3. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Grows all over in India, especially in waste lands.
It is large shrub with greenish-red leaves
Fruits are borne in clusters and soft-spined greenish /
brownish capsules with seeds.
Seeds are oval/round in shape and are of two types: larger
in size, red in color with brown blotches and the other is
small in size, grey in color with glossy bright , polished,
brown mottling.
5. ACTIVE PRINCIPLE
Entire plant is poisonous, containing toxalbumin ricin,
water-soluble glycoprotein and a powerful allergen.
It is easily produced, highly toxic, and can be in the form of
powder, mist or pellet.
The seeds are rich in a purgative oil, which is yellow-pale
with a faint odor and acrid taste.
The oil extract of the seeds has an acid called ricinoleic acid
and the left over cake has the toxalbumin called ricin.
Castor oil is not poisonous.
Unbroken seeds are not poisonous when swallowed or
cooked
6. ACTION
Ricin belongs to a group of poisons known as A-B toxins
that blocks protein synthesis through inhibition of RNA
polymerase.
It is antigenic in nature, agglutinates red cells, causes
hemolysis and cell destruction.
Ricin has a special binding protein that gains access to the
endoplasmic reticulum in the GIT mucosal cells causing
diarrhea.
7. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Ricin can be absorbed through inhalation, ingestion,
injection and through skin contact.
Dust of the seeds may cause watering of the eyes,
conjunctivitis, sneezing, acute nasal inflammation,
headache, pharyngitis, asthmatic bronchitis, dermatitis
and gastric upset.
Inhalation- non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, diffuse
necrotizing pneumonia, interstitial and alveolar
inflammation and edema
8. Ingestion- GIT- burning pain in throat, colicky abdominal
pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
- CNS- vertigo, drowsiness, delirium, convulsions
and coma.
Local injection- erythema, induration, blisters and localized
necrosis at the injection site, and swelling of regional lymph
nodes.
Fatal dose- inhalation and injection- 3-10µg/kg body weight
- orally, the lethal dose is 20µg/kg (10-20 seeds)
Fatal period- 3-5 days
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
9. LABORATORY TESTING
Liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry and
immunoassays.
Ricinine, an alkaloid can be detected in serum and urine.
Ricin- antibody conjugates can be detected in surviving
patients after 2 weeks.
10. TREATMENT
After suspected ricin inhalation or exposure to powdered
ricin, remove clothings and wash skin with water.
In case of ingestion:
- Gastric lavage
- Emetics and demulcents
- Administration of glucose and saline
- 2-5 g of sodium bicarbonate is given 8 hourly by mouth
- Blood transfusion may be needed in some patients
No known antidote
11. POSTMORTEM FINDINGS
GIT- mucosa is congested, softened and inflamed with
occasional erosions and submucous hemorrhages.
Fragments of seeds in the stomach and intestines.
Dilation of heart and hemorrhages in the pleura.
Edema and congestion of liver, kidneys, spleen and lungs.
12. MEDICO-LEGAL ASPECTS
Accidental poisoning may occur in children through the
ingestion of castor beans.
Rarely, powdered seeds are given for homicide.
Ricin can be used an agent of biological warfare or a
weapon of mass destruction.
13. MEDICO-LEGAL ASPECTS
In 1978, Georgi Markov, died after he was attacked by a man
with an umbrella, which was rigged to inject ricin pellet
under Markov’s skin.
14. REFERENCE :
Biswas G. Organic Irritants- Plant, In: Review of Forensic
Medicine and Toxicology, 4th edition, Jaypee Brothers
Medical Publishers (P) Ltd, 2019.p.523-524.
Reddy N. Organic Irritant Poisons, In: The Essentials of
Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, 34th edition, Jaypee
Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd,2017.p.515-516.
Rao N G. Irritant poison,In: Textbook of forensic medicine &
toxicology, 2nd edition, Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers
(P) Ltd, 2010.p.475-476.
