Ricin
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad recently busted a suspected terror syndicate by arresting a 'doctor', who was allegedly preparing the highly lethal chemical poison, 'Ricin', and whose handler is associated with the Islamic State Khorasan Province, and two others.
Overview of Ricin:
- Ricin is a highly potent toxin naturally found in the seeds of the castor oil plant, Ricinus communis.
- It is a lectin, a carbohydrate-binding protein, that inhibits protein synthesis in cells, leading to cell death.
- The toxin consists of two chains: the A chain inhibits protein synthesis, while the B chain facilitates cell entry.
- Ricin can be toxic via ingestion, inhalation, or injection; ingestion requires a higher dose for lethality compared to inhalation.
- Estimated lethal dose (LD50) by ingestion in humans is about 1 milligram per kilogram body weight; inhalation doses as low as 5-10 micrograms per kilogram can be fatal.
Symptoms of ricin poisoning depend on the route of exposure
- Ingestion causes severe gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (possibly bloody), abdominal pain, and hemorrhage, potentially progressing to organ failure and shock.
- Inhalation leads to respiratory symptoms such as cough, fever, chest tightness, pulmonary edema, and respiratory failure.
- Injection can cause local tissue damage, inflammation, and systemic organ failure.
- Onset of symptoms can range from hours to days depending on exposure route and dose.
- Ricin’s mechanism involves inactivating ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis, which can kill a cell even at a single molecule level.
- Ricin has been studied for potential medical uses, including cancer treatment, exploiting its cytotoxic properties, but it remains primarily a toxin of concern.
- It is classified as a Schedule 1 chemical and a potential biological weapon due to its high toxicity and ease of extraction from castor bean waste.
This concise breakdown captures the main scientific and toxicological facts about ricin. Let me know if you want details on any specificic aspect.
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