Ricinus communis It is a woody herbaceous plant that belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. It is a very toxic plant native to the old continent and that grows widely in tropical regions..
Castor bean, as it is popularly known R. communis, It is native to the southeastern Mediterranean and East Africa and India, and has been cultivated in all tropical regions as an ornamental plant.
It is the only member of the genus Ricinus, a monospecific genus that is within the family Euphorbiaceae. Ricinus communis It is considered in some cases as the most poisonous plant in the world, as it produces a poisonous glycoprotein, ricin. This deadly phytotoxin is extracted from castor bean seeds, and can cause death within hours.
Castor beans are characterized by the development of large, palmate-lobed leaves with five deep lobes. Each leaf hangs from a toothed cylindrical petiole about 45 cm long. The flowers of the castor bean are green and imperceptible, and are arranged in inflorescence, at the end of a panicle. The fruits are three-lobed capsules with an average length of 2 cm..
Basically, castor oil owes its toxicity to the phytotoxin called ricin. It is a toxin that severely affects grazing animals, such as horses. Virtually all parts of the plant are poisonous, but it is in the seed that this deadly protein is concentrated.
Castor bean grows wild almost everywhere in the world. In Europe, for example, this plant is grown for ornamental purposes. In Brazil and Paraguay, it is widely cultivated for the extraction of castor oil.
It is a fast growing plant, if grown from seed. However it has a constant requirement for sun.
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Ricinus communis It is a woody shrub that can measure an average of 12 meters in height. In areas with marked seasons this shrub is deciduous, while in tropical regions castor bean is an evergreen shrub..
The large bushes have a smooth, robust, little branched stem, which is generally light brown to green in color. In some cases, the stem may be red in color. In tropical regions the stem can have an average diameter of 10 cm.
Castor bean leaves are large with five to seven deep lobes. Each leaf hangs from a solid, cylindrical, serrated petiole, up to 45 cm long. In turn, the petioles have green-whitish margins.
Generally, the leaves are arranged alternately; and they are toothed, with very prominent veins. They can be between 30 and 40 cm wide. Leaves can be green, purple, tan, reddish, purple-black, or dark metallic.
In addition, the leaves are star-shaped and those with a penetrating color develop very prominent yellow veins..
Ricinus communis it is a monoecious plant that develops racemose inflorescence, known as a panicle. Generally, the female flowers are grouped in the distal region and the male flowers in the basal region of the rachis..
An individual can contain on average 30 to 50% female flowers, and 50 to 70% male flowers. The flowers are devoid of petals; and the male flowers have a peduncle and a calyx with five unequal sepals welded at the base. In turn, they contain numerous filaments, with smooth-surfaced pollen grains..
The female flowers consist of a calyx with five sepals, a style, and three bifid stigmas. In addition, they contain an ovary with three carpels, with one ovule each, covered with soft green spines..
On R. communis the fruit is a globose capsule with a long, spiny pedicel. Immature fruits are green and sometimes red, turning brown when ripe. The opening of the fruit is variable and depends on the temperature and humidity of the air.
The seeds of Ricinus communis They are flattened oval in shape and rounded at one end, with a bulge, called a caruncle, at the other. They have a smooth surface and a shiny appearance; and the color varies from gray with red spots to brownish.
The seeds have an average length of 1 cm, with a hard, brittle outer coat and a soft, whitish inner coat. The seeds consist of an embryo with two cotyledons, and the albumen which is compact and oily..
Ricinus communis It is a plant with a wide distribution, especially in tropical regions. It has its origin in the southeast of the Mediterranean. However, other researchers agree that it originated in Asia, more specifically in India, as it is the region with the greatest variability of R. communis. Still, most researchers accept that the origin of castor bean was geographically limited to North Africa..
It is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In Europe it is frequently used as an ornamental plant. However, it is a plant that tends to establish itself easily in arid regions, with annual rainfall of between 700 and 1200 mm..
Altitude, Ricinus communis it grows frequently in areas between sea level and 2400 meters above sea level. In general, castor bean grows in regions where the temperature is equal to or greater than 20 ° C, requiring a time of high temperatures without rain, after flowering.
From the edaphological point of view, Ricinus communis thrives best in medium to high fertility, deep, loose, permeable, well-drained soils with a pH range of 5 to 7.
Ricinus communis is the only member of the genus Ricinus, which is within the Euphorbiaceae family.
- Kingdom: Plantae.
- Subkingdom: Viridiplantae.
- Under realm: Streptophyte.
- Super division: Embryophyte.
- Division: Tracheophyte.
- Subdivision: Euphylophytin.
- Infra division: Lignofita.
- Class: Spermatophyte.
- Subclass: Magnoliofita.
- Superorder: Rosanae.
- Order: Malpighiales.
- Family: Euphorbiaceae.
- Subfamily: Acalyphoideae.
- Tribe: Acalypheae.
- Gender: Ricinus.
- Species: Ricinus communis Linnaeus.
Ricinus communis It is considered by many researchers as the most poisonous plant on the planet, and this is due to the phytotoxin found in the seeds of this shrub. Three toxins have been documented in castor bean, with ricin receiving the most attention, being the most toxic. The other toxins are ricinin and agglutinin, both very dangerous.
It is a heterodimer of glycoprotein composed of an enzymatic chain A and a lectin, in chain B. The lectin binds to epithelial cells, altering the absorption of nutrients and causing necrosis in the mucosa. Ricin is extremely toxic and as little as 500 µg is enough to cause death in an adult human..
It is an alkaloid that causes neurological damage through binding to GABA receptors. It is also antagonistic to nicotine receptors at muscle junctions..
It is a lectin that agglutinates erythrocytes and can also be immunogenic and therefore contributes to an allergic response that castor bean can cause in many individuals..
Symptoms of poisoning include diarrhea, which can be watery or bloody, and is often accompanied by severe cramps; abdominal pain; sickness; excessive perspiration; threw up; sudden collapse and death. In some cases it can cause neurological damage such as wasting, seizures, and coma..
In animals, castor toxins can cause liver and kidney death. The mucosa of the rumen, stomach, and small intestines can suffer congestion and edema. On the other hand, the mesenteric lymph nodes are often swollen and edematous, and there may be petechial hemorrhages in the intestine..
In some cases there may be degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes, and in the renal tubular epithelium. Many of these symptoms develop in the first 6 hours after ingestion of castor beans, and may last less than 24 hours.
Ricinus communis it is a plant cultivated for horticultural purposes, especially in Europe. Currently it is a shrub that grows wild or cultivated in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world..
From a commercial point of view, castor oil is cultivated to obtain the well-known and valuable castor oil. This oil is extracted from the seeds and is widely used in the cosmetics industry. To extract this oil, the seeds are pre-treated to neutralize the toxins that are present.
Castor oil is the only oil soluble in alcohol, being dense and viscous, and is used in the automotive, pharmaceutical, chemical, fertilizer and pesticide, aeronautical, medical, energy industries, etc..
The main castor producers by cultivated area are India, China, Brazil, and Paraguay.
Castor is a fast-growing plant that is easy to establish if grown from seed, although the specimens have qualitative sun requirements. As an ornamental plant, Ricinus communis It is sown on the margins of the gardens.
The seeds can be directly sown in soils to a depth of 3 cm. It is advisable to soak the seeds overnight before planting them. Each seed should be sown at a distance of 90 to 150 cm apart.
Plants require nutrient-rich, well-drained, moist, and deep soils. It is advisable to sow them on sandy and clayey loams.
Ricinus communis It is not a drought tolerant plant, so it has a constant water requirement. To avoid unwanted spread, the seeds must be prevented from opening and falling to the ground, and burning them is an option..
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