RT Book, Section
A1 Williams, Saralyn R.
A1 Thurman, R. Jason
A2 Knoop, Kevin J.
A2 Stack, Lawrence B.
A2 Storrow, Alan B.
A2 Thurman, R. Jason
SR Print(0)
ID 1181057196
T1 Toxalbumin Ingestion
T2 The Atlas of Emergency Medicine, 5e
YR 2021
FD 2021
PB McGraw-Hill
PP New York, NY
SN 9781260134940
LK accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1181057196
RD 2024/04/23
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.