Castor Oil

[Ricinus communis]

Toxicity

Symptoms

Symptoms: Abdominal pain, anorexia, arthralgias, ataxia, bloody diarrhea, bloody urine, burning of mouth and throat, collapsed arteries/veins, coma, convulsions, cough, cramping, dehydration, difficulty breathing, dyspnea, excessive salivation, fever, fluid build-up in lungs, hypovolemic shock, kidney failure, liver failure, loss of appetite, loss of coordination, loss of fluid electrolytes, low blood pressure, multiple organ failure, nausea, oral irritation, renal dysfunction, seizures, spleen failure, sweating, thirst, tightness in chest, trembling, vomiting, weakness.

Duration of Symptoms: Days - weeks

Rate of Poison: 4 - 48 hours.

Causes Death: Yes (mortality rate 0.4% with treatment)

Treatment: Activated charcoal, eye wash, gastric lavage, high doses of vitamin C, induced vomiting, intravenous fluids, medicine, vaspressors, washing yourself and remove clothing.

The seeds of these plants are so dangerous, that just a few seeds could kill a full grown person within 24 hours. Poison is released when the seeds are broken open. On the other hand, the oil from the caster oil plant is often used for cooking purposes.

Photo: Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata - Wikimedia Commons

License: Creative Commons-Share Alike 4.0

Main Toxin

Molecular structure of ricin (ChemDraw)

Ricin

Ricin is a glycoprotein that is a water-soluble cytotoxin. Ricin inhibits cells from developing certain proteins that the body needs as well as ribosomes. Ricin contains two chains, chain A and chain B. Chain B allows ricin to enter the cytosol. This is because chain B binds to glycoproteins and glycolipids on the cell surface. These glycoproteins and glycolipids consist of galactose. Once ricin enters the cell, the A chain removes an adenine residue from 28S ribosomal RNA loop, which inactivates the ribosome. This inactivation causes inhibition of the production of proteins. In the absence of these proteins, the cells will die and eventually the body will shut down. Hemolysis may occur and result in possible hemorrhaging, which can damage organs and the digestive tract (the main site where hemorrhaging may occur). Depending on the route of exposure will determine the different types of symptoms that will occur.

Level of Toxin: 40% - 60% in oil.

Impacting Dosage: 1-2 seeds for child; 4-8 seeds for adult. 1 - 20 mg/kg of body weight.

Other Toxins and Chemical Components

Ricinine

Ricinine is an alkaloidal toxin. The mechanism of ricinine is not fully known, but in some studies, ricinine increases the amount of glutamate released into the system. It may also inhibit the postsynaptic γ-aminobutyric acid receptor (GABA) subtype A.

Level of Toxin: 1.5 mg/g dried weight.

Impacting Dosage: 30 mg/kg in mice.

PubChem Data Sheet

Ricin Communis Agglutinin

General Information

Parts of Plant: Leaves, seeds

Contact Hazard: May cause skin rash.

Animals Affected: All animals

*Toxicity ranges depending on body weight, build, etc.

Medicinal Value

General Information

Parts of Plant: Leaves, oil, root, seeds.

Properties: Analgesic, anthelmintic, anticancer, antidandruff, antidiabetic, antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antinociceptive, antioxidant, antitussive, antiviral, antiulcer, cathartic, discutient, emollient, expectorant, hepatoprotective, laxative, purgative, unguent.

Components: Ricin (experimentally)

Antidote: Oil used to clear digestive tract if poisoned.

Preparation: Decoction, gel, medicinal drugs, paste, poultice, powder.

Historical Uses

Current Uses

Treatments

Arthritis: Oil
Colic
Constipation
Enteritis
Eye irritation: Oil
Fever
Flatulence
Headache
Liver Infection
Labour: Oil used to induce labour.
Inflammation
Stomachache
Warts

Location

Ayurveda: Used as a cathartic and to treat arthritis.
China: Used as a cathartic and to treat arthritis.
Egypt: Oil used to treat eye irritation and induce labour.
Greece: Seed oil used as a purgative and body ointment.
India: Bean oil used as a laxative, purgative, and unguent.
Unani: Used as a cathartic and to treat arthritis.

Claimed Treatments

Abscesses: Seeds
Birth Control: Seeds
Boils: Leaves, seeds
Constipation: Oil, seeds
Dermatitis: Oil
Eczema: Oil
Headache: Leaves, seeds
Heartburn: Oil
Indigestion: Seeds
Leprosy: Seeds
Liver: Alcohol extract from leaf used to protect liver from damaging from toxins.
Osteoarthritis: Oil
Skin Disease: Oil, seeds
Syphilis: Seeds

Location

North America: Use seeds as a laxative.

Edibility

General Information

Parts of Plant: Oil, ripe seeds

Nutrients:

Minerals: Phosphorous

Taste: Bitter, nutty.

WARNING: Many sites go against use of castor oil as a cooking product due to the possibility of ingesting ricin.

Historical Uses

Current Uses

Preparation Methods

None known.

Preparation Methods

Candy Flavouring: Oil used as an additive.

General Facts

Plant Facts

Illustration of Castor Oil by Désiré Georges Jean Marie Bois - Wikimedia Commons

License: Public Domain

Family: Euphorbiaceae (Spurge Family)

Genus: Ricinus

Other Names: African Coffee Tree, African Wonder Tree, Castor Bean, Higuereta, Higuerilla, Koli, La'Au-'Aila, Man's Motherwort, Mexico Weed, Mole Bean Plant, Pa'Aila, Palma Christi, Ricin, Ricino, Steadfast, Wonder Tree.

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Bloom Colours: Red, Red-Metallic, Bronze, Bronze-Green, Bright Green, Green, Maroon, Reddish-Purple, Black-Purplish.

Bloom Time: March - October

Type: Annual, Perennial

Height: 6 - 40 feet (tropical regions).

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Habitat: Edge of cultivated lands, fallow fields, moist and well-drained soils, river beds, roadsides, waste areas.

Origin: Africa, Asia

States: AL, AZ, AR, CA, CT, FL, GA, HI, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MS, MI, MO, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI

Provinces: ON

Related Species

None known.

Family Connection

Sandbox Tree

Sources

Toxicity Section

Abbes, M., Montana, M., Curti, C., & Vanelle, P. (2021). Ricin poisoning: A review on contamination source, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and reporting of ricin poisoning. Toxicon, 195, 86-92. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0041010121000775
ASPCA. (n.d.). Castor Bean Plant. From https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/castor-bean-plant
Audi, J., Belson, M., Patel, M., Schier, J., & Osterloh, J. (2005). Ricin poisoning: a comprehensive review. Jama, 294(18), 2342-2351. From https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/201818
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Facts About Ricin. From https://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/ricin/facts.asp
Colorado State University. (n.d.). Guide to Poisonous Plants. From https://csuvth.colostate.edu/poisonous_plants/Plants/Details/23
Despott, E., & Cachia, M. J. (2004). A case of accidental ricin poisoning. From https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/bitstream/123456789/561/1/2004.Vol16.Issue4.A6.pdf
Krochmal, C. (2018). The Useful and Versatile Castor Bean Plant. The Magazine of American Beekeeping. From https://www.beeculture.com/the-useful-and-versatile-castor-bean-plant/
L. (n.d.) Ricinus communis - L. Plants For A Future. From https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Ricinus+communis
Largo, M. (2014). The Big, Bad Book of Botany: The World's Most Fascinating Flora. HarperCollins Publishers. (pp.79-81)
MedicineNet. (n.d.) Ricin Poisoning. From https://www.medicinenet.com/ricin/article.htm#ricin_definition_and_facts
NC Extension. (n.d.). Ricinus communis. From https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ricinus-communis/
Nelson, L. S., Shih, R. D., Balick, M. J. (2007). Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants (2nd ed.). Springer. (pp. 255-257)
Petruzello, M. (n.d.). 7 of the World’s Deadliest Plants. Encyclopedia Britannica. From https://www.britannica.com/list/7-of-the-worlds-deadliest-plants
Stewart, A. (2009). Wicked Plants: The Weed that Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. (pp. 15-16)
University of Wisconsin-Madison (n.d.) Castor Bean, Ricinus Communis. From https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/castor-bean-ricinus-communis/

Medicinal Value Section

Elkousy, R. H., Said, Z. N., & Abd El-Baseer, M. A. (2021). Antiviral activity of castor oil plant (Ricinus communis) leaf extracts. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 271, 113878. From https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121001045
Krochmal, C. (2018). The Useful and Versatile Castor Bean Plant. The Magazine of American Beekeeping. From https://www.beeculture.com/the-useful-and-versatile-castor-bean-plant/
Kubala, J. (2024). 4 Benefits and Uses of Castor Oil. Healthline. From https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/castor-oil#benefits
Plants For A Future. (n.d.). Ricinus communis - L. From https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Ricinus+communis
Largo, M. (2014). The Big, Bad Book of Botany: The World's Most Fascinating Flora. HarperCollins Publishers. (pp.79-81)
MedicineNet. (n.d.) Ricin Poisoning. From https://www.medicinenet.com/ricin/article.htm#ricin_definition_and_facts
RxList. (2021). Castor Bean. From https://www.rxlist.com/castor_bean/supplements.htm
Stewart, A. (2009). Wicked Plants: The Weed that Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. (pp. 15-16)
University of Wisconsin-Madison (n.d.) Castor Bean, Ricinus Communis. From https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/castor-bean-ricinus-communis/

Edibility Section

IPCS. (n.d.). Castor Oil. InChem. From https://inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/v14je05.htm
L. (n.d.) Ricinus communis - L. Plants For A Future. From https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Ricinus+communis
RxList. (2021). Castor Bean. From https://www.rxlist.com/castor_bean/supplements.htm
Spicer, F. (2013). Growing the Poisonous Castor Bean. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. From https://www.al.com/good-things-growing/2013/07/growing_the_poisonous_castor_b.html
Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2022-06-11. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Ricinus+communis>

General Facts Section

ASPCA. (n.d.). Castor Bean Plant. From https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/castor-bean-plant
Beaudrie, N. (2011). The Castor Bean (Ricinus communis). Free Css Templates XHTML. From http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/2011/beaudrie_nich/index.htm
Britannica. (n.d.). castor-oil plant. From https://www.britannica.com/plant/castor-oil-plant
Colorado State University. (n.d.). Guide to Poisonous Plants. From https://csuvth.colostate.edu/poisonous_plants/Plants/Details/23
Krochmal, C. (2018). The Useful and Versatile Castor Bean Plant. The Magazine of American Beekeeping. From https://www.beeculture.com/the-useful-and-versatile-castor-bean-plant/
Largo, M. (2014). The Big, Bad Book of Botany: The World's Most Fascinating Flora. HarperCollins Publishers. (pp.79-81)
Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.). Ricinus communis. From https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b459
NC Extension. (n.d.). Ricinus communis. From https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ricinus-communis/
Nelson, L. S., Shih, R. D., Balick, M. J. (2007). Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants (2nd ed.). Springer. (pp. 255-257)
Petruzzello, M. (n.d.). list of plants in the family Euphorbiaceae. Britannica. From https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-plants-in-the-family-Euphorbiaceae-2039145
Stewart, A. (2009). Wicked Plants: The Weed that Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. (pp. 15-16)
University of Wisconsin-Madison (n.d.) Castor Bean, Ricinus Communis. From https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/castor-bean-ricinus-communis/

Date of page creation: December 8, 2022

Updated page: May 20, 2024

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