Ricin Poisoning

Abstract

ROWING AWARENESS AND concern about ricin, a potent biologic toxin, as a possible terrorist weapon has necessitated a comprehensive review of this poison. 1 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) categorizes ricin as a Category B agent (second-highest priority), as it is moderately easy to disseminate, resulting in low mortality but moderate to high morbidity, and requires specific enhancement of the CDC's diagnostic and disease surveillance capacity. 2 Such agents are not routinely encountered, so heightened awareness in the health care community and a strong public health infrastructure are necessary for detection and response. We therefore have summarized the literature on ricin poisoning and provided recommendations for clinicians and public health professionals dealing with a ricin attack against a civilian population. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION Using PubMed, we searched MEDLINE and OLDMEDLINE databases from January 1950 to August 2005 using the keywords ricin, ricinus communis, ricinine, plant toxins, castor beans, castor dust, and castor oil. Keywords were used alone and with the modifiers toxicity, poisoning, diagnosis, clinical effects, treatment , warfare, chemical terrorism, and weapon. The Chemical and Biological Information Analysis Center (http: //www.cbiac.apgea.army.mil) database was searched for historical and military literature related to ricin tox-CME available online at www.jama.com Context The recent discoveries of ricin, a deadly biologic toxin, at a South Carolina postal facility, a White House mail facility, and a US senator's office has raised concerns among public health officials, physicians, and citizens. Ricin is one of the most potent and lethal substances known, particularly when inhaled. The ease with which the native plant (Ricinus communis) can be obtained and the toxin extracted makes ricin an attractive weapon. Objectives To summarize the literature on ricin poisoning and provide recommendations based on our best professional judgment for clinicians and public health officials that are faced with deliberate release of ricin into the environment. Literature Acquisition Using PubMed, we searched MEDLINE and OLDMEDLINE databases (January 1950-August 2005). The Chemical and Biological Information Analysis Center database was searched for historical and military literature related to ricin toxicity. Book chapters, unpublished reports, monographs, relevant news reports, and Web material were also reviewed to find nonindexed articles. Results Most literature on ricin poisoning involves castor bean ingestion and experimental animal research. Aerosol release of ricin into the environment or adulteration of food and beverages are pathways to exposure likely to be exploited. Symptoms after ingestion (onset within 12 hours) are nonspecific and may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain and may progress to hypotension, liver failure, renal dysfunction, and death due to multiorgan failure or cardiovascular collapse. Inhalation (onset of symptoms is likely within 8 hou...

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“…Abrin is a toxalbumin that is found in the seeds of a plant called the lucky bean, rosary pea or jequirity pea Abrus precatorius. Abrin is similar to ricin but far more deadly than ricin, the toxin found in the seeds of the castor oil plant [11,12]. The different protein database bank (PDB) has enough information related to the toxic proteins.…”

“…So keeping this in our mind we attempt to identify the aptamers for the different targets by using the computational biology tools for early detection of the threats. We had chosen the two toxins of lectin family that are highly toxic and no antidote available to them only symptomatic and supportive treatments are available [11,12].…”

Biodiesel: visão crítica do status atual e perspectivas na academia e na indústria

“…Exemplos são o uso da mamona (Ricinnus communis), do pinhão manso (Jatropha curcas), da karanja (Pongamia pinnata), dentre outras. Essas plantas são tóxicas devido à presença de compostos como a ricina, uma toxialbumina letal, e o alcaloide ricinina, além de um polissacarídeo proteico alergênico presentes no óleo de mamona, [223][224][225][226] já a curcina e ésteres forbol são compostos tóxicos presentes no pinhão manso. 227 A karanja (Pongamia pinnata) por sua vez, contém flavonas, furanoflavonas, furanoflavonois, avenasterol, cromenoflavonas e furanodicetonas que tornam o seu óleo não comestível.…”

Management of Castor Bean Seed-Associated Intraventricular Hemorrhage with Fresh Frozen Plasma: A Case Report

“…At present, no antidote or additional definite effective treatment is accessible for ricin poisoning (7). A hasty treatment with supportive care has been advised to control the poisoned patient (7).…”