Ricin and its antidote agents: Research advances / 国际药学研究杂志

ABSTRACT

Ricin is a highly toxic plant protein produced by the seeds of the castor plant. It belongs to the ribosome inactivating proteins (RIP) family and causes cell death by inhibiting the protein synthesis activity of ribosome. Ricin takes a unique pathway called "retrograde trafficking pathway" to enter the cytosol, where it interacts with ribosome and then exerts its inhibitory activity. No effective antidote agents have been developed for the treatment of ricin poisoning. In this paper, the structure, cell trafficking process, toxicological mechanism and the research progress in ricin antitoxin agents are reviewed.