Ricinus communis L.

Castor bean (Ricinus communis) is an erect shrub up to 4 meters tall of the Euphorbiaceae family, native to Ethiopia, first cultivated by the Portuguese and Spanish before entering Indonesia alongside the Portuguese arrival in the 16th century. Its seeds are processed into castor oil, a raw material for the paint, textile, and cosmetics industries. Traditionally, this plant is also used to promote hair growth and treat boils and rheumatism.

Grows well in light soils such as sandy loam, containing sufficient organic matter, with good drainage and aeration, soil pH 5-6.5, at an elevation of 450 m above sea level, with low rainfall (300-700 mm/year), tolerant of dry conditions.

• Roots a deep taproot, with widely spreading lateral roots and many fine root hairs.
• Stem erect, round, hollow, jointed. Color varies from green to reddish-brown.
• Leaves palmate with 5 to 11 lobes, with shallow to deep indentations.
• Flowers compound, orange-yellow.
• Fruit round. Young fruit light green to dark green.

• Propagated generatively (by seed).
• Seeds are planted at the start of the rainy season, by dibbling (3 cm deep), with a planting spacing for intercropping of 3-6 x 2 m.
• Fruit is harvested once it begins to dry.

Flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, the alkaloid ricinine, quercetin, kaempferol, steroids, coumarins, terpenoids, tannins.

Has antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antidiabetic activity; lowers cholesterol; addresses constipation; promotes hair growth; treats boils, fungal infections, earache, rheumatism, hernia, wheezing cough, swelling, and wounds.

• Select good (undamaged) leaves.
• Dry the leaves for 1 week by air-drying in open air protected from direct sunlight.
• Cut into small pieces (0.5-1 cm) and sun-dry for several days until the moisture content is below 10%.
• Grind using a blender.
• Store in a clean, airtight container.

Lulang (Karo), Jarag (Lampung), Gloah (Gayo), Kaleke (Madura), Tangang-tangang jara (Makasar), Pelung kaliki (Bugis), Paku perunai (Timor).