Natural Toxins

Question 1

Poison ivy effect

Answer 1

Dermatitis in 79% exposed

Soluble in rubber

Question 2

Giant hogweed

Answer 2

Furanocoumarins, causes burns, UV sensitive

Question 3

Mitotic inhibitors

Answer 3

Autumn crocus - colchicine

American mandrake - podophylline

Question 4

Mitotic inhibitors mechanism

Answer 4

Bind to micro tubular structures, inhibit normal cell division, leukocyte migration, atonal transport

Question 5

Mitotic inhibitors effect

Answer 5

Oral pharyngeal burning, N, V, D, colicky abdominal pain, sudden cv collapse

Question 6

Rosary pea/jequirty bean

Answer 6

Abrin, plant lectin (toxalbumin)

Question 7

Rosary pea mechanism

Answer 7

Inhibits protein synthesis I intestinal wall

Question 8

Rosary pea symptoms

Answer 8

NVD, loss of intestinal function, latency period 3 hrs

Not harmful if swallowed unbroken

Question 9

Abrin/ricin mechanism

Answer 9

2 subunits: B binds to cell wall penetrates, A inhibits 60S ribosome

Question 10

Castor bean

Answer 10

Ricin

Question 11

Protein synthesis inhibitors

Answer 11

Abrin, ricin, colchicine, podophylline
Anticancer: with patients in complete remission after autologous bone marrow transplantation for B cell non Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Linked to tumour seeking antibody

Question 12

Ackee fruit

Answer 12

Hypoglycin A

Question 13

Ackee fruit effect

Answer 13

Hypoglycaemia, Jamaican vomiting syndrome

Question 14

Hypoglycin A mechanism

Answer 14

Irreversibly binds to Coenzyme A, and is also converted to methylene-cyclopropyl acetic acid, which inhibits enzymes involved in breakdown of acyl-coenzyme A compounds, thus interferes with beta oxidation of fatty acids

Question 15

Cardiac glycosides

Answer 15

Foxglove, lily of the valley, oleander

Question 16

Cardiac glycosides cause

Answer 16

Bradycardia, hypotension

Question 17

Foxglove mechanism

Answer 17

• precursor (aglycone or genin)
• digitalis
• inhibits Na K ATPase on basolateral side of membrane, increase intracellular Na and Ca - enhanced muscle contraction in cardiac tissue, slows rate of contraction

Question 18

Toxalbumins

Answer 18

Abrin (rosary pea), ricin (castor bean)

Question 19

Foxglove effect

Answer 19

NV, hyperkalemia, ECG changes, visual disturbances

Question 20

Yew

Answer 20

Alkaloids Taxine A and B

Question 21

Taxine A and B

Answer 21

Na channel blockers, beneficial in cancer treatments

Question 22

Yew symptoms

Answer 22

Dizziness, dry mouth, mydriasis, cramping, salivation, emesis, bradycardia, death due to cardiac or respiratory failure

Question 23

Monkshood

Answer 23

Aconitine

- prolongs opening of voltage gated Na channels

Question 24

Monkshood symptoms

Answer 24

Paresthesias (mouth tingling), cns depression, enhanced myocardial contractility and automaticity, cardiac arrhythmia a, respiratory depression, seizures

Question 25

Poison hemlock

Answer 25

Coniine, alkaloid related to nicotine

Question 26

Coniine

Answer 26

Cholinergic excess, weakness, paralysis

Question 27

Water hemlock

Answer 27

Cicutoxin

Question 28

Cicutoxin

Answer 28

Noncompetitive gaba antagonist causes cns excitation and seizures

Question 29

Deadly nightshade

Answer 29

Anticholinergic alkaloids: hyoscyamine, atropine, scopolamine

Question 30

Deadly nightshade effects

Answer 30

Headache, nausea, dry skin and mouth, tachycardia, mydriasis, urinary retention

Question 31

Solanaceous alkaloids

Answer 31

Central steroid like structure (aglycone), and attached sugar molecules. Common potato

Question 32

Potato toxicity

Answer 32

Glycoalkaloid - irritates mucus of gi causes NVD In stomach hydrolyzes and absorbed Absorbed toxin produces neurological symptoms: mydriasis, lethargy, delirium, hallucinations, CNS depression, rare death. Myocardial effects are similar to cardiac glycosides

Question 33

Rhubarb

Answer 33

Soluble oxalates present in leaves, bond calcium and cause hypocalcemia and kidney dysfunction

Question 34

Pointsettia

Answer 34

Mild mucous irritation

Question 35

Mistletoe

Answer 35

Leave sand stem | Phoratoxin (toxalbumin), inhibits protein synthesis in intestinal wall

Question 36

Death cap

Answer 36

- Heat stable amatoxins | - inhibit RNA polymerase II in hepatocytes, inhibits protein synthesis and results in cellular death

Question 37

Death cap symptoms

Answer 37

- 6-12 hrs onset | - NV, intestinal pain, profuse water diarrhea, symptoms free period and hepatic insufficiency (need transplant)

Question 38

false morrel

Answer 38

Contains hydrazine, gyromitrin, which are hydrolyzed to active toxin monomethylhydrazines

Question 39

False morrel effect

Answer 39

Abdominal discomfort, severe headache, seizures -onset 6 hrs Extract toxin by air drying or boiling

Question 40

Clitocybe and inocybe

Answer 40

- Contain muscarine - onset 30 min Antidote atropine - symptoms: sweating, tearing, increased bronchial secretions, small pupils, vomiting, diarrhea

Question 41

Ink cap

Answer 41

- 30 min, +alcohol - toxic - contains Coprine, converted to cyclopropanone hydrate, metabolite inhibits acetaldehyde dehydrogenase - symptoms: headache, nausea, vomiting, flushing, palpitations, chest pain, low BP

Question 42

Fly agaric

Answer 42

- delirium, drowsiness, coma. Dizziness, ataxia, euphoria, muscle twitching, dream filled sleep - ibotenic acid, muscimol (GABA agonist)

Question 43

Magic mushrooms (psilocybe)

Answer 43

- psylocibin - 30 min - hallucinogenic without drowsiness, NV

Question 44

Poison ivy active substance

Answer 44

Urushiol

Question 45

Highly toxic plants with GI symptoms

Answer 45

Ackee fruit, cardiac glycosides, yew needles, Monkshood, poison hemlock, water hemlock, deadly nightshade, solanaceous alkaloids (potato)

Question 46

Easily exposures plants (commonly around)

Answer 46

Rhubarb, Pointsettia, mistletoe, mushrooms

Question 47

Fast onset mushrooms

Answer 47

Clitocybe, inocybe, ink cap, magic mushrooms

Question 48

Slow onset mushrooms

Answer 48

Death cap, false morrel

Question 49

Hallucinogenic Mushrooms

Answer 49

Magic mushrooms, fly agaric (euphoria, delirium, dream filled sleep)

Question 50

Mushrooms that cause seizures

Answer 50

False morrel

Question 51

Mushrooms with active metabolites

Answer 51

``` Ink cap (Coprine-> cyclopropanone hydrates inhibit acetaldehyde dehydrogenase) False morel (hydrazine and gyromitrin hydrolyzed to active monomethylhydrazines) ```