Ricin and Abrin: A Comprehensive Review of Their Toxicity, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Chen, Hsiao Ying; Foo, Ling Yann; Loke, Wan Khai

doi:10.1007/978-94-007-6645-7_1-1

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…The cause of death is related to toxin-induced damage to the endothelial cells, resulting in a vascular leak syndrome characterized by hypoalbuminemia and edema. This leads to vascular collapse and shock, with death occurring after 3 or more days [53] Worbs et al have presented a summary of human and veterinary intoxications with R. communis seeds. The number of human cases (the majority were children aged 1-8, and <19 years) reported were presented either as accidental intoxications (875 oral cases with 13 fatal cases among them and 1 injectional case, fatality rate 1.5%) and intended intoxications (5 oral cases without fatality and 6 injectional cases with 5 fatal cases among them, fatality rate 45.5%).…”

Section: Sansevieria Trifasciata Prainmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hence, ricin and abrin are classified as a Category B agent by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Agents in this category are considered moderately easy to disseminate, able to cause morbidity and low mortality [53]. Based on its history of military, criminal and terroristic use, ricin is a prohibited substance both under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC, schedule 1 compound) and the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and its possession or purification is strictly regulated and controlled by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) [55].…”

Section: Sansevieria Trifasciata Prainmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on its history of military, criminal and terroristic use, ricin is a prohibited substance both under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC, schedule 1 compound) and the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and its possession or purification is strictly regulated and controlled by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) [55]. Abrin is also placed in the category of "Biological Select Agents or Toxins" by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) [53].…”

Section: Sansevieria Trifasciata Prainmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Review on Some Cultivated and Native Poisonous Plants in Aden Governorate, Yemen

Alasbahi

Al-Hawshabi

2021

Electron. J. Univ. Aden Basic Appl. Sci.

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Plant poisoning is a health concern in many countries where plants are used either accidently, especially among children, or intentionally for purposes such as assassination, suicide, hunting, fishing and treating various diseases. Presently, despite the implementation of toxicology surveillance systems in many countries, plant poisoning continues to be a preventable cause of morbidity and mortality. In the Aden governorate of Yemen, there are no laws or regulations for the prevention of plant poisoning, despite the existence of several poisonous species in gardens, and as roadside trees planted by the local authority, or growing wildly in public areas. In addition, there is a lack of scientific studies on the risks of these poisonous plants. Therefore, we undertook this study, based on scientific review, to document and illustrate the botanical, geographical and toxicological characteristics of fourteen poisonous plants collected from different districts of Aden governorate. The documented poisonous species (6 species) belong to Apocynaceae followed by Fabaceae (2 species), whereas Aristolochiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Dracaenaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Meliaceae, and Verbenaceae are represented by one species each. The toxic parts of the majority of studied poisonous species are the whole plant, latex, seeds, and fruits. Cardiotoxicity, cytotoxicity, gastrointestinal toxicity, and inflammation of skin and mucous membrane are the main clinical manifestations. They are caused by varying amounts of plant toxins such as cardiac glycosides in Calotropis procera, Cryptostegia grandiflora, Nerium oleander and Thevetia peruviana, and cytotoxic toxins such as toxalbumins in Abrus precatorius and Ricinus communis, aristolochic acids in Aristolochia bracteolate, and vinca alkaloids in Catharanthus roseus, as well as gastrointestinal toxins such as cucurbitacins in Citrullus colocynthis, and tannins in Caesalpinia pulcherrima. Inflammation of skin and mucous membrane is caused by calcium oxalate crystals in Calotropis procera latex, and soluble protein in Cryptostegia grandiflora latex. Moreover, Azadirachta indica caused a number of toxicities attributed partially to tetranortriterpenoids, while Sansevieria trifasciata toxicity was reported to be low. The significance of this work is to promote the awareness among the local authority to take legal actions against plant poisoning. In addition, it provides the physicians with scientific information for the diagnosis and treatment of poisoning by some plants. It is hoped that this study motivates researchers to conduct further research on poisonous plants throughout Yemen.

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Section: Sansevieria Trifasciata Prainmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sansevieria Trifasciata Prainmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sansevieria Trifasciata Prainmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Review on Some Cultivated and Native Poisonous Plants in Aden Governorate, Yemen

Alasbahi

Al-Hawshabi

2021

Electron. J. Univ. Aden Basic Appl. Sci.

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“…In many cases mammalian cell-surface binding of lectins, and subsequent intracellular transport, can modulate a manifold of biologic pathways with remarkable potency [11]. For instance, less than 2 mg of ricin, a ribosome-inactivating lectin produced by the castor bean plant [12], is sufficient to kill an average sized human. A more positive example is the human mannose-binding lectin (MBL), a component of the innate immune system, which is responsible for binding to the high-mannose glycoprotein coat of pathogenic microbes and apoptotic cells to promote their destruction and removal [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Discovery of antitumor lectins from rainforest tree root transcriptomes

et al. 2020

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Glycans are multi-branched sugars that are displayed from lipids and proteins. Through their diverse polysaccharide structures they can potentiate a myriad of cellular signaling pathways involved in development, growth, immuno-communication and survival. Not surprisingly, disruption of glycan synthesis is fundamental to various human diseases; including cancer, where aberrant glycosylation drives malignancy. Here, we report the discovery of a novel mannose-binding lectin, ML6, which selectively recognizes and binds to these irregular tumor-specific glycans to elicit potent and rapid cancer cell death. This lectin was engineered from gene models identified in a tropical rainforest tree root transcriptome and is unusual in its six canonical mannose binding domains (QxDxNxVxY), each with a unique amino acid sequence. Remarkably, ML6 displays antitumor activity that is >10 5 times more potent than standard chemotherapeutics, while being almost completely inactive towards non-transformed, healthy cells. This activity, in combination with results from glycan binding studies, suggests ML6 differentiates healthy and malignant cells by exploiting divergent glycosylation pathways that yield naïve and incomplete cell surface glycans in tumors. Thus, ML6 and other high-valence lectins may serve as novel biochemical tools to elucidate the glycomic signature of different human tumors and aid in the rational design of carbohydratedirected therapies. Further, understanding how nature evolves proteins, like ML6, to combat the changing defenses of competing microorganisms may allow for fundamental advances in the way we approach combinatorial therapies to fight therapeutic resistance in cancer. OPEN ACCESS Citation: Lawanprasert A, Guinan CA, Langford EA, Hawkins CE, Sloand JN, Fescemyer HW, et al. (2020) Discovery of antitumor lectins from rainforest tree root transcriptomes. PLoS ONE 15 (2): e0229467. https://doi.org/10.

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