Ricinus communis, also known as "grass hemp", actually originated in Africa. Later, because people discovered the valuable value of Ricinus communis, Ricinus communis was planted in a large area in rural areas of China in the last century. Castor's adaptability and reproductive ability are particularly strong, suitable for most soils, and there are almost no natural enemies, so castor's breeding at that time was crazy.
Among the fruits of castor, ricin is the most toxic.
The toxicity of this toxin is more than 6000 times that of cyanide and three times that of king cobra toxin, and it can be killed with only 0.2 mg. And the onset time is fast and it is difficult to be found.
In addition to toxicity, castor has many values, which can be said to be a treasure all over the body. For example, its leaves can be used to feed silkworms, its stems can be used to make hemp ropes, and its seeds can be used to extract oil, which is the main use of castor. Ricinus communis is also one of the top ten famous oil crops in the world, and its oil content is very high.
In addition, it has many advantages, such as low freezing point, high burning point, heavy specific gravity and insolubility in water. Therefore, it is widely used in industrial fields. During the war, castor oil was used in various important fields.
Not only that, castor oil is found in many cosmetics and Chinese herbal medicines. Applying castor oil will not cause poisoning, because ricin is a water-soluble protein and hardly dissolves in castor oil. More importantly, in the process of castor oil extraction, the protein reacts after high temperature treatment, and the toxin is naturally not toxic.
In the latest research, it is also found that ricin may be used in tumor treatment. It can be connected with monoclonal antibodies and become a "bullet" to accurately identify cancer cells and destroy them. Although this method is not certified, it also provides some ideas for the treatment of tumors.
Ricin is like a double-edged sword. If used well, it can be used to save people and benefit society. If it is used by people with ulterior motives, it will bring harm.