Ricin, a galactose-binding lectin with potent cytotoxic activity, was used to select a clone of Chinese hamster ovary cells with altered plant lectin-binding properties. The clone (15B) is 80-fold less sensitive to the toxic action of ricin than the parent line. In the absence of ricin, it grows both in monolayer and suspension culture with a normal generation time. Plating efficiency, however,...

Diuretics increase the rate of urine outflow and sodium excretion and are used to adjust the volume and composition of body fluids in a variety of clinical situations including hypertension, heart failure, renal failure, nephritic syndrome and cirrhosis. Some naturally used diuretic plants are Abrus precatorius, Centella asiatica, Allium sepa, Allium sativum, Aloe barbidensis, Cinnamomum verum ...

Biological toxins are a heterogeneous group of compounds that share commonalities with biological and chemical agents. Among them, protein toxins represent a considerable, diverse set. They cover a broad range of molecular weights from less than 1000 Da to more than 150 kDa. This review aims to compare conventional detection methods of protein toxins such as in vitro bioassays with proteomic me...

Abrin from Abrus precatorius plant is a potent protein synthesis inhibitor and induces apoptosis in cells. However, the relationship between inhibition of protein synthesis and apoptosis is not well understood. Inhibition of protein synthesis by abrin can lead to accumulation of unfolded protein in the endoplasmic reticulum causing ER stress. The observation of phosphorylation of eukaryotic ini...

into the rectum. Use of an injection to introduce venom would likely be noticed by the victim and should leave some mark. As death is rarely very rapid, there would usually be time for the victim to make known that he/she had been attacked, but this might not always be the case. Introduction of a venomous animal, especially a snake or scorpion, into sleeping quarters, might also result in effec...

A recent research of cancer has indicated that the mutant of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (IDH1 and 2) genes will induce various cancers, including chondrosarcoma, cholangiocarcinomas, and acute myelogenous leukemia due to the effect of point mutations in the active-site arginine residues of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), such as IDH1/R132, IDH2/R140, and IDH2/R172. As the inhibition for t...