TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Toxalbumin Ingestion A1 - Williams, Saralyn R. A1 - Thurman, R. Jason A2 - Knoop, Kevin J. A2 - Stack, Lawrence B. A2 - Storrow, Alan B. A2 - Thurman, R. Jason Y1 - 2021 N1 - T2 - The Atlas of Emergency Medicine, 5e AB - The jequirity pea (Abrus precatorius) and castor bean (Ricinus communis) belong to a family of poisonous plants that contain toxalbumins. The chief toxin of the jequirity pea is abrin, which is structurally very similar to the toxin ricin of the castor bean. Ingestion of jequirity peas and castor beans rarely results in toxicity, as most of the plant toxin is concentrated within the hard shell of the seeds. However, when these seeds are chewed or the shell is digested, symptoms of severe gastroenteritis follow within 1 to 3 days. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea are common but, in severe cases, may be accompanied by hemorrhagic gastritis and hematemesis, seizures, arrhythmias, marked dehydration, CNS depression, and even death. Unfortunately, because of the colorful attractive nature of jequirity peas and castor beans, most cases of ingestion occur in the pediatric age group. Because of the very high potency of these toxins, they are occasionally used for homicidal purposes, and growing concern exists for their potential utilization as an agent of bioterrorism. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/19 UR - accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1181057196 ER -