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Ingestion of castor oil plant seeds. 1997

P J Aplin, and T Eliseo
Emergency Department, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, SA.

Ingestion of seeds of the castor oil plant is rare, and may cause toxicity but rarely death. The presumed toxic component is ricin, a highly potent cellular poison. We report the case of a young adult who ingested a large number of the seeds, causing initial toxicity, but with subsequent full recovery. The management of such ingestions and the apparent discrepancy between the extreme toxicity of ricin and the generally milder toxicity of ingested seeds are discussed.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010939 Plant Poisoning Poisoning by the ingestion of plants or its leaves, berries, roots or stalks. The manifestations in both humans and animals vary in severity from mild to life threatening. In animals, especially domestic animals, it is usually the result of ingesting moldy or fermented forage. Poisoning, Plant,Plant Poisonings,Poisonings, Plant
D010947 Plants, Toxic Plants or plant parts which are harmful to man or other animals. Plants, Poisonous,Plant, Poisonous,Plant, Toxic,Poisonous Plant,Poisonous Plants,Toxic Plant,Toxic Plants
D002367 Ricinus communis A species in the family EUPHORBIACEAE that is the source of CASTOR OIL. Castor Bean,Castor Bean Plant,Castor Oil Plant,Ricinus sanguineus,Bean, Castor,Beans, Castor,Castor Bean Plants,Castor Beans,Castor Oil Plants,Plant, Castor Bean,Plant, Castor Oil,Plants, Castor Bean,Plants, Castor Oil
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D012276 Ricin A protein phytotoxin from the seeds of Ricinus communis, the castor oil plant. It agglutinates cells, is proteolytic, and causes lethal inflammation and hemorrhage if taken internally. Castor Bean Lectin,Lectin, Castor Bean,Lectin, Ricinus,Ricin Toxin,RCA 60,RCA60,Ricin A Chain,Ricin B Chain,Ricin D,Ricin I,Ricinus Toxin,A Chain, Ricin,B Chain, Ricin,Ricinus Lectin,Toxin, Ricin,Toxin, Ricinus
D012639 Seeds The encapsulated embryos of flowering plants. They are used as is or for animal feed because of the high content of concentrated nutrients like starches, proteins, and fats. Rapeseed, cottonseed, and sunflower seed are also produced for the oils (fats) they yield. Diaspores,Elaiosomes,Embryos, Plant,Plant Embryos,Plant Zygotes,Zygotes, Plant,Diaspore,Elaiosome,Embryo, Plant,Plant Embryo,Plant Zygote,Seed,Zygote, Plant
D037121 Plant Lectins Protein or glycoprotein substances of plant origin that bind to sugar moieties in cell walls or membranes. Some carbohydrate-metabolizing proteins (ENZYMES) from PLANTS also bind to carbohydrates, however they are not considered lectins. Many plant lectins change the physiology of the membrane of BLOOD CELLS to cause agglutination, mitosis, or other biochemical changes. They may play a role in plant defense mechanisms. Lectins, Plant,Phytagglutinin,Plant Agglutinin,Plant Lectin,Agglutinins, Plant,Phytagglutinins,Plant Agglutinins,Agglutinin, Plant,Lectin, Plant

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