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Received 23 February 2017
Revised 31 May 2017
Accepted 05 June 2017
Early online 31 July 2017
Print 31 July 2017
Abstract
Ricin is a biological toxin which can be extracted from the castor bean plant. The scientific name of this plant is Ricinus communis. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has categorized ricin to be a category B agent. Exposure to ricin can occur by oral ingestion, inhalation or parenteral administration. The severity of symptoms of ricin toxicity is dependent on the route of exposure and the dose of ricin. Diagnosis is based on epidemiological and clinical parameters. Currently no antidote, vaccine or specific therapy is available for ricin poisoning. Treatment of ricin toxicity is largely symptomatic and supportive in nature. The treatment should be prompt and meticulous to limit mortality.
Key words: Biological toxin, Castor beans, Ricin poisoning
DOI: 10.5455/jmas.259532
© 2017 Deccan College of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.
Ricin is a potentially lethal biological toxin which can be extracted from the beans of castor plant (Ricinus communis). After castor oil is extracted from the castor beans, the toxin ricin remains in the residual mesh, from which it can be easily extracted and used for notorious purposes. Owing to the ease of availability of the native plant and the hassle free extraction of the ricin toxin from it, it has made ricin a potent biological toxin. Ricin has been categorized as a category B bio-terror agent by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)1.
Ricinus communis is the name given by the famous naturalist Dr. Carolus Linnaeus. Ricin is a Latin word which actually means tick and Linnaeus named it so because castor bean looked like a tick, Communis means common in Latin. Castor plants were commonly naturalized in many parts of the world. Castor oil is a strong and effective cathartic or laxative. It is also used topically to treat warts or corns. Castor oil is also used in oils, paints, varnishes and industrial machines. During both the world wars - first and second this lubricating oil was used in aircrafts but during the Second World War when there was an acute shortage of this lubricating oil, the US government subsidized the cultivation of castor...