Poisons

Panacea

drug that is used as a cure-all; a drug that will help any condition

three biological poisons that homeland security focuses on

anthrax, ricin, strychnine

The walking palm

the roots bring the trunk up into the air and the plant eventually moves around by growing different roots on different sides.

ricin is from

castor bean

oil of Ricinus communis used as

laxative

KGB umbrella was used as

delivery device with ricin to assassinate a Bulgarian playright

protein of ricin is composed of two subunits:

A and B

ricin subunit protein B

binds to cells

ricin subunit protein A

passes into cell and inhibits protein production

ricin has been researched and could be treatment for

cancer

the white house attack in 2003 source

ricin

6 factors influencing poison efficacy

Dose, intraspecific variation of plant species, tolerance of individual, method of contact, indirect transfer, additive accumulation

with most plants, high doses cause

death

individual plants can vary in

toxicity

solanine

alkaloid causing drowsiness and salivation leading to paralysis and death

mechanism of solanine

inhibits cholinesterase which then disrupts cell membranes

potatoes with green under skin or sprouts can contain

solanine

solanum nigrum can be

edible to poisonous

solanum nigrum is consumed regularly in

asia, africa, europe

Solanum americanum leaves are eaten by

cherokee

Dumbcane

common house plant that is very poisonous that looks like sugar cane as it gets larger

dumbcane plants have

insoluble calcium oxalate crystals

insoluble calcium oxalate crystals two types

raphides and idioblasts

insoluble calcium oxalate crystals is concentrated in

stem

insoluble calcium oxalate crystals mechanism

converts to calcium and oxalic acid in stomach

effects of insoluble calcium oxalate crystals

intense burning, inflammation, violent choking

white snakeroot was responsible for

milk sickness in Mississippi and ohio river valley

symptoms of milk sickness

listlessness, cramps, vomiting, constipation, liver degeneration, kidney degeneration, muscle degeneration

milk sickness caused by

tremetol from white snakeroot. Cows ate it and their milk became contaminated

arsenic effects are

cumulative

what is an acute poison

one that can kill with any dose

Death cap

most lethal mushroom with three stages of poisoning

first stage of death cap

6-24 hours: dry mouth, nausea, diarrhea, shock

second stage of death cap

2-4 days: false recovery

third stage of death cap:

5+ days: liver/kidney failure (death in 7-10 days)

Daffodil

entire plant is toxic containing many alkaloids

Daffodils are fatal to

cattle

daffodil cause

dizziness, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, convulsions and death (large doses)

Azalea/Rhododendron

all parts are poisonous

Honey intoxication source

azalea

honey intoxication symptoms

dizziness, nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, shock

Azalea / Rhododendron contains grayanotoxins which

bind to Na channels in membrances and prevents inactivation

yew

planted as ornamental shrubs

yew can be toxic...

fresh or dead

symptoms of yew

sudden death

few leaves of yew can kill

a dog

reaction of yew is due to

taxin

taxin slows

cardiac conduction leading to sudden vasodilation. So cardiac or respiatory collapse occurs

vasodilation

widening of blood vessels