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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Griffin, Georgia » Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #137714
Title: INDUSTRIAL, NUTRACEUTICAL, AND MEDICAL USES OF CASTOR GENETIC RESOURCES

Author
item Morris, John - Brad

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2002
Publication Date: 8/1/2002
Citation: Morris, J.B., Industrial, nutraceutical, and medical uses of castor genetic resources. Agronomy abstracts, 2002. Assoc. advancement of industrial crop abstract, p24 (2002).

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The castor plant has tremendous potential for new industrial products, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals that have only recently started to be investigated. This plant species encompasses several hundred accessions represented in the USDA, ARS, PGRCU gene bank. Castor seeds are used in industrial products such as paint, varnish, motor oil, and laxatives. Additional new uses have recently been discovered in castor known as nutraceuticals such as beta-sitosterol which has been shown to be antileukemic, antitumorous, cancer preventive, and as a pesticide. Ricin is an extremely potent poison from castor, however there is some indication that ricin immunotoxin may be effective for the treatment of cancer patients.