A toddler swallows two whole, unchewed rosary pea (Abrus precatorius) seeds and remains asymptomatic. The most likely explanation is:
- A Gastric acid hydrolyses abrin into inactive fragments
- B Children lack receptors for abrin on intestinal epithelium
- C The hard, impermeable seed coat prevents release of abrin during gut transit ✓
- D Two seeds contain a sublethal amount even when fully chewed
Correct answer: C. The hard, impermeable seed coat prevents release of abrin during gut transit
Explanation
Abrin is released only when the extremely hard seed coat (testa) is breached by chewing or by mechanical damage. Whole swallowed seeds typically pass through the gut unchanged and cause no toxicity, whereas chewing even one seed can be fatal. Gastric acid does not meaningfully degrade the protein toxin, receptor expression is not age-dependent, and two well-chewed seeds certainly constitute a potentially lethal dose.
Reference: Parikh's Textbook of Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology, 7th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.