Plants with toxic alkaloids - University of Washington
Plants with toxic alkaloids - University of Washington Plants with toxic alkaloids - University of Washington
Suicide Tree Cerbera odollam – cardiac glycosides In the SW Indian coastlands lives a relative of Oleander The fruit looks like a small mango, with a green shell enclosing an ovoid kernel measuring approximately 2 cm ×1.5cm. On exposure to air, the white kernel turns violet, then dark grey, and ultimately brown, or black. The plant as a whole yields a milky, white latex. The kernels contain cerberin a potent toxin related to digoxin, a cardiac glycoside poison found in foxglove. It blocks the calcium ion channels in heart muscle, causing disruption of the heart beat. This is fatal. Cerberin is difficult to detect in autopsies and its taste can be masked with strong spices. Therefore it is often used in homicide and suicide in India. In Madagascar belief in the accuracy of trial by ordeal using this poison was so strongly held that innocent people did not hesitate to subject themselves to it
Unusual Poisons The slobber weed: Pilocarpus pennatifolius stimulates the salivary glands much more than the betel nut Areca catechu (the nut causing red saliva that stains the street of Asia). Here the secretion becomes so powerful that it interferes with speech (ideal for political opponents!). Unfortunately, the drooling (up to 2 pints) is followed by nausea & dizziness. Drooling is also caused by the pencil tree extract. Pilocarpine (an alkaloid used for glaucoma) is used to treat dry mouth & also to stimulate sweat glands. Pilocarpus: approx13 species in the Rutaceae, from the tropics of S Amer. The Suicide Tree: Cerbera odollam is a relative of Madagascan arrow poison tree Cerbera tanghin ( nuts that are used in trials by ordeal). The tree grows at the SW coast of India and has white jasmine-scented flowers. The nuts look like green mangos & the white meat inside is full of cardiac glycosides that stop the heart of a human within 4 hours. Widows & other religiously inclined people use these nuts (mashed nut meat with brown sugar) as their last meal. Also used to poison people since it has no bad taste & a delayed action.
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- Page 3 and 4: What makes plants toxic? alkaloids
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- Page 13 and 14: Ranunculin
- Page 15 and 16: Creeping buttercup Ranunculus repen
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- Page 19 and 20: Cyanogenic glycosides Amygdaline
- Page 21 and 22: Plants with Cyanogenic Glycosides
- Page 23 and 24: Plants with Cardiac Glycosides
- Page 25: Plants with Cardiac Glycosides Neri
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- Page 33 and 34: Plants with Saponins: Soap nut Sapi
- Page 35 and 36: Plants with toxic Saponins: Solanum
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- Page 39 and 40: Ilex Holly unknown hemolytic agent
- Page 41 and 42: Plants that can be used as soap ers
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- Page 45 and 46: Poison Hemlock Conium maculatum : P
- Page 47 and 48: Plants with toxic alkaloids: Solanu
- Page 49 and 50: toxic alkaloids larkspur Delphiniu
- Page 51 and 52: Unusual Poisons The slobber weed: P
- Page 53 and 54: Teratogens Teratology is the study
- Page 55 and 56: Rhubarb RheumXcultorum malic acid i
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Suicide Tree Cerbera odollam – cardiac glycosides<br />
In the SW Indian coastlands lives a relative <strong>of</strong> Oleander<br />
The fruit looks like a small mango, <strong>with</strong> a green shell<br />
enclosing an ovoid kernel measuring approximately 2 cm<br />
×1.5cm. On exposure to air, the white kernel turns<br />
violet, then dark grey, and ultimately brown, or black. The<br />
plant as a whole yields a milky, white latex.<br />
The kernels contain cerberin a potent toxin related to<br />
digoxin, a cardiac glycoside poison found in<br />
foxglove. It blocks the calcium ion channels in heart<br />
muscle, causing disruption <strong>of</strong> the heart beat. This is fatal.<br />
Cerberin is difficult to detect in autopsies and its<br />
taste can be masked <strong>with</strong> strong spices. Therefore it<br />
is <strong>of</strong>ten used in homicide and suicide in India.<br />
In Madagascar belief in the accuracy <strong>of</strong> trial by<br />
ordeal using this poison was so strongly held that<br />
innocent people did not hesitate to subject<br />
themselves to it
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