Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ricin Poisoning

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Toxicological Reviews

Abstract

Ricin is a naturally occurring toxin derived from the beans of the castor oil plant Ricinus communis. It is considered a potential chemical weapon. Ricin binds to cell surface carbohydrates, is internalised then causes cell death by inhibiting protein synthesis. Oral absorption is poor and absorption through intact skin most unlikely; the most hazardous routes of exposure being inhalation and injection. Features of toxicity mainly reflect damage to cells of the reticuloendothelial system, with fluid and protein loss, bleeding, oedema and impaired cellular defence against endogenous toxins. It has been estimated that in man, the lethal dose by inhalation (breathing in solid or liquid particles) and injection (into muscle or vein) is approximately 5–10 µg/kg, that is 350–700µg for a 70kg adult. Death has ensued within hours of deliberate subcutaneous injection. Management is supportive. Prophylactic immunisation against ricin toxicity is a developing research initiative, although presently not a realistic option in a civilian context.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Pevny I. Ricinusschrot-Allergie. Derm Beruf Umwelt 1979; 27: 159–62

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Burrows WD, Renner SE. Biological warfare agents as threats to potable water. Environ Health Perspect 1999; 107: 975–84

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Lord MJ, Joliffe NA, Marsden CJ, et al. Ricin: mechanisms of toxicity. Toxicol Rev. 2003; 22(1): 53–64

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Bingen A, Creppy EE, Gut JP, et al. The Kupffer cell is the first target in ricin-induced hepatitis. J Submicrosc Cytol 1987; 19: 247–56

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Kumar O, Sugendran K, Vijayaraghavan R. Oxidative stress associated hepatic and renal toxicity induced by ricin in mice. Toxicon 2003; 41: 333–8

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Ishiguro M, Tanabe S, Matori Y, et al. Biochemical studies on oral toxicity of ricin: IV. A fate of orally administered ricin in rats. J Pharmacobiodyn 1992; 15: 147–56

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Fodstad Ø, Olsnes S, Pihl A. Toxicity, distribution and elimination of the cancerostatic lectins abrin and ricin after parenteral injection into mice. Br J Cancer 1976; 34: 418–25

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Griffiths GD, Newman H, Gee DJ. Identification and quantification of ricin toxin in animal tissues using ELISA. J Forensic Sci Soc 1986; 26: 349–58

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Ramsden CS, Drayson MT, Bell EB. The toxicity, distribution and excretion of ricin holotoxin in rats. Toxicology 1989; 55: 161–71

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Franz DR, Jaax NK. Ricin toxin. In: Sidell FR, Takafuji ET, Franz DR, editors. Medical aspects of chemical and biological warfare. Washington, DC: Office of the Surgeon General at TMM Publications, 1997: 631–42

    Google Scholar 

  11. Wedin GP, Neal JS, Everson GW, et al. Castor bean poisoning. Am J Emerg Med 1986; 4: 259–61

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Kopferschmitt J, Flesch F, Lugnier A, et al. Acute voluntary intoxication by ricin. Hum Toxicol 1983; 2: 239–42

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Palatnick W, Tenenbein M. Hepatotoxicity from castor bean ingestion in a child. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 2000; 38: 67–9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Crompton R, Gall D. Georgi Markov: death in a pellet. Med Leg J 1980; 48: 51–62

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Challoner KR, McCarron MM. Castor bean intoxication. Ann Emerg Med 1990; 19: 1177–83

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Möschl H. Zur Klinik und Pathogenese der Rizinvergiftung. Wien Klin Wochenschr 1938; 51: 473–5

    Google Scholar 

  17. Bispham WN. Report of cases of poisoning by fruit of Ricinus communis. Am J Med Sci 1903; 12: 319–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Kaszás T, Papp G. Ricinussamen-Vergiftung von Schulkindern. Archiv Toxikol 1960; 18: 145–50

    Google Scholar 

  19. Hutchinson LTR. Poisoning by castor oil seeds. BMJ 1900; 1: 1155–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Aplin PJ, Eliseo T. Ingestion of castor oil plant seeds. Med J Aust 1997; 167: 260–1

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Malizia E, Sarcinelli L, Andreucci G. Ricinus poisoning: a familiar epidemy. Acta Pharmacol. Toxicol 1977; 41: 351–61

    Google Scholar 

  22. Meldrum WP. Poisoning by castor oil seeds. BMJ 1900; 1: 317

    Google Scholar 

  23. Ingle VN, Kale VG, Talwalkar YB. Accidental poisoning in children with particular reference to castor beans. Indian J Pediatr 1966; 33: 237–40

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Spyker DA, Sauer K, Kell SO, et al. A castor bean poisoning and a widely available bioassay for ricin [abstract]. Vet Hum Toxicol 1982; 24: 293

    Google Scholar 

  25. Rauber A, Heard J. Castor bean toxicity re-examined: a new perspective. Vet Hum Toxicol 1985; 27: 498–502

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Koch LA, Caplan J. Castor bean poisoning. Am J Dis Child 1942; 64: 485–6

    Google Scholar 

  27. Levin Y, Sherer Y, Bibi H, et al. Rare Jatropha multifida intoxication in two children. J Emerg Med 2000; 19: 173–5

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Balint GA. Ricin: the toxic protein of castor oil seeds. Toxicology 1974; 2: 77–102

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Leek MD. Pathological changes induced by ricin poisoning. Leeds: University of Leeds, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  30. Leek MD, Griffiths GD, Green MA. Intestinal pathology following intramuscular ricin poisoning. J Pathol 1989; 159: 329–34

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Fine DR, Shepherd HA, Griffiths GD, et al. Sub-lethal poisoning by self-injection with ricin. Med Sci Law 1992; 32: 70–2

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Targosz D, Winnik L, Szkolnicka B. Suicidal poisoning with castor bean (Ricinus communis) extract injected subcutaneously: case report [abstract]. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 2002; 40: 398

    Google Scholar 

  33. Fodstad Ø, Kvalheim G, Godal A, et al. Phase I study of the plant protein ricin. Cancer Res 1984; 44: 862–5

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Engert A, Diehl V, Schnell R, et al. A phase-I study of an anti-CD25 ricin A-chain immunotoxin (RFT5-SMPT-dgA) in patients with refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Blood 1997; 89: 403–10

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Baluna R, Sausville EA, Stone MJ, et al. Decreases in levels of serum fibronectin predict the severity of vascular leak syndrome in patients treated with ricin A chain-containing immunotoxins. Clin Cancer Res 1996; 2: 1705–12

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Schindler J, Sausville E, Messmann R, et al. The toxicity of deglycosylated ricin A chain-containing immunotoxins in patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is exacerbated by prior radiotherapy: a retrospective analysis of patients in five clinical trials. Clin Cancer Res 2001; 7: 255–8

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Wilhelmsen C, Pitt L. Lesions of acute inhaled lethal ricin intoxication in rhesus monkeys [abstract]. Vet Pathol 1993; 30: 482

    Google Scholar 

  38. Griffiths GD, Rice P, Allenby AC, et al. Inhalation toxicology and histopathology of ricin and abrin toxins. Inhal Toxicol 1995; 7: 269–88

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Kokes J, Assaad A, Pitt L, et al. Acute pulmonary response of rats exposed to a sublethal dose of ricin aerosol [abstract]. FASEB J 1994; 8: A144

    Google Scholar 

  40. Brown RFR, White DE. Ultrastructure of rat lung following inhalation of ricin aerosol. Int J Exp Pathol 1997; 78: 267–76

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Topping MD, Henderson RTS, Luczynska CM, et al. Castor bean allergy among workers in the felt industry. Allergy 1982; 37: 603–8

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Figley KD, Elrod RH. Endemic asthma due to castor bean dust. JAMA 1928; 90: 79–82

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Kanerva L, Estlander T, Jolanki R. Long-lasting contact urticaria: type I and type IV allergy from castor bean and a hypothesis of systemic IgE-mediated allergic dermatitis. Dermatol Clin 1990; 8: 181–8

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Metz G, Böcher D, Metz J. IgE-mediated allergy to castor bean dust in a landscape gardener. Contact Dermatitis 2001; 44: 367

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Lockey Jr SD, Dunkelberger L. Anaphylaxis from an Indian necklace. JAMA 1968; 206: 2900–1

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Grant WM, Schuman JS. Toxicology of the eye: effects on the eyes and visual system from chemicals, drugs, metals and minerals, plants, toxins and venoms; also, systemic side effects from eye medications. 4th ed. Springfield (IL): Charles C. Thomas, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  47. May MJ, Hartley MR, Roberts LM, et al. Ribosome inactivation by ricin A chain: a sensitive method to assess the activity of wild-type and mutant polypeptides. EMBO J 1989; 8: 301–8

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Leith AG, Griffiths GD, Green MA. Quantification of ricin toxin using a highly sensitive avidin/biotin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. J Forensic Sci Soc 1988; 28: 227–36

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Houston LL. Protection of mice from ricin poisoning by treatment with antibodies directed against ricin. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1982; 19: 385–9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Hewetson JF, Rivera VP, Lemley PV, et al. A formalinized toxoid for protection of mice from inhaled ricin. Vaccine Res 1995; 4: 179–87

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Griffiths GD, Phillips GJ, Bailey SC. Comparison of the quality of protection elicited by toxoid and peptide liposomal vaccine formulations against ricin as assessed by markers of inflammation. Vaccine 1999; 17: 2562–8

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Griffiths GD, Lindsay CD, Allenby AC, et al. Protection against inhalation toxicity of ricin and abrin by immunisation. Hum Exp Toxicol 1995; 14: 155–64

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Kende M, Yan C, Hewetson J, et al. Oral immunization of mice with ricin toxoid vaccine encapsulated in polymeric microspheres against aerosol challenge. Vaccine 2002; 20: 1681–91

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Poli MA, Rivera VR, Pitt ML, et al. Aerosolized specific antibody protects mice from lung injury associated with aerosolized ricin exposure. Toxicon 1996; 34: 1037–44

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Poisons Information Service (Birmingham Centre), City Hospital, Birmingham, B18 7QH, UK

    Sally M. Bradberry, Kirsten J. Dickers & J. Allister Vale

  2. West Midlands Poisons Unit, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK

    Sally M. Bradberry & J. Allister Vale

  3. Dstl Porton Down, Salisbury, UK

    Paul Rice & Gareth D. Griffiths

Authors
  1. Sally M. Bradberry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kirsten J. Dickers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Paul Rice
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Gareth D. Griffiths
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J. Allister Vale
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sally M. Bradberry.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bradberry, S.M., Dickers, K.J., Rice, P. et al. Ricin Poisoning. Toxicol Rev 22, 65–70 (2003). https://doi.org/10.2165/00139709-200322010-00007

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00139709-200322010-00007

Keywords

Search

Navigation