ARS | Publication request: BIOAVAILABILITY OF CRUDE RICIN IN FOOD MATRICES

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 17, 2006
Publication Date: June 21, 2006
Citation: Cheng, L.W., Brandon, D.L., He, X., Chen, G.Q., Carter, J.M. 2006. Bioavailability of crude ricin in food matrices. [Abstract]. ACS National Meeting and Exposition. Poster AGFD 64

Technical Abstract: Ricin is one of the most potent natural toxins. It is derived from castor beans and is a documented bioweapon. Crude castor bean extracts contain two related lectins: Ricin communis agglutinin (RCA-1 or RCA120), a tetrameric protein that is structurally similar to ricin, but has reduced toxicity; and ricin (RCA-II or RCA60), a dimeric AB toxin. This study was undertaken to determine whether LD50 doses established using purified ricin accurately reflect the toxicity of the crude toxin in a complex food matrix. The toxicity of crude ricin extracts derived from two castor lines were compared with that of purified ricin. The contributions of RCA-1 and other components of castor beans to the stability and bioavailability of ricin in several food matrices were also tested in mouse intraperitoneal and intragastric models.