. The clinical work was in children with Ascaris infections.
- Laboratory studies have reported Antimicrobial activity against multiple bacterial strains.
- Studies have reported anti-inflammatory activity involving NF-kB inhibition.
- Preclinical studies have reported Anticancer potential involving XIAP inhibition and modulation of multiple pathways.
- Antioxidant activity has been reported in DPPH and other radical scavenging assays.
What do recent studies show?
- Sharma V, Gautam DNS, Radu AF and others 2022. Reviewing the Traditional/Modern Uses, Phytochemistry, Essential Oils/Extracts and Pharmacology of Embelia ribes Burm. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 35883850 · doi:10.3390/antiox11071359
Comprehensive review in Antioxidants journal detailing embelin and vilangin as major antioxidant compounds; established broad pharmacological profile including anthelmintic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic activities. Called for more rigorous clinical trials. - Kamath AJ, Chandy AS, Joseph AA and others 2023. Embelin: A multifaceted anticancer agent with translational potential in targeting tumor progression and metastasis. EXCLI journal. PMID 38234968 · doi:10.17179/excli2023-6590
Comprehensive review confirming embelin modulates NF-kB, PI3K/AKT, and STAT3 signaling pathways. Demonstrated anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, and anti-metastatic activities across multiple cancer cell lines including glioma, breast, and leukemia.
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
- Clinical trial in children with ascarids showed no adverse effects during or after treatment with alcoholic (80% success) and aqueous (55% success) extracts.
- Embelin demonstrated anti-fertility/anti-spermatogenic effects in animal models; contraindicated in pregnancy and in individuals attempting conception.
- High doses may cause gastrointestinal irritation; recommended to use under practitioner supervision with standardized embelin content.
What is it made of?
Key Active Markers
- Embelin
- Quercitol
- Tannins
- Vilangin
- Christembine
- Embelinol
- Embeliaribyl ester
- Embeliol
- Volatile oils
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kwatha (decoction), Capsule, Tablet, Taila (medicated oil), Leha/Avaleh
Standard Dosage: 1-3 g powder twice daily; 50-100 mL decoction twice daily; 250-500 mg standardized extract capsule twice daily
Optimal Timing: Morning on empty stomach for anthelmintic action (3-7 day course); before meals for digestive action
Storage: Airtight containers at 15-25 deg C, protected from light and moisture. Embelin is susceptible to photodegradation; opaque packaging recommended.
Marker Compounds: Embelin, Vilangin, Christembine, Quercitol, Volatile oil (with terpenes), Homoembelin, Rapanone, Cinnamic acid
Synergistic Combinations
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-analyses1
- 2017. Antidiabetic activity of Embelia ribes, embelin and its derivatives: A systematic review and meta-analysisBiomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie. PMID 27984799 · doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2016.12.001
Other clinical studies and reviews11
- 2024. Demystifying the Potential of Embelin-Loaded Nanoformulations: a Comprehensive ReviewAAPS PharmSciTech. PMID 39433611 · doi:10.1208/s12249-024-02968-7
- 2024. Mechanistic Study on the Possible Role of Embelin in Treating Neurodegenerative DisordersCNS & neurological disorders drug targets. PMID 36655531 · doi:10.2174/1871527322666230119100053
- 2023. Embelin: A multifaceted anticancer agent with translational potential in targeting tumor progression and metastasisEXCLI journal. PMID 38234968 · doi:10.17179/excli2023-6590
- 2023. Effects and mechanisms of natural products on Alzheimer's diseaseCritical reviews in food science and nutrition. PMID 34613845 · doi:10.1080/10408398.2021.1985428
- 2022. Reviewing the Traditional/Modern Uses, Phytochemistry, Essential Oils/Extracts and Pharmacology of Embelia ribes BurmAntioxidants (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 35883850 · doi:10.3390/antiox11071359
- 2022. Embelin: A novel XIAP inhibitor for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseasesJournal of biochemical and molecular toxicology. PMID 34842329 · doi:10.1002/jbt.22950
- 2020. Synthesis and Biological Activity of Embelin and its Derivatives: An OverviewMini reviews in medicinal chemistry. PMID 31644404 · doi:10.2174/1389557519666191015202723
- 2018. Embelin: a benzoquinone possesses therapeutic potential for the treatment of human cancerFuture medicinal chemistry. PMID 29620447 · doi:10.4155/fmc-2017-0198
- 2017. Chemical and Biological Aspects of the Natural 1,4-Benzoquinone Embelin and its (semi-)Synthetic DerivativesCurrent medicinal chemistry. PMID 28093981 · doi:10.2174/0929867324666170116125731
- 2016. Embelin and Its Role in Chronic DiseasesAdvances in experimental medicine and biology. PMID 27671825 · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-41334-1_16
- 2014. Embelin - a drug of antiquity: shifting the paradigm towards modern medicineExpert opinion on investigational drugs. PMID 24397264 · doi:10.1517/13543784.2014.867016
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.
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