What is ricin? Knowledge about ricin

In everyone's impression, castor is just a plant, and people don't know much about the toxins it contains. Little do people know that its toxin is extremely strong. Only 500 micrograms can kill an adult. Symptoms include diarrhea, bloody stools, and coma.

Ricin

Castor (Ricinus communus), also known as hemp seed, ramie, etc., is a plant of the genus Ricinus in the Euphorbiaceae family. Castor cultivation has a long history and is one of the top ten oil crops in the world. It is mainly distributed in Africa, Asia, etc. It has special uses and high economic value. China is rich in castor resources, with a planting area of ​​about 7 million mu and an annual castor bean output of 340,000 tons, ranking second in the world. Castor seeds (castor beans) Castor beans are the mature fruits of castor plants, containing about 45% oil. The oil can be used as an important chemical raw material to produce lubricants, paints, surfactants, etc. After oil extraction, 50% of castor cake remains, which contains about 35% protein after defatting. However, due to the 5% (wt%) highly toxic ricin contained in its waste, a large amount of protein cannot be used.

Ricin is a toxin that can kill people in extremely small doses. If inhaled or swallowed, a lethal dose is just 1 milligram, while if injected, just 500 micrograms of the substance can kill an adult.

Clinical manifestations of poisoning

Symptoms appear several hours after poisoning. In the early stages, there are lethargy, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloody stools; followed by dehydration, low blood pressure, shock, and drowsiness; in severe cases, convulsions, coma, and clenched jaws may occur; and finally death from circulatory failure. A small number of patients may experience fever, jaundice, bloody stools, proteinuria, anuria or hematuria, and eventually die of acidosis or uremia. The toxin can easily damage solid organs such as the liver and kidneys, causing bleeding, degeneration, and necrosis. It can also agglutinate and dissolve red blood cells, inhibit and paralyze the cardiovascular and respiratory centers, and is one of the main causes of death.

Treatment measures

Immediately perform gastric lavage with potassium permanganate or charcoal suspension, followed by emergency measures such as oral saline laxatives and high enema to expel unabsorbed toxins.

Take milk, egg white and gum arabic orally to protect the gastric mucosa. If symptoms such as coma and drowsiness occur, subcutaneous injection of coramine, sodium camphorsulfonate, etc. can be used, and digitalis preparations can be used if necessary. If water is lost due to massive vomiting or severe diarrhea, large amounts of 5% glucose saline or low molecular weight dextran should be given intravenously in time to prevent shock caused by dehydration and to facilitate the dilution and excretion of toxins. Pay attention to correcting acidosis and give sedatives such as phenobarbital when convulsions occur. When conditions permit, treatment measures such as injection of anti-ricin serum and blood transfusion should be implemented as early as possible.