General

Scientific Names: Ricinus communis L.

Common Names: Bi Ma, Hu Ma, Hong Li Ma, Jin Dou, Ba Ma Zi, Niu Bi, Da Ma Zi, Yang Ma Zi.

BOTANICAL:

来 源： 为大戟科植物蓖麻Ricinus communis L.的种子。 。

植物特征： 一年生或多年生常绿灌木状草本，高2～5m。茎绿色或紫红色，有白粉。叶互生，盾 状圆形，直径15～30cm，党状7～9深裂，边缘有不规则锯齿，齿端有腺体。总状或圆锥状花序顶生，下部生雄花，上部生雌花；花被3～5裂；雄花雄蕊多 数，花丝分枝；雌花子房卵形，密生刺状物，3室。蒴果球形，有刺。花期7～9月，果期10月。 。

生药材鉴定： 种子椭圆形或卵形，稍扁，长0.9～1.8cm，宽0.5～1cm。表面光滑，有灰白色与黑褐色蔌红棕色相间的花斑纹。一面较平，一面较隆起。较平的一面有1条隆起的种脊；一端有灰白色或浅棕色突起的种阜。种皮薄而脆，胚乳肥厚，白色，富油性，子叶2，菲薄。味微苦辛。 。

Pharmacology

化学成分: 含脂肪油（蓖麻油），油中含顺蓖麻酸（ricinoleic acid）、亚油酸、油酸等，并含蓖麻毒蛋白D（ricin D）、酸性毒蛋白（acid ricin）、碱性毒蛋白（basic ricin）、蓖麻碱（ricinine）、芹菜甙元（apigenin） 、绿原酸（chlorogenic acid）、芸香甙（rutin）等。

Efficacy

Using Ricinus communis agglutinin I (RCA-I) affinity crossed-line immunoelectrophoresis, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) subfractions were studied in sera from patients with primary hepatic cancer (PHC), hepatic metastasis of gastric cancer (HMGC), yolk sac tumor (YST), acute or chronic hepatitis or hepatic cirrhosis. Fetal AFP subfractions were also examined in amniotic fluids or in culture fluids of fetal tissues. RCA-I non-reactive subfraction was commonly found in PHC, HMGC, YST, benign hepatic diseases, and fetal stage. RCA-I weakly reactive (WR) or strongly reactive (SR) subfraction was noted only in malignant diseases. RCA-I has a specific affinity to terminal galactose in oligosaccharide, and the presence of sialic acid on galactose residue(s) inhibits the affinity with RCA-I. Therefore, common AFP subfraction non-reactive with RCA-I was assumed to be galactosialyl form, while RCA-I WR and SR subfractions found only in malignancies were monogalactosyl and digalactosyl, respectively. Clinically this approach to detect the RCA-I WR or SR subfraction facilitates a differential diagnosis of AFP-producing malignancies and benign conditions.(source)

Ricinus communis agglutinin I(RCAI) receptors in 25 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma and 6 cases of intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma were immunohistochemically localized by avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) method. In the meantime, RCAI receptors in normal and cirrhotic liver tissues were also observed as controls. The results showed that there were many irregularly distributed RCAI receptors in HCC in forms of dispersed dots, even or localized lumpy stainings. The receptors in most intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinomas were distributed in a polar form. However, the distribution of RCAI receptors in hepatocytes of normal, cirrhotic and precancerous liver tissues was band-like. It is suggested that the distribution of RCAI receptors in the cells might be helpful to the diagnosis of hepatoma and to the differentiation of benign from malignant hyperplasia. (source)

IN VITRO:

1. Girbes T, et al., Non-toxic type 2 ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) from Sambucus: occurrence, cellular and molecular activities and potential uses. Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand). 2003 Jun; 49(4):537-45. Review. Erratum in: Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand). 2004 Mar; 50(2):205.
2. Laidler P, et al., Arylsulfatase A from human placenta possesses only high mannose-type glycans. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 1997 Mar; 29(3):475-83.
3. Darbes J, et al., Demonstration of feline and canine platelet glycoproteins by immuno- and lectin histochemistry. Histochemistry. 1993 Jul; 100(1):83-91.
4. Matherly LH, et al., Characterization of transport-mediated methotrexate resistance in human tumor cells with antibodies to the membrane carrier for methotrexate and tetrahydrofolate cofactors. J Biol Chem. 1992 Nov 15; 267(32):23253-60.
5. Haavik S, et al., Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against a mucin-type glycoprotein. Glycobiology. 1992 Jun; 2(3):217-24.
6. Kaneko Y, et al., Lectin histochemistry of human fetal notochord, ecchordosis physaliphora, and chordomas. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1992 Jan; 116(1):60-4.
7. Gleeson PA, et al., N-linked oligosaccharides of the murine transferrin receptor from a plasmacytoma cell line. Comparison with total cellular N-glycans. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1990 Oct 12; 1036(1):47-54.
8. Phillips TE, et al., Secretory glycoconjugates of a mucin-synthesizing human colonic adenocarcinoma cell line. Analysis using double labeling with lectins. Histochemistry. 1990; 93(3):311-7.
9. Fukumoto M. [Histochemical study using lectin and anti-human von Willebrand factor antibody of oral hemangioma]. Nichidai Koko Kagaku. 1989 Dec;15(4):431-40. Japanese.
10. Muramatsu T. [Glycoproteins associated with metastatic potential of cancer]. Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. 1989 Oct; 16(10):3354-8. Review. Japanese.
11. Allen HJ, et al., Synthesis and release of glycoconjugates bearing N-linked oligosaccharides by ovarian carcinoma cells isolated from effusions. Tumour Biol. 1989; 10(2):95-102.
12. Makino Y, et al., Specific lectin bindings to oval cells and proliferated bile ductules. Gastroenterol Jpn. 1988 Dec; 23(6):658-65.
13. Kawai T, et al., Lectin histochemistry of normal lung and pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Mod Pathol. 1988 Nov; 1(6):485-92.
14. Kawai K, et al., Eosinophilic globules in pheochromocytoma of the adrenal medulla. A histochemical, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study. APMIS. 1988 Oct; 96(10):911-6.
15. Irie S, et al., Desialation of transferrin by rat liver endothelium. J Clin Invest. 1988 Aug; 82(2):508-13.
16. Burrus GR, et al., Lectin-binding proteins in nuclear preparations from rat liver and malignant tumors. Cancer Res. 1988 Feb 1; 48(3):551-5.
17. Ramirez-Bosca A, et al., Lectin-binding sites in squamous cell carcinomas and keratoacanthomas. Acta Derm Venereol. 1988; 68(6):480-5.
18. Volman GN, et al., Analysis of asparagine-linked oligosaccharide structures of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Mol Immunol. 1987 Aug; 24(8):871-86.
    

IN VIVO:

1. Burrus GR, et al., Lectin-binding proteins in nuclear preparations from rat liver and malignant tumors. Cancer Res. 1988 Feb 1; 48(3):551-5.
   

CLINICAL:

2. Ishiguro T, et al., Serum alpha-fetoprotein subfractions identified by Ricinus communis agglutinin I in hepatic malignancies, yolk sac tumor, benign hepatic diseases, and fetal stage. Dis Markers. 1989 Oct-Dec; 7(4):239-45.
3. Zhang SM, et al., [A study of ricinus communis agglutinin I receptors in liver cancer tissues]. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi. 1989 Jul; 69(7):369-71, 26. Chinese.

Safety