Castor Seed / Castor Oil

Castor Oil plant, Ricinus Communies, is a plant species of the Euphorbiacese and the sole member of the genus Ricinus and to the subtribe Riciniae. Its seeds to the castor been which despite its name, is not a true bean.

Castor seeds is the sources of castor oil, which has a wide variety of uses. The seeds contain between 40% and 60% oil that is reach in triglyceride, mainly riciolien. They also contain ricin, a poison, which is also present in lower concentration throughout the plant.

Castor seeds have been found in Egyptian tombs dating back to 4000 BC. Herodotus and other Greek travelers have noted the use of castor seeds oil for lighting body ointments.