Abrin (also known as agglutinin and toxalbumin) is an extremely
poisonous
protein which is found in the
seeds of the
rosary pea (
Abrus precatorius). The
chemical is
toxic because it inhibits
protein synthesis. Abrin's function as a
poison is almost identical to that of
ricin, but abrin's toxicity in mice is 75x greater. It was formerly used to treat some chronic
eye disorders and it is currently being researched as a potential
chemotherapy drug.
Unfortunately, abrin can also be used as a biological warfare agent. When abrin is inhaled, it causes respiratory distress, fever, cough, nausea, tightness in the chest, profuse sweating, the buildup of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), blueness of the skin (cyanosis), and dangerously low blood pressure. If left untreated, it can cause respiratory and cardiovascular failure.
If poisonous amounts of abrin are eaten, it causes nausea, diarrhea, and can cause hemorrhaging in the stomach and intestine and can cause the death of tissues (necrosis) in the liver, spleen, and kidneys.