Importance of Embelia Ribes: an Update

Embelia ribes Burm F. is large scandent shrub, disturbed throughout India and belongs to the family Myrsinacae. It is commonly known as false black pepper or Vidanga. E. ribes grows in semievergreen and deciduous forests at an altitude of 1,500m found in central and lower Himalayas, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh throughout India. Embelia ribes has been proven to have great pharmacological potential with a great utility and usage as folklore medicine. The root, berries and leaves of Embelia ribes is used in herbal formulas. It is used as antibacterial, antifertility activities, antiprotozoal, abdominal disorders, lung diseases, constipation, indigestion, fungus infections, mouth ulcer, sore throat, pneumonia, heart disease and obesity, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and formulations of Embelia ribes are Ardrakakhandavaleha, Eranda paka, Krimighna kashaya churna, Vidangadi churna, Taramandura guda, Guduchi lauha, Abhayarishta, Kumari asava, Manibhadra yoga, Pippalyasava, Kaishore guggulu, Vyoshadi guggulu, Saptavishantika guggulu, Eladi ghrita, Kasisadi ghrita, Chandraprabha vati, Wdangadi lauha, Vidanga taila. INTRODUCTION: Embelia ribes Burm F a medicinal woody climber belongs to the Myrsinaceae family. It is also commonly known as false black pepper or vidanga. E. ribes is one of the 32 medicinal plant species identified by the Medicinal Board, Govt. of India, New Delhi, as being important for large-scale cultivation because of its commercial use 1 . E. ribes grows in semi-evergreen and deciduous forests at an altitude of 1,500m found in central and lower Himalayas, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh 2 throughout India.