Ricin toxicology

Foxwell, B.M., Detre, S.I., Donovan, T.A. and Thorpe, P.E. (1985) The use of anti-ricin antibodies to protect mice intoxicated with ricin. Toxicology, 34, 79-88. 

While animal studies are used for safety assessment prior to administration to humans, preclinical testing may not always predict human effect. For example, continuous-infusion therapy with 260F9 monoclonal antibody-recombinant ricin A chain resulted in severe neurotoxic effects in humans that were not demonstrated in monkey toxicology studies [21], In such cases where suitable animal models are not available for safety testing it is important to consider the application of an appropriate safety factor to provide a margin of safety for protection of humans receiving the initial clinical dose [11,18]. 

Audi, J., Belson, M., Patel, M., Schier, J., Osterloh, J. (2005). Ricin poisoning a comprehensive review. JAMA 294 2342-51. Balint, G.A. (1974). Ricin the toxic protein of castor oil seeds. Toxicology 2 77-102. 

Funatsu, G., Funatsu, M. (1970). Isolation and chemical properties of various types of ricin. Jpn. J. Med. Sci. Biol. 23 342-4 Gareth, D., Griffiths, G.D., Rice, P., Allenby, A.C., Bailey, S.C., Upshall, D.G. (1995). Inhalation toxicology and histopa-thology of ricin and abrin toxins. Inhal. Toxicol. 7 269-88 Gill, D.M. (1982). Bacterial toxins a table of lethal amounts. Microbiol. Rev. 46 86-94. 

Balint, G.A. (1974). Ricin the toxic protein of castor oil seeds. Toxicology 2 77-102. 

Millard, C.B., LeClaire, R.D. (2008). Ricin and related toxins review and perspective. In Chemical Warfare Agents Chemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics, 2nd edition (J.A. Romano, Jr., B.J. Lukey, H. Salem, eds), pp. 423-67. CRC Press/Taylor Francis Group, LLC, Boca Raton. 

Griffiths, G.D., Phillips, G.J., Holley, J. (2007). Inhalation toxicology of ricin preparations animal models, prophylactic and therapeutic approaches to protection. Inhal Toxicol. 19(10) 873-87. 

Abrin is a plant source Type 2 RIP. It is found in Abrus precatorius (rosary pea, Indian licorice, jequirity bean). The toxicology of abrin is considered to be very similar to ricin. A similar Abrus toxin is pulchellin, produced by A. pul-chellus (Millard and LeClaire, 2008). The rosary pea has been reported to be more toxic than castor beans (Griffiths et al, 1994). Species sensitivity is variable and horses are considered to be the most sensitive. The mature goat is considered to be a more resistant species and 2 g of seed/kg body weight is reported as a lethal dose. The lethal dose for cattle is reported at 600 mg of seed/kg body weight. It is likely that abrin is denatured in the rumen (Burrows and Tyrl, 2001). 

Bradberry SM, Dickers KJ, Rice P, Griffiths GD, and Vale JA (2003) Ricin poisoning. Toxicology Reviews 22 65-70. 

Lord MJ, Jolliffe JA, Marsden CJ, et al. (2003) Ricin mechanisms of cytotoxicity. Toxicology Reviews 22 53-64. 

Roy CJ, Hale M, Hartings JM, Pitt L, and Duniho S (2003) Impact of inhalation exposure modality and particle size on the respiratory deposition of ricin in BALB/c mice. Inhalation Toxicology 15 619-638. 

Doan, LG. Ricin Mechanism of Toxicity, Clinical Manifestations and Vaccine Development. A Review. Journal of Toxicology Clinical Toxicology, 42(2) 201-208, 2004... 

Griffiths, D., Rice, P., Allenby, A.C., Bailey, S.C. and Upshall, D.G. (1995a) Inhalation toxicology and histopathology of ricin and abrin toxins. Inhal Toxicol, 7, 269-288. 

Ramsden CS, Drayson MT and Bell EB (1989). The toxicity, distribution and excretion of ricin holo-toxin in rats. Toxicology, 55, 161-171. 

The persistent chemical agents which could be used in a foodborne attack, aimed at poisoning human consumers, include the nerve agent VX, any of the mycotoxins—aflatoxin, T-2 toxin, nivalenol (see Appendix A for discussion of their toxicology)—and compounds such as ricin produced from the castor bean plant. Chapter 5 should be consulted for a full discussion on natural toxins. These chemicals, combined with the biotoxins listed above, could potentially be used in the food supply. This would not be an easy task since many of these agents are toxic to animals and thus might kill the host, preventing dissemination into the food distribution system. 

Although ricin has been prepared in crystalline condition in the laboratory in small quaiititict, it becomes necessary, for purpores of toxicological warfare, to prepare relatively large quantities it a Jiigh slate of purity. Tnis necessitates ihm as much as possible of the noa-toxic material present be removed in the process. 

Ramsden C, Drayson M, Bell E. The toxicity, distribution, and excretion of ricin holotoxin in rats. Toxicology. 1989 55 161-171. 

This first edition of Handbook of Toxicology of Chemical Warfare Agents was prepared to offer the most comprehensive coverage of every aspect of the deadly toxic chemicals that can be used as CWAs/CWMD. In addition to the chapters on radiation, several chapters were included on deadly biotoxins (ricin, abrin, strychnine, anthrax, and botulinum toxins) that can be weaponized in chemical, radiological, and biological warfare. Many... 

A detailed study of incidents with CWs linked to A1 Qaeda shows that cyanides, ricin, and TICs have been the main choices of jihadist terrorists (Pita, 2007). Nerve agents also seem to be of interest, especially because of their toxicological and physico-chemical properties, which make them ideal for tactical use in terrorist attacks. However—and as previously mentioned—the synthesis process requires some level of expertise and is far more complex than the recipes featured in jihadist manuals. 

Wannemacher, R., Hewetson, J., Lemley, R, 1992. Comparison of detection of ricin in castor bean extracts by bioassays, immunoassays, and chemistry procedures. In Gopalakrishnakone, R, Tan, C. (Eds.), Recent Advances in Toxicology Research National University of Singapore, Singapore, pp. 

Roels, S., Coopman, C., Vanhaelen, R, et al., 2010. Lethal ricin intoxication in two adult dogs toxicologic and histopathologic findings. J. Vet. Diagn. Invest... 

Zhan, J., Zhou, P, 2003. A simphfied method to evaluate the acute toxicity of ricin and ricinus agglutinin. Toxicology 186, 119-123. 

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