Castorbean

At a glance

Origin / distribution: China, Ghana, Guatemala, Mexico, Philippines, S Africa, Trinidad, Japan*

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Abscess, Ache(Head), Ache(Stomach), Anodyne

Science studied: AGMATINE, AMYLASE, ASH, CARBOHYDRATES

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Scientific name: Ricinus communis

Common names: Castorbean, Akain-belar, Amerikansk olieplante, Carpata, Carrapateira, Castor, Castor Bean (EN); Tartago (ES), Castor Oil, Castor Oil Plant, Castor Oil Tree, Castor Plant, Castor-Oil Bush, Castor-Oil Plant, Castor-Oil Tree, Castor-Oil-Plant, Castor-oil-Plant, Castor-oil-plant, Castorbeantree

POWO: 355498-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in China, Ghana, Guatemala, Mexico, Philippines, S Africa, Trinidad, Elsewhere and 38 additional places.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Abscess
• Ache(Head)
• Ache(Stomach)
• Anodyne
• Antidote
• Aperient
• Arthritis
• Bactericide

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• China
• Ghana
• Guatemala
• Mexico
• Philippines
• S Africa
• Trinidad
• Elsewhere
• Japan*
• India(Santal)
• Canada
• Indochina

Documented cultural uses

• Abscess
• Ache(Head)
• Ache(Stomach)
• Anodyne
• Antidote
• Aperient
• Arthritis
• Bactericide
• Bite(Dog)
• Boil
• Burn
• Cancer

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Abscess · China · "
• Ache(Head) · Ghana · "
• Ache(Head) · Guatemala · "
• Ache(Head) · Mexico · "
• Ache(Head) · Philippines · "
• Ache(Stomach) · S Africa · "
• Ache(Stomach) · Trinidad · "
• Anodyne · China · "
• Antidote · Elsewhere · "
• Aperient · Japan* · "
• Arthritis · China · "
• Bactericide · Trinidad · "
• Bite(Dog) · China · "
• Boil · Elsewhere · "
• Boil · S Africa · "
• Burn · India(Santal) · "
• Cancer · Canada · "
• Cancer(Stomach) · Indochina · "
• Carbuncle · China · "
• Catarrh · Haiti · "
• Cathartic · Iraq · "
• Cathartic · Elsewhere · "
• Cathartic · Kuwait · "
• Chest · Haiti · "

157 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Phytochemistry, Pharmacological Potential and Industrial Applications of <i>Ricinus communis</i> L.: A Review. · 2026 source ↗
• Tissue-Specific Phytochemical Profiling and Bioactivity of Ricinus communis L. Under Varying Agronomic Conditions. · 2026 source ↗
• Integrated nutrient and plant growth regulator management improves cadmium phytoextraction in Ricinus communis. · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• AGMATINE
• AMYLASE
• ASH
• CARBOHYDRATES
• CATALASE
• CHLOROGENIC-ACID
• P-COUMARIC-ACID
• TRANS-DEHYDROMATRICARIA-ESTER
• 6,7-DIHYDROXY-8-METHOXY-COUMARIN
• 3,4-DIMETHOXY-6,8-DIHYDROXY-COUMARIN
• 9,10-DIOXYSTEARIC-ACID
• ELLAGIC-ACID
• ENDOTRYPSIN
• FAT
• FIBER
• HCN

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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