Serial ricinine levels in serum and urine after ricin intoxication.

Abstract

Ricinine is an alkaloid present in the castor bean plant (Ricinus communis) that can be used as a biomarker for ricin poisoning. Serial ricinine levels are reported in the serum and urine of a patient suffering from intentional ricin intoxication. The patient was brought to the hospital 4 h after injection and oral intake of a castor bean extract, but died 38 h later, despite intensive medical care. Ricinine was isolated from the samples by solid-phase extraction and quantitatively determined by isotopic dilution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The ricinine level in serum declined from 33 to 23 ng/mL between 10 and 29 h post-exposure. Three urine samples collected from 12 to 41 h after ricin intoxication showed ricinine concentrations in the range of 20-58 ng/mL. The creatinine corrected values (21-30 µg/g) indicated a concentration-time profile with a maximum ricinine level in urine between 12 and 29 h after exposure.

• Authors: Bent Tore Røen, Aase Mari Opstad, Anniken Haavind, Janne Tønsager
• Journal: Journal of analytical toxicology (J Anal Toxicol) Vol. 37 Issue 5 Pg. 313-7 (Jun 2013) ISSN: 1945-2403 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23592744 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Chemical Warfare Agents
• Plant Extracts
• Ricin

Topics

• Castor Bean (chemistry)
• Chemical Warfare Agents (analysis, pharmacokinetics, toxicity)
• Fatal Outcome
• Humans
• Male
• Plant Extracts (analysis, pharmacokinetics, toxicity)
• Ricin (analysis, pharmacokinetics, toxicity)
• Suicide
• Time Factors
• Young Adult