Abstract:

Karchak known as Khervae and Bidanjir in Iranian traditional medicine is an annual or perennial glabrous herb with green to red color and 1 to 4 meter height. The stems are thick, hollow and the leaves are palmate with long petioles. Fruit is covered with soft spines and seeds look like bean seed and are fatty with dark lines. In Iranian traditional medicine, it is known as a potent purgative of cold humors and used in conditions caused by cold humors and also for strengthening viscera. The characteristics mentioned in Iranian traditional medicine literatures are corresponding to the characteristics of Ricinus communis L.