Ricinus communis Intoxications in Human and Veterinary Medicine—A Summary of Real Cases

Worbs, Sylvia; Köhler, Kernt; Pauly, Diana; Avondet, Marc-André; Schaer, Martin; Dorner, Martin B.; Dorner, Brigitte G.

doi:10.3390/toxins3101332

Cited by 193 publications

(197 citation statements)

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“…Despite several reports of accidental poisoning in humans by unprocessed seeds of R. communis (De Paepe et al 2005, Nishiyama et al 2005, Lucas et al 2006, Al-Tamimi et al 2008) cases of poisoning in animals have occurred after the intake of processed seeds (Worbs et al 2011). In Brazil, the data reported to date were mainly from experimental studies in cattle, sheep and rabbits (Armién et al 1996, Brito & Tokarnia 1997, Tokarnia & Döbereiner 1997 and spontaneous cases of poisoning in cattle have not been described.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…The cattle were observed ingesting the aerial parts of the plant, seeds were present in the digestive systems of the necropsied cattle, and fallen trees showed signs of consumption. These findings are important for the diagnosis of poisoning because necropsy and histological lesions are nonspecific (Worbs et al 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most seeds can pass through the digestive system intact, but mastication and rumination can significantly enhance the release of ricin from plant seeds (Albretson et al 2000, Johnson et al 2005. Additionally, the lethal dose of seeds can vary by the age and sensitivity of the animal, even among animals of the same species (Worbs et al 2011, Tokarnia et al 2012.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spontaneous poisoning by Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae) in cattle

et al. 2014

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Pesq. Vet. Bras. 34(9) The aim of this study is to report cases of spontaneous poisoning of cattle by Ricinus communis (castor beans) in Paraíba, a semiarid region of northeastern Brazil. The cases were observed in 2 herds on neighboring properties in 2013. Clinical signs developed within 6-24 h and consisted of weakness, tachycardia, dyspnea, profuse watery diarrhea, dehydration, depression, instability, cramps, permanent lateral recumbency and death within 48-72 h. Of the 60 cattle at risk, 19 were affected and 14 died. Five fully recovered after the course of 12 days. Three animals were necropsied. The main gross lesions were hemopericardium, hemothorax, pulmonary edema, petechial hemorrhages in the epicardium and endocardium, ecchymoses at the papillary muscles and suffusions on the intercostal muscles. Hemorrhages were also observed in the abdominal cavity, spleen and mucosa of the abomasum and small intestine. The rumen content was liquid with a large amount of castor bean seeds. There were circular, whitish and focally diffuse areas in the liver parenchyma. The main microscopic lesions consisted of multifocal coagulative myocardial necrosis with the presence of mononuclear cell infiltration and varying degrees of bleeding between cardiac muscle fibers. The abomasum and small intestine mucosae and submucosa had mild edema and mononuclear and polymorphonuclear inflammatory cell infiltration. The diagnosis of R. communis was based on the history of plant consumption, clinical signs, pathology of the disease and the presence of large amounts of castor bean seeds in the forestomachs.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spontaneous poisoning by Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae) in cattle

et al. 2014

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“…Therefore, the ricin protein, a toxic protein with 60 kDa which is contained in R. communis seeds (WORBS et al, 2011), cannot be the active compound against H. contortus eggs, although it is known that the surface of H. contortus eggshells contains galactose carbohydrate (PALMER; McCOMBE, 1996;JURASEK et al, 2010;HILLRICHS et al, 2012), which is a binding site for ricin. Trypsin inhibitor activity, albeit weak, was also observed in the CERN fraction of R. communis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lectin, hemolysin and protease inhibitors in seed fractions with ovicidal activity against Haemonchus contortus

Salles

Braga

Nascimento³

et al. 2014

Rev. Bras. Parasitol. Vet.

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Bioactive molecules of plant species are promising alternatives for the chemical control of gastrointestinal nematodes in ruminants. Extracts of native and exotic seed species from Brazil's semi-arid region were tested in vitro in an egg hatch assay and the bioactivity of their proteins was investigated. Each seed species was subjected to three extractions with three types of solvents. All the seeds showed ovicidal activity, which varied according to the solvents. Higher ovicidal activity was found in the molecule fractions of low molecular weight (<12 kDa) for Albizia lebbeck, Ipomoea asarifolia, Jatropha curcas, Libidibia ferrea, Moringa oleifera and Ricinus communis (P<0.05, Bonferroni test). The two fractions of Crotalaria spectabilis showed the same ovicidal activity (P>0.05, Bonferroni test). Hemagglutinating activity was detected in the fractions of C. spectabilis and M. oleifera fractions, hemolysin activity in the A. lebbeck and M. oleifera fractions, serine protease inhibitory activity in the A. lebbeck, I. asarifolia, J. curcas, M. oleifera and R. communis fractions, cysteine protease inhibitor activity in the M. oleifera fraction, and no protein activity in the L. ferrea fraction. The results of this work reveal new plant species with a potential for use in controlling nematode parasites in goats, thus opening a new field of research involving plant protein molecules with ovicidal properties.Keywords: Goats, nematodes, egg hatch assay, lectin, protease inhibitors, hemolysin. ResumoMoléculas bioativas de espécies vegetais são alternativas promissoras ao controle químico dos nematoides gastrintestinais em ruminantes. Extratos de sementes de espécies nativas e exóticas do Semiárido Brasileiro foram testados in vitro em ensaio de eclosão de ovos e investigada a natureza proteica da bioatividade. Três extrações com três solventes foram feitas para cada semente estudada. Todas as sementes apresentaram atividade ovicida, variando com o solvente utilizado. Maior taxa de inibição da eclosão concentrou-se nas frações de moléculas de baixa massa molecular (<12 kDa) para Albizia lebbeck, Ipomoea asarifolia, Jatropha curcas, Libidibia ferrea, Moringa oleifera e Ricinus communis (P<0,05, teste de Bonferroni). Crotalaria spectabilis mostrou atividade nas duas frações, sem diferença entre elas (P>0,05, teste de Bonferroni). Observou-se atividade hemaglutinante nas frações de C. spectabilis e M. oleifera, de hemolisina em A. lebbeck e M. oleifera, de atividade inibidora de protease da serina em A. lebbeck, I. asarifolia, J. curcas, M. oleifera

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“…The acceptable daily castor oil intake (for human) of 0 to 0.7 mg/kg body weight has been established by the food and agriculture organization/world health organization (8). Different human or animal cases of poisoning with castor bean have been reported (10,11). The observational human case series study of Thornton et al (2014) showed that because of the existence of ricin in the castor bean seed, serious outcomes after ingestions of the seeds of the castor bean plant might occur.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management of Castor Bean Seed-Associated Intraventricular Hemorrhage with Fresh Frozen Plasma: A Case Report

Hosseini

Noorafshan

2016

Iran Red Crescent Med J

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Introduction: Castor bean seed is used to control some medical conditions including diabetes mellitus due to popular belief in its effectiveness. However it may cause severe poisoning in humans and animals and its components (ricin) might be used as a biological weapon. In the present case, a rare intra-ventricular hemorrhage followed by unconsciousness had occurred after poisoning with caster bean. Because there is no direct antidote or reversal agent for this condition, fresh frozen plasma (FFP) was prescribed to control the hemorrhage and good results were achieved. Case Presentation: A 63-year-old female taking castor bean seed as a treatment for her diabetes was admitted to the emergency ward for a comatose state. A computed tomography image of her head demonstrated an intraventricular hemorrhage. Symptomatic and supporting care was prescribed. After two weeks without significant improvement, the patient was administered five units of FFP. However, the patient's neurological status dramatically improved and remained stable. Conclusions: Intraventricular hemorrhage followed by comatose state is a rare finding of the castor bean seed ingestion. The patient's condition improved dramatically after FFP transfusion.

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Ricinus communis Intoxications in Human and Veterinary Medicine—A Summary of Real Cases

Cited by 193 publications

References 282 publications

Spontaneous poisoning by Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae) in cattle

Spontaneous poisoning by Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae) in cattle

Lectin, hemolysin and protease inhibitors in seed fractions with ovicidal activity against Haemonchus contortus

Management of Castor Bean Seed-Associated Intraventricular Hemorrhage with Fresh Frozen Plasma: A Case Report

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