EFSA Compendium of Botanicals

Draft - work in progress

Castor bean (as plant) // Ricinus communis L.

Family:: Euphorbiaceae
Approval state:: Approved
Number of articles retrieved:: 13866
Number of processed references:: 8

Compositions

#1: ricinine in seeds #2: ricin in seeds

Endpoint Studies

#1: Hepatotoxicity and mortality in humans #2: nausea, vomiting, and stomach ache in humans #3: Gastrotoxicity in humans #4: Fatal poisoning in dogs #5: lethal dose in mice #6: Fatal intoxication in human #7: Gastrointestinal toxicity in humans

Genotoxicity

Composition #1: Worbs, Sylvia., Koehler, Kernt., Pauly, Diana., Avondet, Marc-Andre., Schaer, Martin., Dorner, Martin B., Dorner, Brigitte G. Ricinus communis Intoxications in Human and Veterinary Medicine-A Summary of Real Cases. toxins, 2011, vol. 3, no. 10, p. 1332–1372. DOI: 10.3390/toxins3101332. [DOI link]

Language:

English (en)
Plant part:

Seed (as part-nature) (A066P)
Extraction/Preparation method:

Essential oil (as part-nature) (A166Q)
Substance:

pyridine alkaloids (RF-00010801-PAR)
Additional substance description:

ricinine
Analytical method code:

Unspecified (F598A)
Yes/No Qualitative:

Positive/Present (POS)
Result type:

Qualitative Value (Binary) (BIN)
Internal remarks:

ricinine in seeds

Composition #2: [Anonymous]. Ricin (from Ricinus communis) as undesirable substances in animal feed Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain. efsa journal, 2008, vol. 6, no. 9 . DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2008.726. [DOI link]

Language:

English (en)
Plant part:

Seed (as part-nature) (A066P)
Additional extraction description:

unspecified
Substance:

Lectins (RF-00000439-ORG)
Additional substance description:

ricin
Analytical method code:

Unspecified (F598A)
Yes/No Qualitative:

Positive/Present (POS)
Result type:

Qualitative Value (Binary) (BIN)
Internal remarks:

ricin in seeds

Endpoint study #1: Serrano, Rita. Toxic plants: knowledge, medicinal uses and potential human health risks. environment and ecology research, 2018, vol. 6, no. 5, p. 487–492. .

Study relevance:

Human health
Plant part:

Seed (as part-nature) (A066P)
Type of toxicological test:

other (CHD008TT)
Limit test:

Not applicable
Tested organism:

Human (as organism) (A056J)
Sex:

No data
Route of exposure:

ORAL: UNSPECIFIED (OECD2234PL)
Control groups used:

no
Endpoint measured:

Dose not reported (CHD066EP)
Critical effect:

HEPATOTOXICITY (TOX02A)
Target tissue:

digestive: Liver (TT023A)
Effect description:

In less severe cases, nausea, emesis, diarrhea and abdominal pain may occur, however, in more severe cases dehydration, hypovolemic shock, renal and hepatic failure may occur and in severe cases death may occur 36 to 72 hours after ingestion of the seeds.
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

mortality (CHD010BE)
Internal remarks:

Hepatotoxicity and mortality in humans

Endpoint study #2: Boğan, M., Oktay, M.M., Sabak, M., Gümüşboğa, H., Eren, Ş.H. Stranger in the garden: Ricinus communis, 17 cases of intoxication. hong kong journal of emergency medicine, 2019 . DOI: 10.1177/1024907919846720. [DOI link]

Study relevance:

Human health
Plant part:

Seed (as part-nature) (A066P)
Additional plant/substance description:

intake of 1 to 4 seed per patient
Type of toxicological test:

case report (CHD060TT)
Limit test:

Not applicable
Tested organism:

Human (as organism) (A056J)
Sex:

No data
Route of exposure:

ORAL: UNSPECIFIED (OECD2234PL)
Exposure duration:

4.0
Unit of exposure duration:

Hour (G099A)
Number of organisms dosed:

17
Control groups used:

no
Endpoint measured:

Dose not reported (CHD066EP)
Critical effect:

Digestive (TOX18A)
Target tissue:

Digestive (TT002A)
Effect description:

nausea, vomiting, and stomach ache
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

other (CHD003BE)
Internal remarks:

nausea, vomiting, and stomach ache in humans

Endpoint study #3: Hamouda, C., Amamou, M., Thabet, H., Yacoub, M., Hedhili, A., Bescharnia, F., Ben Salah, N., Zhioua, M., Abdelmoumen, S., Ben Brahim, NE. Plant poisonings from herbal medication admitted to a Tunisian toxicologic intensive care unit, 1983-1998. veterinary and human toxicology, 2000, vol. 42, no. 3, p. 137–141. .

Study relevance:

Human health
Plant part:

Leaves (as part-nature) (A0EKT)
Additional plant/substance description:

leaves and seeds
Type of toxicological test:

case report (CHD060TT)
Limit test:

Not applicable
Tested organism:

Human (as organism) (A056J)
Sex:

No data
Route of exposure:

ORAL: UNSPECIFIED (OECD2234PL)
Control groups used:

no
Endpoint measured:

Dose not reported (CHD066EP)
Critical effect:

Digestive (TOX18A)
Target tissue:

Digestive (TT002A)
Effect description:

Ricinus communis poisoning represents 6.1% of plant poisoning in Tunisia. Clinical signs include Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, melena, dehydration.
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

other (CHD003BE)
Internal remarks:

Gastrotoxicity in humans

Endpoint study #4: Roels, Stefan., Coopman, Vera., Vanhaelen, Pascal., Cordonnier, Jan. Lethal ricin intoxication in two adult dogs: toxicologic and histopathologic findings. journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation, 2010, vol. 22, no. 3, p. 466–468. DOI: 10.1177/104063871002200325. [DOI link]

Study relevance:

Animal (target species) health
Plant part:

Seed (as part-nature) (A066P)
Type of toxicological test:

case report (CHD060TT)
Limit test:

Not applicable
Tested organism:

Dog (as animal) (A0CNL)
Sex:

Male
Route of exposure:

ORAL: FEED (OECD2230PL)
Number of organisms dosed:

2
Control groups used:

no
Endpoint measured:

Dose not reported (CHD066EP)
Critical effect:

Other toxicities (TOX19A)
Target tissue:

Digestive (TT002A)
Effect description:

Both animals presented symptoms of sudden prominent uncontrollable vomiting followed by abundant hemorrhagic diarrhea after the gardener had fertilized the plants using a commercially available product composed entirely of castor bean (Ricinus)
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

mortality (CHD010BE)
Internal remarks:

Fatal poisoning in dogs

Endpoint study #5: Worbs, Sylvia., Koehler, Kernt., Pauly, Diana., Avondet, Marc-Andre., Schaer, Martin., Dorner, Martin B., Dorner, Brigitte G. Ricinus communis Intoxications in Human and Veterinary Medicine-A Summary of Real Cases. toxins, 2011, vol. 3, no. 10, p. 1332–1372. DOI: 10.3390/toxins3101332. [DOI link]

Study relevance:

Human health
Plant part:

Seed (as part-nature) (A066P)
Preparation/Extraction method:

Essential oil (as part-nature) (A166Q)
Type of toxicological test:

acute toxicity (CHD016TT)
Limit test:

Yes
Tested organism:

Rat (as animal) (A0CNV)
Sex:

No data
Route of exposure:

ORAL: GAVAGE (OECD2231PL)
Control groups used:

no data
Endpoint measured:

Lethal dose rate in 50% of experimental organisms (CHD029EP)
Concentration unit:

Milligram/kilogram (G061A)
Effect concentration:

20 - 30
Critical effect:

Other toxicities (TOX19A)
Effect description:

oral LD50 in rats was estimated to be up to 20–30 mg/kg
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

mortality (CHD010BE)
Internal remarks:

lethal dose in mice

Endpoint study #6: Ren, Bent Tore., Opstad, Aase Mari., Haavind, Anniken., Tnsager, Janne. Serial Ricinine Levels in Serum and Urine after Ricin Intoxication. journal of analytical toxicology, 2013, vol. 37, no. 5, p. 313–317. DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkt026. [DOI link]

Study relevance:

Human health
Plant part:

Seed (as part-nature) (A066P)
Type of toxicological test:

case report (CHD060TT)
Limit test:

Not applicable
Tested organism:

Human (as organism) (A056J)
Sex:

Male
Route of exposure:

ORAL: DRINKING WATER (OECD2229PL)
Exposure duration:

1.0
Unit of exposure duration:

Hour (G099A)
Number of organisms dosed:

1
Control groups used:

no
Endpoint measured:

Dose not reported (CHD066EP)
Critical effect:

SYSTEMIC (TOX01A)
Target tissue:

Digestive (TT002A)
Effect description:

One hour after ingestion, the patient vomited, had diarrhea and generalized pain. The situation deteriorated, the man died of circulatory collapse and progressing multiple organ failure 42 h after intoxication.
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

mortality (CHD010BE)
Internal remarks:

Fatal intoxication in human

Endpoint study #7: Thornton, S. L., Darracq, M., Lo, J., Cantrell, F. L. Castor bean seed ingestions: A state-wide poison control system's experience. clinical toxicology, 2014, vol. 52, no. 4, p. 265–268. DOI: 10.3109/15563650.2014.892124. [DOI link]

Study relevance:

Human health
Plant part:

Seed (as part-nature) (A066P)
Additional plant/substance description:

Intake varies between 1 and 10 seeds per person
Type of toxicological test:

case report (CHD060TT)
Tested organism:

Human (as organism) (A056J)
Sex:

Male/Female
Route of exposure:

ORAL: UNSPECIFIED (OECD2234PL)
Number of organisms dosed:

84
Control groups used:

no
Endpoint measured:

Dose not reported (CHD066EP)
Critical effect:

NOT REPORTED (TOX17A)
Target tissue:

Digestive (TT002A)
Effect description:

Gastrointestinal symptoms were the most commonly reported symptoms are: vomiting ( n=39/84), nausea ( n=24/84), diarrhea ( n=17/84), and abdominal pain ( n=16/84)
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

other (CHD003BE)
Internal remarks:

Gastrointestinal toxicity in humans