China
Africa
Explore chapters and articles related to this topic
Catalog of Herbs
Published in James A. Duke, Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, 2018
Toxicity — Juice irritates the mucous membranes. Necklaces made of the pierced seeds may induce dermatitis.6 Seeds contain the toxin abrin. Human fatalities are reported. One chewed seed may be lethal,56 or 5 mg abrine.42 Lethal doses may run about 0.01 mg/kg body weight.33
Plants and Mushrooms
Published in David J. George, Poisons, 2017
Seeds from this plant are bright red with a black spot covering one end. They are very attractive and are often used to make beaded jewelry. The seeds contain abrin, which blocks protein synthesis causing cell death and multiple organ failures. Abrin is one of the most potent toxins known to man. Intact seeds are not poisonous, but if scratched, broken, or chewed, they are extremely toxic. There is more than enough abrin in one seed to kill an adult. Initial symptoms of poisoning can occur within hours or can be delayed for 1 to 3 days. Fever, cough, nausea, and tightness in the chest usually precede pulmonary edema, respiratory failure, and death. The ingestion of whole seeds usually produces mild gastrointestinal symptoms because the seed shell prevents absorption and also because digestive enzymes tend to destroy abrin due to its protein structure. However, grinding the seeds prior to ingestion will most assuredly guarantee a fatal outcome.
Fatal abrin poisoning by injection
Published in Clinical Toxicology, 2021
Ginger R. Rinner, Sarah A. Watkins, Farshad Mazda Shirazi, Miguel C. Fernández, Greg Hess, Jason Mihalic, Susan Runcorn, Victor Waddell, Jana Ritter, Sarah Reagan-Steiner, Jerry Thomas, Luke Yip, Frank G. Walter
Abrus precatorius (rosary pea, jequirity bean) is cultivated worldwide as an herbal remedy and for its decorative seeds. These seeds contain abrin, a protein that binds to the 60S subunit of eukaryotic ribosomes and prevents protein synthesis, much like the bioterrorism agent ricin [1]. Most poisonings involve ingestion of intact seeds and limited toxicity. However, ingestion of masticated or pulverized seeds may cause gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms andvascular leak leading to systemic toxicity and death. Abrin has a similar mechanism to ricin but is much more potent with a potentially lethal dose of 0.1–1 mcg/kg [2]. The mainstay of treatment for abrin toxicity is supportive care [3]. Abrin’s molecular mass (64 kilodaltons) precludes its effective removal by hemodialysis [4]. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) with charcoal hemoperfusion (CHP) was used in one patient who survived abrin ingestion with severe systemic toxicity; however, as abrin’s large size limits its removal by these treatments, the role they played in her recovery is unclear [5]. Exposure confirmation is by detection of the biomarker abrine contained in A. precatorius seeds [6].
Massive fatal overdose of abrin with progressive encephalopathy*
Published in Clinical Toxicology, 2020
B. Zane Horowitz, Rachel Castelli, Adrienne Hughes, Robert G. Hendrickson, Rudolph C. Johnson, Jerry D. Thomas
Abrus precatorius is an ornamental plant indigenous to tropical regions, South Asia and areas of the southern United States [1]. The seeds are known by various names including rosary pea and jequirity bean and have a characteristic bright red color with a black end (Figure 1). The seeds contain the toxin abrin, a toxalbumin, that irreversibly binds the 60-s ribosomal subunit inhibiting protein synthesis [1]. Intact seeds when swallowed whole do not produce symptoms due to the protection of the seed coat. If the seeds are chewed or ground, the core is exposed, the abrin becomes bioavailable, and can produce serious clinical manifestations, including acute gastrointestinal bleeding, neurologic deterioration, seizures and death [1]. We present a fatal case of abrin toxicity after ingestion of 1000 ground seeds, confirmed by a quantitative bioassay for l-abrine.
Neutrophil mediated inflammatory lung damage following single Sub lethal inhalation exposure to plant protein toxin abrin in mice
Published in Experimental Lung Research, 2019
Bhavana Sant, Pravin Kumar, A. K. Soni, G. M. Kannan, D. P. Nagar, G. B. K. S. Prasad, A. S. B. Bhaskar
Abrin is a natural toxin derived from the seeds of plant Abrus precatorius. Abrin belongs to the family of type II RIPs (Ribosome-inactivating proteins). RIPs including abrin, ricin, shiga toxin, and trichosanthin, are RNA N-glycosidases that depurinate a specific adenine residue (A-4324 in rat 28S ribosomal RNA) in the conserved α-sarcin/ricin loop of rRNA.1 Ricin and abrin consist of two polypeptide chains A & B (MW 60–65 kDa) linked by a disulfide bridge. Chain A is the catalytic subunit that is homologous to type 1 RIPs, while chain B is a lectin domain that facilitates the intracellular delivery of chain A by interacting with glycoconjugates on the cell surface.2 Once isolated, abrin could either be easily aerosolised as a dry powder or liquid droplets, or added to food and water as a contaminant.3 Until now, abrin is not known to have been used as a warfare agent or in any terrorist attack. However, because of its high toxicity and relative ease of production, its potential as a weapon of terror cannot be ignored. Since ricin is covered in international treaties, use of similar molecule not restricted by regulation, with more toxic effects need considerable attention and preparedness. Till date no antidotes are available against abrin toxin. Abrin is highly toxic with an estimated human fatal dose of 0.1–1 μg/kg, and has caused death after accidental and intentional poisoning. US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified abrin as a Category B agent.