Vavding (Embelia ribes)

Vavding (Embelia ribes) is a climbing shrub known for its small black berries, traditionally used in Ayurvedic and Siddha medicine. It belongs to the Primulaceae family and is native to India and Southeast Asia. The dried fruits are primarily used for their anthelmintic, digestive, and antimicrobial properties and are a key ingredient in classical formulations like Vidanga churna.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Angiosperms
Class: Eudicots
Order: Ericales
Family: Primulaceae
Genus: Embelia
Species: Embelia ribes Burm. f.

Common Names

English: False Black Pepper
Sanskrit: Vidanga
Hindi: Vavding
Tamil: Vaivilangam
Telugu: Vaividangamu
Bengali: Babrang
Marathi: Vavding
Kannada: Vayuvidanga

Traditional and Medicinal Uses

Anthelmintic Action - Widely used to expel intestinal worms and parasites, especially in pediatric formulations.

Digestive Aid - Enhances digestion and appetite, commonly used in formulations for indigestion, flatulence, and abdominal discomfort.

Antimicrobial Properties - Effective against infections caused by bacteria and fungi.

Skin and Reproductive Health - Used in managing skin disorders, including acne and ringworm, Beneficial in reproductive health, especially for spermatogenesis and ovulation balance.

Phytochemical Constituents

The therapeutic actions of Embelia ribes are attributed to a wide array of bioactive compounds:

Alkaloids: Embelin (primary active compound)
Phenolic compounds: Embelin, Ribesin
Flavonoids: Quercetin, Kaempferol
Fatty acids: Linoleic acid, Oleic acid
Sterols: β-Sitosterol
Tannins: Polyphenols with antioxidant action

References

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Volume IV, Govt. of India, Ministry of AYUSH.

Chopra, R.N., Nayar, S.L., & Chopra, I.C. (1956). Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. CSIR, New Delhi.

Prajapati, N.D., Purohit, S.S., Sharma, A.K., Kumar, T. (2003). A Handbook of Medicinal Plants: A Complete Source Book. Agrobios.

Khare, C.P. (2007). Indian Medicinal Plants: An Illustrated Dictionary. Springer.

M. Duwiejko & M. Dondua (2001). “Chemical and pharmacological properties of Embelia ribes.” Fitoterapia, 72(4), 384–385.

Ghosal, S. (1985). “Active principles of Indian medicinal plants: Part 10—Embeline and related compounds.” Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 74(5), 482–486.

European Pharmacopoeia, 10th Edition, Council of Europe.