This document summarizes various phyto-toxins, including their source, constituents, uses, and effects. It covers 12 toxic plants: Aconite, Curare, Lily of the Valley, Ergot, Poison Ivy, Abrus, Blighia, Yew, Mushrooms, Psoralea, and Datura. Key toxins discussed include aconitine, curare alkaloids, convallatoxin, ergot alkaloids, urushiols, abrin, hypoglycins, taxanes, amatoxins, muscimol, psilocybin, and tropane alkaloids like hyoscyamine. Toxic effects range from contact

1. PHYTO-TOXINS
Priyanka Goswami

2. CONTENT
1. Aconite
2. Curare
3. Lilly of the valley
4. Ergot
5. Poison ivy
6. Abrus
7. Belighia
8. Yew
9. Mashrooms
10. Psoralea
11. Datura

3. 1. ACONITE
Syn: wolfbane root
Source: dried roots of Aconitum napellus
(Europe)
A. Japonicum (Japan), A. carmichaelli
(China), A.chasmanthum (India)
Family: Ranunculaceae
GS: Western Europe-spain, Himalaya
Constituents: total alkaloid 0.3-1.2%
terpene ester alkaloids: 30% aconitine,
mesoaconitine,hypaconitine, neopelline,
napelline, neoline

4. Use: arrow poison,
potent-quick acting
poison
-not used internally in UK
except in homeopathic
doses
-formerly used for anti-
neuralgic liniment

5. 2. CURARE
History: generic name applied to various south
american arrow poisons from family menispermaceae-
chondendron spp and Loganiaceae
1. Effect is too immediate that the animal can’t flee
2. The muscle relaxation induced by the poison
prevents parrots
3. Toxic only to parenteral route
GS: upper amazon region: brazil and peru
BS: Chondrodendron (Ch. tomentosum, Ch.
Platyphyllum, Ch. Microphyllum)
Curarea: Cu. Toxicofera, Cu. Candicans, Cu.
Tecunarum, Cu. Caurtecasasii)

6. 2. CURARE
Constituent: Tubocurarine,
isochondrodendrin dimethyl
ether, curine, chondrocurine,
isochondrodendrine
Use: as source of alkaloids,
Tubocurarine chloride official
in BP/EP is used to secure
muscular relaxant n surgical
operation and in certain
neurological conditions.
Death that kills slowly.

7. 3. LILY OF THE VALLEY
BS: dried flower tops of Convallaria majalis
Family: Liliaceae
GS: Europe, North America, Western Asis
Compostion: complex nearly 40 glycosides built
upon about 10 aglycone and closely dependent on
the geographical origin.
Chief glycoside: aglycone with 5-beta—hydroxyl
group : k-strophanthidin of convalloside,
convallatoxin, desglucocheirotoxin), convallataxol
& lokundjoside

8. 3. LILY OF THE VALLEY
Convallatoxin: very active
glycoside but fortunately it is
very poorly absorbed in the
intestine
Although the ingestion of lily
of the valley is frequently at
the origin of calls to poison
centers, symptoms are
observed only in 10-15%
cases.
Nausea, vomiting
Toxicity even found in flower
vases containing lily.

9. 4. ERGOT
BS: rye plant Claviceps purpurea
Already studied under ALKALOIDS in Semester-
VII
Refer PDF

10. 5. POISON IVY
Syn: sumacs, poison dogweed
BS: Toxicodendron radicans
GS: USA
Constituents: Phenols: urushiols, o-diphenols
substituted by an aliphatic chain of 15-17 carbon
atoms, and more or less unsaturated
Oxidized to quinones, they formed covalent bond
with proteins and yields an antigenic complex.
Use: contact with the fresh plant results in sever
and extended dermatitis with blisters.
Hands and clothing; objects and disseminate the
phenol that remain intact for months.

11. CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

12. 6. ABRUS
Syn: Prayer beads, Jequirity, Indian Licorice
Source: dried seeds of Abrus precatorius
Family: Leguminosae or Fabaceae
Color: attractive red and black
Taste: root-sweet
Nature: Poisonous
Constituents: Toxic glycoprotein (abrin) resembling ricin
-Alkaloids: abrine, hyaphorine, precatorine, sterols, lectin
o Use: to procure abortion and to hasten labour.
-As oral contraceptive agent
-To make necklace & bracelets
-The lectin (abrin) induce severe GIT problems like
dehydration, hypotension, confusion, coma, convulsion

13. 7. BLIGHIA
Syn: Akee
Source: dried ripe seeds of Blighia sapida
Family: Sapindaceae
GS: Tropical west Africa
Toxicity & Constituents:
-unripe fruit contains Hypoglycin-A & B methylene
cyclopropyl acetic acid
Use: seeds contain hypoglycins, which are toxic and
can be fatal.
-leads to vomiting and sickness.
-leads to breakdown of glucose stores.

14. 8. YEW
BS: Taxus spp.
T. baccata (europe), T. brevifolia (US),
T.canadensis (Canada), T. cuspidata
(Japan), T. wallichiana (Himalaya)
Family: Taxaceae
History: known since remote antiquity for their
toxicity to humans and domesticated animals,
and have been making medical headlines for a
few years: directly or indirectly, they provide two
diterpenoid anticancer compounds with a novel
MOA namely paclitaxel and docetaxel.

15. 8. YEW
Constituents: saccharides, polysaccharides,
cyclitols, fatty acids, sterols, bisflavanoids,
proanthocyanidins, lignan and cyanogenetic
glycosides
Imp: tricyclic diterpene: taxane skeleton:
taxusine,, taxagifin, baccatin-III, Taxine, Taxol,
cephalomannine, taxicins.
o USE:
- spindle mitotic poison
-breast cancer
-murder, suicide attempt

16. 9. MASHROOMS
Because of chemistry of the active principles in many
poisonous mushrooms is still imperfectly known and
positive botanical identification is often extremely
difficult, these species must be classified on a
physiologic basis, that is, according to the type of
symptoms observed in human beings following
ingestion.
Four basic types:
1. Protoplasmic: amatoxins, gyrotoxin, orellanine
2. Compounds exterting neurologic effects: muscarine,
ibotenic acid-muscimol, psilocybin-psilocin
3. GIT irritants
4. Coprine

17. 1. PROTOPLASMIC POISONS-AMATOXINS
Source 1: Amanita phalloides (deadly amanita)
Amanita bisporigera, Atkinson, Amanita verna, Amanita
virosa
GS: Europe
Characteristics: White spores, presence of both an annulus and
a volva, typically free gills.
Constituents: alpha,beta, gamma-amanitin
Source 2: Galerina
Characteristics: nondescript carpophores with yellowish brown
spores
Constituents: alpha,beta-amanitin
Actions: asymptomatic latent period lasting up to 24 hours
precedes violent vomiting and diarrhoea which may continue
untill death results.
-Progressive injuries to liver, kidney, heart and CNS.

18. TREATMENT OF POISONING
Treatment of poisoning:
Removal of toxic material from the GIT
Administration of analgesics to control pain
IV infusion of liquid to prevent dehydration and shock
Hemodialysis or hemoperfusion to eliminate toxin
Appropriate measure to maintain a brisk urine flow.
IV corticosteroids to inhibit toxin fixation in the liver
IV penicillin G or thioctic acid (alpha-lipoic acid) to
protect that organ.
Administration of cytochrome C, Vitamin C, K and B
complex and dextrose, NaCl injection
Most used: Penicillin G, chloramphenicol,
phenylbutazone, Co-trimaxazole.

19. GYROMITRINS-N-METHYL-N-FORMYLHYDRAZINE DVT.
Source: certain false morels, especially Gyromitra
esculenta, G.gigas, Helvella
GS: Europe, Pacific north-west region
Characteristics: pileus surface that varies from
nearly smooth to strongly convulated, never
pitted
Constituents: aliphatic aldehydes: hydrazone of
acetaldehyde, N-methyl-N-formylhydrazine
(MFH), oxidation product-N-nitroso-N-
methylformamide(NMFA)
Actions: latent period of 6-10 hours and vomiting
Treatment: similar to amatoxin poisoning

20. ORELLANINE-CORTINARIN-A & B
Source: Cortinarius species
Constituents: cyclopeptides: cortinarin A & B
-cortinarin B is more toxic
Action: nephrotoxic, latent period of 3-14
days, burning thirst, GIT disturbance,
headache, pain in limbs, spasms, loss of
conciousness, liver-kidney damage
Treatment: supportive & symptomatic ---
particular attention to the maintenance of
kidney function.

21. COMPOUNDS EXERTING NEUROLOGIC EFFECTS: MUSCARINE
Source: Amanita muscaria, Amanita
pantherina, Boletus, Lepiota, Hebeloma,
Russula, Clitocybe, Inocybe-brownish
spores
Symptoms: increased salivation, perspiration,
lacrimation, abdominal pain, sever nausea,
diarrhea, slow pulse, asthmatic breathing,
constricted pupil.
Treatment: Gastric lavage and administration
of atropine, a specific antidote.

22. COMPOUNDS EXERTING NEUROLOGIC EFFECTS: MUSCIMOL
Source: Amatina muscaria, Amanita
pantherina
Symptoms: stimulate CNS, alcoholic
intoxication, muscular twitching,
depression
Constituents: 2-isoxazole derivative,
ibotenic acid, decarboxylation
product muscimol, muscazone
Treatment:
Mild anti-depressant

24. COMPOUNDS EXERTING NEUROLOGIC EFFECTS: PSILOCYBIN-
PSILOCIN
Source: Psilocybe (P. cubensis) and
Conocybe (P.mexicana, C.cyanopus)
GS: Mexico
Characteristic: brownish
Symptoms: anxiety and difficulty in
concentration, Hallucinogenic
Constituents: tryptamine derivative
Psilocybin and Psilocin
Use: By indian for magicoreligious
ceremonies

25. psilocin

26. GIT IRRITANTS:
Source: Boletus satanus, Lactarius
torminosus, Paxillus involutus,
Rhodophyllus lividus, Russula emetica,
Tricholoma pardinum
Symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Rhodophyllus: liver toxix
Constituents: resin like compounds
Treatment: symptomatic treatment
along with bed rest, light diet

27. COPRINE
Source: Coprinus atramentarius
Symptoms: alcohol disulfiram syndrome,
Retarded alcohol metabolism: flushing,
palpitation, dyspnea, tachycardia,
vomiting
Characteristic: black spore
Constituents: N-(1-hydroxycyclopropyl)-
L-glutamine: coprine, breakdown to
form cyclopropanone hydrate.
Treatment: Gastric lavage and
symptomatic treatment

28. 10. PSORALEA TOXIN-FURANOCOUMARINS
Syn: Bavchi, Malaya tea
Source: dried ripe fruits and seeds of
Psoralea corylifolia
Family: Leguminosae
GS: India, China, Srilanka, Nepal, Vietnam
Constituents: coumarin like psoralen,
isopsoralen, psoralidin, isopsoralidin,
carylifolean, bavachromanol and psoralenol,
Fixed oil 10%, essential oil 0.05% and resin
Seeds: Flavonoids: bavachalcone, bavachinin,
isobavachalcone, bavachin and isobavachin
Seed oil: limonene, aelemene, beta-
caryophyllenoxide, 4-terpineol, linalool,
geranyl acetate, angelicin, psoralen, bakuchiol

29. • Chemical Test:
1) psoralen, dissolved in alcohol + NaOH UV light
observation yellow fluorescence
2) Psoralen, dissolved in small amount of alcohol, 3 times
propylene glycol, 5 times acetic acid, 40 times water UV
light observation blue fluorescence
• USES
Aphrodiasic, antibacterial, astringent, cytotoxic, deobstruent,
diaphoretic, diuretic, stimulant, stomachic , tonic, lower back
pain, skin disease, bed wetting, leprosy, hair loss
Psoralen
Psoralidin

30. 11. DATURA
Syn: Jimson weed, Dhotara, Thorn apple
Source: dried leaves and seeds of Datura
Stramonium
Family: Solanaceae
Constituents: Tropane Alkaloids
Hyoscyamin, Hyoscine
Toxicity & Indication: Hot, dry, and flushed skin,
hallucinations, pupil dilation, headache,
delirium, rapid and weak pulse, convulsions, and
coma.