Open Access
Subscription Access
Open Access
Subscription Access
Plant Toxins: An Overview
Subscribe/Renew Journal
Toxins are naturally present in a wide variety of plants. Plants evolve to generate natural products as a means of defence against animals. Phytotoxins have been reported for many useful effects. Some plants produce toxins that can severely harm or destroy any herbivore. They can be modified to exemplify improved affinity and efficacy for health endorsement. Several of these plants are commonly consumed as food. They have been developed as an evolutionary movement for self-protection. These toxic substances when taken in considerable amount can be harmful to human health and cause problems. This review gives an outline on different plant toxins, their mechanism of action and different toxicological effects due to plant toxins.
Keywords
Toxins, Secondary Metabolites, Phytotoxin, Natural Product
Subscription
Login to verify subscription
User
Font Size
Information
- Wink M. Plant breeding importance of secondary metabolites for protection against pathogens and herbivores. Theor. Appl. Genet. 75; 1988: 225-233.
- Chandra Sekhar J, Sandhya S, Vinod KR, David Banji, Sudhakar K and Chaitanya RSNAKK. Plant toxins-useful and harmful effects. Hygeia J. D. Med. 4; 2012: 79-90.
- Burke WA. Skin diseases in farmers. In: Langley, RL, McLymore, RL, Meggs, WJ andRoberson, GT, editors Safety and Health in Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries.Rockville, MD: Government Institutes; 1997.
- Omaye ST. Animal Toxins and Plant Toxicants. In: Food and Nutritional Toxicology. CRC Press; 2004.
- Patel K, Gadewar M, Tripathi R, Prasad S and Patel DK. A review on medicinal importance, pharmacological activity and bioanalytical aspects of beta-carboline alkaloid ‘‘Harmine’’. Asian. Pac. J. Trop. Biomed. 2; 2012: 660–664.
- Chen Z and Huo JR. Hepatic veno-occlusive disease associated with toxicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in herbal preparations. Neth. J. Med. 68; 2010: 252-60.
- Maga JA, Potato alkaloids. C.R.C. Crit. Rev. Toxicol. 12; 1980: 371-405.
- Jadhaw SJ, Sharma RP and Salunke JK. Naturally occurring toxic alkaloids in foods. C.R.C. Crit. Rev. Toxicol. 13; 1981: 21-103.
- World Health Organization (WHO). Cyanogenic Glycosides. Toxicological evaluation of certain food additives and naturally occurring toxicants. WHO Food Additive Series 30. Geneva: WHO; 1993.
- Sandvig K, Torgersen ML, Engedal N, Skotland T and Iversen TG. Protein toxins from plants and bacteria: Probes for intracellular transport and tools in medicine. FEBS. Lett. 584; 2010: 2626–2634.
- Rauber A and Heard J. "Castor bean toxicity re-examined: a new perspective". Vet. Hum. Toxicol. 27; 1985: 498–502.
- Mark VB, Simpson CF, Miller EJ. "Lathyrism: A Review". Quar. Rev. Biol. 49; 1974: 101–128.
- O’Malley M. Surveillance of occupational skin disease using the supplementary data system. Am. J. Indust. Med. 1988; 291- 299.
- Aregheore EM and Agunbiade OO. "The toxic effects of cassava (manihot esculenta grantz) diets on humans: a review.” Vet. Hum. Toxicol. 33; 1991: 274–275.
- White WLB, Arias-Garzon DI, McMahon JM and Sayre RT. "Cyanogenesis in Cassava : The Role of Hydroxynitrile Lyase in Root Cyanide Production". Plant Physiol. 116; 1998: 1219– 1225.
- Rao SLN, Adiga PR and Sarma PS. "The Isolation and Characterization of -N-Oxalyl-L-,-diaminopropionic acid: A Neurotoxin from the Seeds of Lathyrus sativus". Biochem. 3; 1964: 432–436.
- USFDA "Foodborne Pathogenic Microorganisms and Natural Toxins Handbook: Phytohaemagglutinin" Bad Bug Book. United States Food and Drug Administration. 2009.
- Lee BK, Kim JH, Jung JW, Choi JW, Han ES, Lee SH, Ko KH and Ryu JH (2005). "Myristicin-induced neurotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells". Toxicol. Lett. 157; 2005: 49– 56.
- McKenna A, Nordt SP and Ryan J (2004). "Acute nutmeg poisoning" Eur. J. Emer. Med. 11; 2004: 240–1.
- Knight AP and Walter RG. Plant affecting cardio vascular system. In: A guide to plant poisoning to animal of North America. Teton New Media, 2001: 57.
- Gibbons J, Haynes WR and Thomas JL. Poisonous plants and venomous animals of Alabama and adjoining states. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press. 1990.
- Hardin JW, Grand L and Fraser A. "Poisonous Plants of North Carolina," Dr. Alice B. Russell, Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University. 1997.
- Todd FG, Stermitz FR, Schultheis P, Knight AP and Traub- Dargatz J. Tropane alkaloids and toxicity of Convolvulus arvensis. Phytochem. 39; 1995: 301-3.
- Susan C, Smolinske, Toxicity of Houseplants. 153; 2009: 38.
- Olson and Kent R. Poisoning & Drug Overdose. 2009: 309.
- Nellis DW. Poisonous plants and animals of Florida and the Caribbean.
- Peter G, Moss C, Dales M, Fidgen A, Evans J and Gudrups I. The use of spices and medicinals as bioactive protectants for grains. FAO Agr. Ser. Bull.. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization. 1999: 137. ISBN 92-5-104294-2.
- Rogelj B, Popovic T, Ritonja A, Strukelj B, and Brzin J. "Chelidocystatin, a novel phytocystatin from Chelidonium majus". Phytochem. 49; 1998: 1645–9.
- Mallinson T. "Deadly Nightshade: Atropa belladonna" Focus on First Aid 15; 2010: 5.
- Lee MR. "Solanaceae IV: Atropa belladonna, deadly nightshade". J. R. Coll. Phys. Edinb. 37; 2007: 77–84.
- Colchicine. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Emergency Response Safety and Health Database, 2008.
- Grieve M. A modern herbal. Hafner Press, New York. 1974.
- Hien TT, Navarro-Delmasure C and Vy T. Toxicity and effects on the central nervous system of a Cerbera odollam leaf extract. J. Ethnopharmacol. 34; 1991: 201-6.
- Jim P, MacKinnon A, and Alaback PB. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia & Alaska. Redmond, WA: Lone Pine Pub. 1994.
- Schwartz, Fayla C. "Zigadenus glaberrimus", in Flora of North America Editorial Committee, ed. Flora of North America. 1982.
- Hinneburg I and Neubert RH. Influence of extraction parameters on the phytochemical characteristics of extracts from buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) herb. J Agric Food Chem. 12; 2005: 3-7.
- Sharma RP, Salunkhe DK. Solanum glycoalkaloids. Cheeke PR, ed. Toxicants of plant origin. Vol. I. Alkaloids. CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Fla., USA. 335; 1989: 179-236.
- Graeme K. Toxic plant ingestions. In: Auerbach PS, ed. Wilderness Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2007.
- Strange ML. Poisonous plant in the landscape. Proceedings of the California weed science society. 56; 2004.
- Hostetler MA and Schneider SM. Poisonous plants. In: Tintinalli JE, Kelen GD, Stapczynski JS, Ma OJ, Cline DM, eds. Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 205; 2004.
- Wedin GP, Neal JS, Everson GW and Krenzelok EP. Castor bean poisoning. Am. J. Emerg. Med. 4; 1986: 259-61.
- Smith G. Kalanchoe species poisoning in pets. Vet. Med., 2004: 933-36.
- Thomas H, Archer JE and Turley RM. Evolution, Physiology and Phytochemistry of the Psychotoxic Arable Mimic Weed Darnel (Lolium temulentum L.). Progr. Bot. 72; 2011. DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-13145-5
- Martínez MP, Aramburu E, Bahlsen C and G-Serranillos FM. Toxicity of the fruit of Oenanthe crocata L. Arch. Farmacol. Toxicol. 7; 1981: 197-200.
- Proudfoot A.The early toxicology of physostigmine: a tale of beans, great men and egos. Toxicol. Rev. 25; 2006: 99-138.
- Ravilious K. Ptaquiloside from bracken entering water supplies". Guardian. 2004.
- Doce RR, Carlos GP, Hervás G, Ferreras MC, Mantecón AR and Frutos P. Oak leaf (Quercus pyrenaica) poisoning in cattle. Res. Vet. Sci. 91; 2011: 269–277.
- Hornfeldt CS, Collins JE. Toxicity of nightshade berries (Solanum dulcamara) in mice. J Toxicol. Clin. Toxicol. 28; 1990: 185-92.
- Kwak SS, Choi MS, Park YG, Yoo JS and Liu JR. "Taxol content in the seeds of Taxus SPP". Phytochem. 40; 1995: 29– 32. doi:10.1016/0031-9422(95)00247-5
- Schep LJ, Schmierer DM and Fountain JS. "Veratrum poisoning". Toxicol. Rev. 25; 2006: 73–8.
- Miles J. "Arum or calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica )" South Coast Weeds. Eurobodalla Shire Council. 2002.
- Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, Raff M, Roberts K, Walter P. Molecular biology of the cell. 5th edit. Garland Science, NY. 2008.
- Mutschler E, Geisslinger H, Kroemer HK, Ruth P and Schäfer- Korting M. Lehrbuch der Pharmakologie und Toxikologie. 9th edit., WVG, Stuttgart. 2008.
- Wink M. Allelochemical properties and the raison d'être of alkaloids. In The Alkaloids, G. Cordell, (ed.) Acad. pres. 43; 1993a: 1-118.
- Wink M. Interference of alkaloids with Neuroreceptors and ion channels. Bio. Nat. Prod. 11; 2000: 3-129.
- Wink M and Van Wyk BE. Mind-altering and poisonous plants of the world. BRIZA, Pretoria (SA). 2008.
- Wink M. Importance of plant secondary metabolites for protection against insects and microbial infections. In Naturally occurring bioactive compounds: A new and safe alternative for control of pests and diseases, C. Carpinella, M. Rai (eds.). 2007b: 251-268.
- Wink M. Evolutionary advantage and molecular modes of action of multi-component mixtures in phytomedicine. Curr. Drug. Metabol. 9; 2008c: 996-1009.
- McMillan M and Thompson JC. An outbreak of suspected solanine poisoning in schoolboys: examination of criteria of solanine poisoning. Q. J. Med. 48; 1979: 227-443.
Abstract Views: 738
PDF Views: 2