The seeds of the castor bean plant, Ricinus communis, are highly poisonous and can cause death even when consumed in small quantities. The primary toxin the seeds contain is ricin, a lectin that inhibits protein synthesis in animal cells and leads to cell death. Symptoms of castor bean seed ingestion or other ricin exposure may include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and convulsions. When death occurs, it typically follows circulatory collapse. If castor bean seeds are swallowed whole, rather than after the seed coats have been broken, they are much more likely to pass through the digestive tract without the detrimental effects of ricin exposure.