Castor Bean (Ricinus communis) as a Dual-Use Crop: Green Process Engineering for Ricinoleic Acid and Biosafety Barriers against Ricin

Abstract

Ricinus communis is a dual-use crop that produces both high-value ricinoleic acid (RA) and the potent toxin ricin. This narrative review (2015-2025) assessed process and biosafety strategies that enhance RA yields while preventing toxic exposures. PubMed, Scopus and SciELO searches followed SANRA-6 guidance; five core studies met inclusion criteria. Green enzymatic hydrolysis (Lipozyme TL IM, 45 °C, pH 7) achieved mean RA conversions of 96 % with negligible by-products. Autoclave-plus-washing protocols lowered residual ricin in castor meal to < 0.1 mg kg⁻¹, allowing up to 45 % substitution for soybean meal in sheep and goat diets without performance loss. Integrating Good Manufacturing Practices, Hazard Analysis and blockchain-based traceability forms a robust barrier against accidental or intentional poisoning, while opening avenues for anti-inflammatory dermocosmetics and nanostructured drug-delivery systems. Research gaps include randomized clinical trials on RA, standardized biomarkers of ricin exposure and CRISPR-engineered low-ricin cultivars. Process engineering, toxicology and governance thus converge to turn the castor paradox into a model of responsible bio-innovation.