Simultaneous allergen inactivation and detoxification of castor bean cake by treatment with calcium compounds

Abstract

Ricinus communis L. is of great economic importance due to the oil extracted from its seeds. Castor oil has been used for pharmaceutical and industrial applications, as a lubricant or coating agent, as a component of plastic products, as a fungicide or in the synthesis of biodiesel fuels. After oil extraction, a castor cake with a large amount of protein is obtained. However, this by-product cannot be used as animal feed due to the presence of toxic (ricin) and allergenic (2S albumin) proteins. Here, we propose two processes for detoxification and allergen inactivation of the castor cake. In addition, we establish a biological test to detect ricin and validate these detoxification processes. In this test, Vero cells were treated with ricin, and cell death was assessed by cell counting and measurement of lactate dehydrogenase activity. The limit of detection of the Vero cell assay was 10 ng/mL using a concentration of 1.6 × 105 cells/well. Solid-state fermentation (SSF) and treatment with calcium compounds were used as cake detoxification processes. For SSF, Aspergillus niger was grown using a castor cake as a substrate, and this cake was analyzed after 24, 48, 72, and 96 h of SSF. Ricin was eliminated after 24 h of SSF treatment. The cake was treated with 4 or 8% Ca(OH)2 or CaO, and both the toxicity and the allergenic properties were entirely abolished. A by-product free of toxicity and allergens was obtained.

Ricinus communis treatment of denture stomatitis in institutionalised elderly

“…The search for an alternative treatment for DS has focused on attractive properties of herbs that lack the toxic effects of traditional medicines . While the toxicity of Ricinus communis seeds had been recognised for years , the process used for obtaining castor oil used in Perioquil removes toxic (ricin) and allergenic proteins. Then RC is a viable herbal alternative with advantages, such as low‐cost and antimicrobial activity against gram‐positive bacteria and yeasts , in addition to its powerful detergent action with no unpleasant odour or colour .…”

Review of the Inhibition of Biological Activities of Food-Related Selected Toxins by Natural Compounds

“…By contrast, the protein-rich byproduct, called castor bean cake or castor bean mash, that remains after cold-press extraction of castor oil cannot be used as an animal feed because it contains ricin and allergenic (2S albumin) proteins [162,163,164]. Fernandes et al .…”

“…Fernandes et al . [162] found that solid-state fermentation of the cake with Aspergillus niger eliminated all ricin after 24 h. In addition, treatment of the cake with calcium hydroxide or calcium oxide completely eliminated both the ricin toxicity and albumin allergenicity. Animal feeding studies of the treated castor cake are needed to confirm the safety of the detoxified product.…”

Evaluación de suplementos alimenticios conteniendo torta de higuerilla sobre la degradación in situ de dietas con pasto kikuyo y la producción lechera en vacas Holstein

“…A nivel mundial, el uso de la torta de higuerilla ha sido utilizada principalmente como fertilizante orgánico 20 , aunque su alto contenido de proteína, entre 29 a 35 % 3 , la convierte en una alternativa para la alimentación animal, pero la presencia de varios principios tóxicos y alergénicos como ricina, ricinina y complejo alergénico CB-1A, han limitado su uso 29 . No obstante, se ha venido trabajando sobre el desarrollo de procedimientos biológicos, físicos y químicos que inactiven estos principios tóxicos y permitan su uso como fuente proteica alternativa en la alimentación de animales rumiantes 1 .…”