Abrin is similar to ricin, a toxin that also is found in the seeds of a plant (the castor bean plant). Abrin is used in medical research because of its potential as a treatment to kill cancer cells. Abrin can be made in the form of a powder, a mist, or a pellet, or it can be dissolved in water.

Is rosary pea illegal?

There is no antidote to treat ricin. “It's not illegal to possess castor bean seeds,” said Head. ... The FBI brought another vial to Cultivate '14 to demonstrate plant material that could be used to harm others — this one containing Abrus precatorius seeds, commonly known as jequirity, crab's eye or rosary pea.

Which is more toxic abrin or ricin?

The mechanism of action of abrin is very similar to that of ricin; however, in mice, abrin is 75 times more toxic than that of ricin (0.04 µg/kg for abrin is equivalent to 3 µg/kg of ricin). Similar to ricin, inhalation of abrin is found to be more toxic than ingestion.