The Search for Antidotes Against Ricin

Fernanda   Diniz   Botelho; Tanos   Celmar Costa   Franca; Steven   R.   LaPlante

doi:10.2174/0113895575270509231121060105

Abstract

The castor plant (Ricinus communis) is primarily known for its seeds, which contain a unique fatty acid called ricinoleic acid with several industrial and commercial applications. Castor seeds also contain ricin, a toxin considered a chemical and biological warfare agent. Despite years of investigation, there is still no effective antidote or vaccine available. However, some progress has been made, and the development of an effective treatment may be on the horizon. To provide an updated overview of this issue, we have conducted a comprehensive review of the literature on the current state of research in the fight against ricin. This review is based on the reported research and aims to address the challenges faced by researchers, as well as highlight the most successful cases achieved thus far. Our goal is to encourage the scientific community to continue their efforts in this critical search.

Keywords: Ricin inhibitors, drug design, medicinal chemistry, chemical warfare, ricin A chain, ribosome-inactivating protein.

« Previous Next »

Rights & Permissions Print Cite

Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry

Title:The Search for Antidotes Against Ricin

Volume: 24 Issue: 12

Author(s): Fernanda Diniz Botelho, Tanos Celmar Costa Franca*Steven R. LaPlante*

Affiliation:

Laboratory of Molecular Modeling Applied to the Chemical and Biological Defense (LMCBD), Military Institute of Engineering, Praça General Tibúrcio 80, 22290-270, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Université de Québec, INRS – Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, 531 boulevard des Prairies, Laval, Québec, H7V 1B7, Canada
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Králové, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

Université de Québec, INRS – Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, 531 boulevard des Prairies, Laval, Québec, H7V 1B7, Canada

Keywords: Ricin inhibitors, drug design, medicinal chemistry, chemical warfare, ricin A chain, ribosome-inactivating protein.

Abstract: The castor plant (Ricinus communis) is primarily known for its seeds, which contain a unique fatty acid called ricinoleic acid with several industrial and commercial applications. Castor seeds also contain ricin, a toxin considered a chemical and biological warfare agent. Despite years of investigation, there is still no effective antidote or vaccine available. However, some progress has been made, and the development of an effective treatment may be on the horizon. To provide an updated overview of this issue, we have conducted a comprehensive review of the literature on the current state of research in the fight against ricin. This review is based on the reported research and aims to address the challenges faced by researchers, as well as highlight the most successful cases achieved thus far. Our goal is to encourage the scientific community to continue their efforts in this critical search.

Export Options

Export File:

RIS (for EndNote, Reference Manager, ProCite)

BibTeX

Text

Content:

Citation Only

Citation and Abstract

About this article

Cite this article as:

Botelho Diniz Fernanda, Franca Celmar Costa Tanos*, LaPlante R. Steven*, The Search for Antidotes Against Ricin, Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry 2024; 24 (12) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0113895575270509231121060105

DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0113895575270509231121060105	Print ISSN 1389-5575
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher	Online ISSN 1875-5607

About this journal

Call for Papers in Thematic Issues

Submission closes on : 31 August, 2024

Bioprospecting of Natural Products as Sources of New Multitarget Therapies

According to the Convention on Biological Diversity, bioprospecting is the exploration of biodiversity and indigenous knowledge to develop commercially valuable products for pharmaceutical and other applications. Bioprospecting involves searching for useful organic compounds in plants, fungi, marine organisms, and microorganisms. Natural products traditionally constituted the primary source of more than ...read more

Guest Editor(s): Dr. Marcello Iriti

Submission closes on : 04 June, 2024

Computational Frontiers in Medicinal Chemistry

The thematic issue "Computational Frontiers in Medicinal Chemistry" provides a robust platform for delving into state-of-the-art computational methodologies and technologies that significantly propel advancements in medicinal chemistry. This edition seeks to amalgamate top-tier reviews spotlighting the latest trends and breakthroughs in the fusion of computational approaches, including artificial intelligence (AI) ...read more

Guest Editor(s): Dr. Shaban Ahmad

Submission closes on : 21 October, 2024

Mitochondria as a Therapeutic Target in Metabolic Disorders

Mitochondria are the primary site of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production in mammalian cells. Moreover, these organelles are an important source of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in virtually any nucleated cell type. The modulation of a myriad of cellular signaling pathways depends on the mitochondrial physiology. Mitochondrial dysfunction is observed ...read more

Guest Editor(s): Dr. Marcos Roberto de Oliveira

Submission closes on : 29 September, 2024

Natural Products and Dietary Supplements in Alleviation of Metabolic, Cardiovascular, and Neurological Disorders

Metabolic disorders like diabetes, obesity, inflammation, oxidative stress, cancer etc, cardiovascular disorders like angina, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure etc as well as neurological disorders like Alzheimer?s, Parkinson?s, Epilepsy, Depression, etc are the global burden. They covered the major segment of the diseases and disorders from which the human community ...read more

Guest Editor(s): Dr. Rajeev K. Singla