killerplants.com | Herbal Folklore | Free Newsletter Signup

What is ricin?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

February 2, 2004

Series: | 1 | | 2 | | 3 | | 4 |

Suggested Reading—>Click here.

Assorted Killer Savings Garden Links—>Click here.

Unique Professionally Designed Gardens—>Click here.

Killer Picks: Castor Bean—>Click here.

The Palma Christi or castor bean plant (Ricinus communis Linnaeus) has been cultivated for at least 4000 years. It is not a 'bean', but a member of the Euphorbiaceae, the spurge family. The distinctively mottled seeds have a high oil content in the endosperm. Castor 'beans' have been found among grave goods in Egyptian tombs. The oil extracted by crushing the seed was used in oil lamps in Egypt and the Middle East. The oil is as valuable today as in ancient times; it is used in lubricants and various manufacturing processes. ("Castor: Return of an Old Crop", R. D. Brigham, New Crops, Wiley, 1993)

The entire plant, but especially the seed, is the source of the phytotoxin, ricin. The toxin is a two-part protein. According to W.H. Lewis and M.P.F. Elvin-Lewis, phytotoxins "are similar to some bacterial toxins in structure, physiological reaction, and their action as antigens."

Plant of the Week 02/09/2004

Castor Bean Plant (Ricinus communis Linnaeus)

Castor Bean Plant (Ricinus communis)
Plant of the Week 02/09/2004

Ricin fools the cell into allowing it to cross through the cell membrane. Once inside the cell, the protein separates. The phytotoxin shuts down the ability of DNA to manufacture enzymes and other proteins necessary for cell function. The affected cells die. ("Ricin: the Secret Assassin", Martin Westwell, Oxford, 2002)

Symptoms of ricin poisoning vary depending upon dose and whether ricin was inhaled, ingested, or injected. Inhaled, ricin causes cough, chest tightness, edema of the lungs, cyanotic (blue) skin, and failure of the lungs and circulatory system. Ingested, it causes severe diarrhea, nausea, internal bleeding, and liver, kidney, and spleen failure. Injected, the poison is very insidious. It causes high fever and leukocyte count and mimics a systemic bacterial infection. ("Ricin", School of Medicine, Stanford University)

There is no standard treatment for ricin poisoning; medical practitioners can only treat symptoms as they develop. Without diligent care, death happens 36 to 72 hours after poisoning.

Right out of a spy novel is the story of Georgi Markov, a writer killed by ricin assassination. To read "The Umbrella Assassination", the story of Markov's death, click on the link:

http://www.portfolio.mvm.ed.ac.uk/studentwebs/session2/group12/georgie.htm

Series: | 1 | | 2 | | 3 | | 4 |

Unique Professionally Designed Gardens

Springhill Nursery®

Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you. Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!

Castor Bean Seed

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

An Excellent Screen!

A fast-growing privacy screen! Castor Bean grows 10-12 feet tall with gigantic veined leaves. Prefers full sun.

Annual flowers are easy to grow, bloom over a long period and allow you to enjoy a whole new look every year. Mass large numbers of them in beds and borders for a stunning color display, or tuck smaller numbers of them into perennial planting that need a little extra pizzazz. [Flower and Grass Seed!]

Comments: Leaves have many colors: green, red, bluish-gray, maroon, purple, and variegated. Leaves are veined with scarlet and measure 3 feet across. Seeds and leaves are poisonous. Likes heat and moisture. In zones 8-10 it acts as a perennial. Soak seeds for 24 hours before sowing. Requires staking in exposed areas. Helps keep moles away. Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys!