Caster Bean Information
The castor bean is harvested from the castor bean plant (Ricinus communis) and used to make castor oil. Technically, the castor bean is not a bean at all, but a seed from the fruit of the plant. The skin of the castor bean contains ricin, a highly toxic poison which, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), can cause death within 36 to 72 hours of exposure. Does this Spark an idea?
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Plant Description
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The castor bean plant is a native of Ethopia but has become naturalized in other areas of the world that have a similar warm, temperate or tropical climate. The plant is an annual that can grow from 6 to 15 feet in one growing season. One of the distinctive characteristics of the castor bean plant is its large, deeply lobed dark green or purple-tinged leaves, which can grow up to 21 inches in width. Another characteristic is its hard-shelled, prickly fruit, which can be either green or purplish red in color. Each of these fruits contains three seeds, which are ejected from the fruit after it has dropped from the plant and dries.
Castor Oil
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Castor bean seeds are cold pressed to release their oil. The oil produced is called castor oil and is used in a variety of ways. Many baby boomers remember being given a teaspoon of castor oil to help prevent sickness; this medicinal usage is not as common now. Castor oil is, however, used to create artificial flavors like plum, banana and lemon, as well as artificial flower scents like rose and jasmine. Derivatives of castor oil are also used to create synthetic detergent, lubricants, inks, sealants and other consumer products. The waste leftover from pressing the castor oil seeds can also be used to feed cattle and other livestock.
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Ricin
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Ricin is a naturally occurring poison found in the skin of the castor bean seed. According to the CDC, ricin poisoning works by invading the cells of the body and preventing them from making necessary protein. Without these proteins, the cells begin to die and this can lead to the shutdown of various systems in the body. Ultimately, this leads to death. Ricin is found only in the castor bean seed casings; it has never been found in the oil pressed from the body of the seed. Ricin poisoning can only occur through the ingestion of the castor oil seed. Currently there is no known cure.
Symptoms of Ricin Poisoning
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Symptoms of ricin poisoning can include difficulty breathing, fever, coughing, nausea and tightness in the chest caused by inhalation of the ricin. Symptoms caused by ingesting ricin include vomiting, bloody diarrhea, seizures and hallucinations. If the poisoning runs unchecked, these symptoms can progress to include severe dehydration and loss of spleen, liver and kidney function.
Strange but True
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The United States government experimented with using ricin to create a potential warfare agent in the 1940s. In 1978 a Bulgarian journalist living in London, Georgi Markov, was killed when someone stabbed him with an umbrella that was spiked with ricin. Ricin was also the white powder found on several packages in the early 2000s, creating an alarm across the United States about potential terrorist activities focused on the U.S. Postal Service. According to the CDC, ricin has also been studied as a potential medicine to fight cancer.
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