A patient presents with severe gastroenteritis, haemolysis, hepatic failure, and renal failure 24–48 hours after consuming seeds of a plant used in traditional medicine. The seeds were rosary-bead-shaped with a bright red body and black spot. The toxin responsible is:

• A Ricin (from Ricinus communis)
• B Oleandrin (from Nerium oleander)
• C Abrin (from Abrus precatorius) ✓
• D Taxine (from Taxus baccata)

Explanation

Abrus precatorius (rosary pea/gunja) seeds have a distinctive appearance — red with a black hilum. The toxin abrin is a type II ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP-II), structurally similar to ricin, that inhibits protein synthesis by depurinating 28S ribosomal RNA. Clinical presentation includes severe GI haemorrhage, hepatic necrosis, nephrotoxicity, and haemolysis. Ricin (Ricinus communis) seeds are mottled/bean-shaped, not rosary beads. Oleandrin causes cardiac glycoside toxicity. Taxine causes cardiac conduction block.

Reference: The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (Narayan Reddy), 34th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.