Ricin

The protein ricin (pronounced rye-sin) is a poison manufactured from the castor bean (Ricinus communis). Its name comes from the seed's resemblance to the tick. Ricin can be extracted from castor beans and is known to have an average lethal dose in humans of 0.2 milligrams (1/5,000th of a gram), though some sources give higher figures http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/ricin/facts.asp. It is considered to be twice as deadly as cobra venom.

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Ricin is poisonous if inhaled, injected, or ingested, acting as a toxin by the inhibition of protein synthesis. There is no known antidote; only symptomatic and supportive treatment is available. Long term organ damage is likely in survivors. In small doses, such as the typical dose contained in a measure of castor oil, ricin causes digestive tract cramps. Ingested in larger doses, ricin causes severe diarrhea and victims can die of shock. (See abrin).

Poison: :This article is about the dangerous substance. For the band see Poison....

Castor bean: The castor bean (Ricinus communis) is a plant species of the Euphorbiaceae and the sole member of the genus Ricinus and of the subtribe Ricininae. Despite its name, it is not a true bean. The name Ricinus is a Latin word for tick; the seed is so named because it has markings and a bump at the end wh...

Tick: Ixodidae - Hard ticks...