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Castor bean (ricin). Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

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Content

1. Photos, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism
2. Genus, family, origin, range, chemical composition, economic importance
3. Botanical description, reference data, useful information, illustrations
4. Recipes for use in traditional medicine and cosmetology
5. Tips for growing, harvesting and storing

Castor bean (ricin), Ricinus communis. Photos of the plant, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Sort by: Castor

Family: Eucarps (Euphorbiaceae)

Origin: Africa and Asia

Area: Castor bean is grown in many countries of the world in tropical, subtropical and temperate zones.

Chemical composition: The main chemical compound in the plant is ricinoleic acid, which is found in the oil of the plant. Ricin also contains proteins, starch, sugars, lipids, amino acids and other components.

Economic value: Ricin is a valuable plant due to its oil, which is used in medicine, cosmetics, engineering and other industries. In addition, castor beans are used to make decorative ornaments and toys. However, it should be noted that the plant is poisonous and can cause poisoning, so precautions must be taken when working with it.

Legends and myths: In ancient Egypt, ricin was used for mummification. In India, the plant was considered sacred, it is mentioned in the Vedic texts as a symbol of immortality and life. In Christian tradition, ricin was associated with the story of Yoni, who sat under a ricin bush and waited for his death. The symbolism of ricin may be related to its toxicity. In different cultures, the plant is associated with various aspects of death and evil. For example, in Greek mythology, ricin is associated with the Cyclops Polyphemus, who was blind after Odysseus and his companions fed him a decoction of ricin. In Celtic culture, ricin was associated with the dead god and the other world. On the other hand, ricin can also be a symbol of life and resurrection. Its oil has been used to treat many ailments and is widely used in medicine today. In African culture, the plant is associated with the god of the sun and fertility. In addition, in some cultures, ricin is considered a symbol of prosperity and wealth. In India, for example, ricin oil is used to cleanse the body and bring good luck.

Castor bean (ricin), Ricinus communis. Description, illustrations of the plant

Castor bean, Ricinus communis. Methods of application, origin of the plant, range, botanical description, cultivation

Castor oil (Ricinus communis L.) - the genus Risinus L., the Euphorbiaceae family, is cultivated to produce technical oil. Castor oil is considered a crop of world importance, covering an area of ​​about 1,5 million hectares.

The value of castor oil is determined by the fact that the castor or ricin oil obtained from it is used in the production of plastic, nylon fiber, synthetic substances for jet aircraft, hydraulic fluids, artificial leather, special low- and high-temperature lubricants, and is used in medicine and soap making.

Perennial forms of castor beans are used in the fight against soil erosion as soil fixers on roadsides and embankments. When sown, fruiting begins in the 1st year and lasts up to 10 years. Sowing seeds is carried out in the rainy season, as well as annual castor beans: in holes at a distance of 60 cm in a row with a distance between rows of 3 m. Resistance to diseases and pests is higher than that of annual forms. The leaves are good food for some types of silkworms.

The primary center of origin is considered to be East Africa, where it is found in wild and cultivated form (3 in the figure). However, there are supporters of the origin of cultivated castor from Central Africa, who believe that the formation of the coastal ecotype is secondary. This plant was widely used by the indigenous African population. In the cold season, they used ricin oil for rubbing the body, for processing the skins and skins of slaughtered animals, for cooking, a tall plant served as a fence in the villages, as well as around the plantations of tobacco and cotton, sweet potato and cassava.

In ancient times, castor beans grew in India. The earliest references to the use of ricin oil for illumination and medicinal purposes are found in ancient Sanskrit records, referring to castor beans with red and light seeds. The presence of castor beans in the tombs of the pharaohs testifies to the cultivation of it by the Egyptians as early as the 3rd-4th millennium BC. e. In ancient Egypt, castor beans were called "kiki", and its Roman name - "ricinus" (tick) - is explained by the similarity of the plant's seeds with a tick.

The English colonialists brought castor beans to England and already at the end of the XNUMXth century. ricin oil was used in medicine. Somewhat later, it began to be used for lubricating machines, in textile, leather, soap and perfume industries. Once in the tropical zone of the American continent, the cultivated African castor went wild. The feral form of the castor bean grows near roads and human dwellings, and also as a weed among field crops.

The region of East Africa is recognized as the botanical center of diversity of the castor bean species. The long-term preservation of the germination of castor bean seeds, the ability of the bolls to spread by coastal sea currents led to the fact that in Asia, Australia and, apparently, in Central America, their centers of diversity of castor bean forms were formed.

The largest areas are concentrated in India (more than 500 thousand hectares; about 40 thousand tons of castor oil are produced annually in the country), Brazil (more than 400 thousand hectares), and China (about 160 thousand hectares). Small areas are available in Sudan, Ethiopia, Angola, Ecuador.

The castor bean cultivation area is limited to 40 °C. sh. and 40°S sh. In height above sea level, the castor bean tree rises to 1500 m in India and Sri Lanka and up to 2200 m in East and Central Africa.

Castor oil in the process of natural dispersal evolved from branched, very small-seeded and easily cracked forms to medium- and large-seeded forms with less branching. As a result of mutations, forms from undersized to giant with different branching, type of brush, bolls and seeds were distinguished. This led to the formation of separate subspecies in the form of R. communis.

Most researchers consider Asia, more precisely, the ancient agricultural regions of Iraq, Persia and India, where a subspecies of the small-seeded Persian (persicus) castor bean (2 in the figure), the most cultivated among others, was formed as the area for the introduction of castor oil into culture. It is characterized by weak cracking of the bolls, which allows you to harvest with less losses, high plant productivity, especially under irrigation conditions. Seeds of this type do not have a caruncle, which should be considered a relic feature.

Castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) Palestine, Southwest Asia and the Arabian Peninsula are considered to be the center of formation of the subspecies of large-seeded castor bean sanguineus (1 in the figure). In the extremely arid climate of the deserts, the nomadic Arabs left crops for a long time and, upon returning, selected plants that could withstand harsh conditions for seeds. First of all, these were forms that were highly resistant to drought and with non-cracking boxes.

Plants of the subspecies sanguineus are characterized by strong branching and foliage, high oil content, relatively coarse husks, partial or complete absence of cracking. The reaction to the length of the day is neutral. From the center of formation, this subspecies spread to the west and south, and after the discovery of America, to its territory. The subspecies is widely used in breeding.

The subspecies of Indian castor bean (indicus) is associated with the center of its formation on the Hindustan Peninsula. It bears the features of the first two subspecies, but is inferior to them in terms of cultivation. It is characterized by non-opening of boxes, small-seeded, although there are also large-seeded forms.

The subspecies of Chinese castor bean (chinensis) is associated with the center of formation in Northern and Northeastern China. It is characterized by early ripening, short stature, relatively low productivity and low oil content of seeds.

The oil is found in different parts of the plant, but is extracted from seeds, where it contains from 47 to 59%, belongs to the group of non-drying oils (iodine value 82-86), retains good viscosity at high temperatures. Contains toxic compounds: alkaloid ricinin and a protein compound with a cyan group - ricin. It has bactericidal properties, which determines its use in medicine.

Castor bean is a perennial tree plant; in the tropics and subtropics, in temperate latitudes, it freezes in winter and is therefore cultivated as an annual herbaceous plant. The plant is monoecious, can reach 10 m (usually 5-7) in height, the stem is hollow inside, the diameter is from 7 to 15 cm. The leaves are lobed (7-9 lobes), petiolate, 25-40 cm long. Stem and leaf petioles with or without wax coating. Root system of rod type. The roots penetrate the soil up to 1,5-2,0 m, but the bulk of the roots is located in the arable layer.

The inflorescence is a short raceme 10-30 cm, sometimes up to 60 cm, usually loose, the central raceme is larger than the lateral ones. The plant forms from 2 to 12 brushes.

Flowers in semi-umbrellas, unisexual; female on long pedicels located in the upper part of the inflorescence, male - in the lower. Ovary 3-celled, each nest has one ovule. Cross-pollination, but self-pollination is also possible. Wind cross-pollination usually occurs.

The fruit is a 3-cell box. A box of different sizes, 2-3 cm in diameter, breaks up into nests (tretinki) by maturity. The seed remains in the box nest. Fruit surface with or without thorns, but forms with thorns produce more fruit. The seeds of the central brush ripen first.

Seeds are large, mosaic, glossy, 1,5-2 cm long and 1,0-1,5 cm wide with a wide caruncle. The seed coat of various colors makes up about 25% of the mass of the entire seed. The weight of 1000 seeds is from 70 to 1000 g.

Castor oil is a heat-loving plant, its seeds begin to germinate at 12-13 °C. For the formation of a normal crop, the sum of active temperatures of 3000-3500 ° is necessary. For normal development, castor beans require a temperature of 25-30 ° C; when frosts, it dies. The plant is light-loving, the vegetation period with annual cultivation is 150-180 days.

Castor beans are demanding on moisture especially in the first period of development; with a lack of moisture, the yield and oil content of seeds decrease. Moisture is especially necessary during the flowering period - filling the seeds of the central brush.

A feature of the cultivation of castor bean in India is its joint crops with various crops: chickpeas, corn, cotton, mustard, peas; it is also cultivated on the edges of sugarcane fields. Castor beans are sown in July - August, harvested in December - January. The average yield of seeds on rainfed land is approximately 0,3-0,4 t/ha. The crops are dominated by an annual type of castor bean, red stem forms usually have fruits without thorns, green stem forms have thorns. The seeds contain from 45 to 55% oil. Recently, semi-dwarf and dwarf varieties and hybrids with large semi-compact racemes and non-opening boxes have been entering crops.

Castor bean is a plant of light and medium texture soils, fertile. The optimal reaction of the soil solution is pH 5,0-7,5. In relation to nutrients, castor beans are characterized by increased calcium intake. It is able to use sparingly soluble calcium phosphates in all phases of growth and development.

Castor oil can be successfully grown in those tropical and subtropical regions where corn, tobacco and cotton are successfully cultivated.

Castor oil is a culture of a wide-row sowing method. The most common planting scheme for castor beans is 70 x 20-35 m (which provides 50-85 thousand plants per 1 ha). When sowing nests in a nest (70 x 70 cm, 90 x 90 cm), 2-3 plants are left (when sowing 3-4 seeds per nest). The sowing rate of seeds per 1 ha is 20-25 kg of large-seeded varieties and 10-12 kg of small-seeded varieties. Sowing depth 6-10 cm, on gray soils 5-6 cm.

After germination (2-3 weeks pass from sowing to germination), 3-4 inter-row treatments are carried out. When the 2nd true leaf appears, the seedlings are thinned out.

For harvesting, relatively amicable maturation and drying of the boxes is necessary. On castor bean varieties with non-cracking boxes, magnesium chlorate is used to dry the plants on the vine. Spraying time - when browning the boxes of the central brush. Cleaning - 12-15 days after spraying.

In non-irrigated agriculture, castor bean harvesting begins when the bolls turn brown on the central racemes and when they dry up to a moisture content of 12-14%. On irrigated lands, harvesting begins a little later, when the bolls on the brushes of the 1st and 2nd orders turn brown and dry. Cleaning in dry weather is carried out 8-10 days after defoliation. Castor beans are harvested in a single-phase or two-phase method.

The two-phase method includes collecting boxes in the field and peeling (threshing) them under stationary current conditions. It is mainly applicable for harvesting castor bean varieties with cracking bolls.

For castor bean varieties with non-cracking boxes, a single-phase method of harvesting with a combine is more effective. At the same time, 15-20% of the bulk of the crop is supplied to the current in the form of green boxes. The heap requires immediate drying and cleaning, as it has a moisture content of up to 50% and contains 10-15% of weed impurities.

The temperature of heated air for drying commercial castor beans is 65-70 °C, and for seed - 35-40 °C. When drying seed castor, the heating of seeds should not exceed 40 °C. In dry weather, drying a heap on an open current gives good results. The thickness of the heap layer in this case is 10-15 cm. Cleaned, sorted and dried castor bean seeds should have a moisture content not higher than 6-7%.

Authors: Baranov V.D., Ustimenko G.V.

Castor bean (ricin), Ricinus communis L. Botanical description, habitat and habitats, chemical composition, use in medicine and industry

Annual in culture conditions, herbaceous, strongly branched plant up to 2 m in height, with large palmately dissected leaves, of the Euphorbia family (Euphorbiaceae).

Flowers unisexual, monoecious, inconspicuous, collected in flower brushes.

The fruit is a three-leaved spherical box with 3 seeds. Castor seeds are ovoid or round-elliptical, with a smooth, shiny, variegated skin, 0,8-2,5 cm long).

Range and habitats. The origin of the castor bean has not been determined, possibly Africa (Ethiopia). Naturalized throughout the tropical and subtropical zones of both hemispheres, where it grows in a wild or semi-cultivated form. The main centers of culture are India, Brazil, Argentina, African countries, China and Iran. It has been bred in Egypt for more than four thousand years.

Chemical composition. Castor seeds contain 40-56% non-drying fatty oil (castor oil), consisting mainly of unsaturated ricinolic acid glyceride (80-85%). The oil also contains acids: stearic, oleic, linoleic, dioxystearic and glycerin. The seeds contain a poisonous protein substance - ricin.

Castor seed poisoning is accompanied by dizziness, headache, severe gastroenteritis, palpitations and convulsions.

In addition, the alkaloid ricinin was found in all organs of the plant.

Castor oil is obtained from the seeds of the plant by cold pressing followed by treatment with steam and hot water; with this method of obtaining ricin remains in the cake.

Application in medicine. Castor oil by itself does not have a laxative effect. But when it enters the duodenum, under the influence of pancreatic juice lipase, the oil breaks down to form glycerol and ricinolic acid (hydroxyoleic acid), which have the ability to irritate the receptors of the intestinal mucosa and, as a result, cause a reflex increase in peristalsis of the small intestines.

Increased peristalsis reflexively occurs in the large intestine. Thus, unlike other herbal laxatives, after taking castor oil, peristalsis increases along the entire intestine. Ricin is highly toxic. At a dose of 0,04 mg/kg, it causes the death of rabbits.

Castor oil is classified as a mild laxative. After taking 10-30 g (1/2-2 tablespoons) of castor oil, a laxative effect occurs after 4-5 hours or earlier. Due to the absence of irritating properties, castor oil is recommended for use in inflammatory conditions of the food tract, colitis and feverish conditions. When taking castor oil, a reflex contraction of the uterus develops, so sometimes the oil is prescribed in obstetric practice to stimulate labor in conjunction with hormonal drugs.

It is not recommended to use castor oil for a long time, as this leads to loss of appetite and ceases to have a laxative effect. Castor oil in some cases causes nausea, it is recommended to use it in gelatin capsules.

Castor oil (Oleum Ricini). Transparent, thick, colorless or slightly yellowish liquid with a slight odor and a very unpleasant peculiar taste. As a laxative, castor oil is used in a dose of 15-30 g, for children 5-15 g (for adults - a tablespoon, for children - a tea or dessert spoon). With the weakness of labor activity, castor oil is prescribed 40-50 g per reception. For external use, ointments, emulsions, and pastes are prepared.

For the purpose of a laxative effect, vegetable oils are often used - sunflower, linseed - one tablespoon in the morning on an empty stomach daily for 2-3 weeks.

Other uses. Castor oil is bred in gardens as a fast-growing ornamental plant. It is good on the lawn in a single planting or in groups (3-5 pieces) without other plants. In mixed groups does not give the desired effect. Castor oil can be used to decorate low walls.

Castor oil is used to prevent hair loss.

Authors: Turova A.D., Sapozhnikova E.N.

Castor bean (ricin), Ricinus communis. Recipes for use in traditional medicine and cosmetology

Ethnoscience:

• Constipation treatment: Ricin contains a substance called ricin oil, which helps speed up bowel movement and fight constipation. For the treatment of constipation, you can take 1-2 tablespoons of ricin oil at night. It is important to remember that ricin oil can cause a severe reaction in some people, so you should consult your doctor before using it.
• Joint pain treatment: Ricin contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents that help reduce inflammation and reduce joint pain. To do this, you can apply ricin oil to sore joints and massage them for several minutes.
• Treatment of acne and other skin problems: ricin oil can also help treat various skin problems such as acne, eczema, or psoriasis. To do this, you can apply ricin oil to the affected areas of the skin and leave it for several hours or overnight.
• Hair strengthening: ricin oil contains ricinic acid, which helps strengthen hair and stimulate hair growth. To do this, you can apply ricin oil to the scalp and hair, leave for several hours or overnight, then rinse with shampoo.

Cosmetology:

• Moisturizing face mask: mix equal proportions of ricin oil and honey. Apply to face and leave on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with warm water. This mask helps to hydrate and nourish the skin.
• Hair Growth Mask: mix equal proportions of ricin oil and coconut oil. Apply to scalp and hair and leave on for several hours or overnight, then rinse with shampoo. This mask helps to strengthen the hair and stimulates its growth.
• Hair conditioner: mix equal proportions of ricin oil and olive oil. Apply to hair after washing and rinse with water. This conditioner helps moisturize and soften hair.
• Skin Purifying Scrub: Mix ricin oil with sea salt and apply to the skin, massaging in circular motions. Then wash off with warm water. This scrub helps to cleanse the skin of dead cells and excess sebum.

Attention! Before use, consult with a specialist!

Castor bean (ricin), Ricinus communis. Tips for growing, harvesting and storing

Castor oil, or ricin, is a plant from which ricin oil is produced, which is widely used in cosmetology and medicine.

Tips for growing, harvesting and storing ricin:

Cultivation:

• Ricin can be grown in the garden or in pots on the balcony.
• It prefers a sunny location and fertile soil.
• Ricin seeds should be planted in the ground in spring, at a depth of about 2-3 cm.
• Plants should be planted at a distance of about 1 meter from each other.
• During the season, you should regularly water the plants and feed them with fertilizers.

Workpiece:

• The ricin seeds are harvested when the capsules appear on the plant. Each capsule contains three seeds.
• The collected capsules should be thoroughly washed and dried.
• The seeds can then be extracted from the capsules and used to make ricin oil.

Storage:

• Ricin seeds can be stored in a dry place at room temperature for up to 2 years.
• Castor oil should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.

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