ricin

noun Chemistry.

1. a white, poisonous, protein powder from the bean of the castor-oil plant.

noun

1. biochem a highly toxic protein, a lectin, derived from castor-oil seeds: used in experimental cancer therapy

n.

poison obtained from the castor-oil bean, 1888, from ricinus, genus name of the castor-oil plant (1694), from Latin ricinus (Pliny), of uncertain origin, perhaps the same word as ricinus “tick” (in sheep, dogs, etc.).

n.

1. A poisonous protein that is extracted from the castor bean and is used as a biochemical reagent.

1. An extremely poisonous protein extracted from the castor bean. Ricin inhibits protein synthesis in cells, and is used as a biochemical reagent and in cancer research.