ricinusfrön

Ricinusfrön, also known as castor beans, are the seeds of the castor oil plant, *Ricinus communis*. This plant is a species of perennial flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. The seeds are oval-shaped and can vary in size and color, often displaying a mottled brown or grey appearance. They are notable for their high oil content, from which castor oil is extracted.

Despite their commercial value for oil production, ricinusfrön contain ricin, a highly toxic lectin. Ingestion of even a small number of whole or chewed ricinusfrön can lead to severe poisoning in humans and animals. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and in severe cases, organ damage and death. Due to this toxicity, ricinusfrön should be handled with extreme caution and kept out of reach of children and pets.

Castor oil itself, when properly extracted, is generally considered safe for various external and some internal uses, as the ricin is largely removed during the processing. However, the raw seeds themselves remain a significant hazard. The plant is native to the Mediterranean Basin and parts of Eastern Africa, but it is now cultivated and naturalized in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Its ornamental qualities and the economic importance of castor oil have contributed to its widespread distribution.