Plant Toxins Michelle I. Javier Bachelor in Science in Chemistry For Teachers
What is Toxin?
• A toxin (from Ancient Greek: τοξικόν toxikon) is a poisonous substance produced within living cells or organisms; man-made substances created by artificial processes are thus excluded. The term was first used by organic chemist Ludwig Brieger (1849–1919).
Calabar Bean(Physostigma Venenosum)
• It is a seed of leguminous plant.• It is commonly found in the tropical part of Africa.
• The plant is a large, herbaceous, climbing perennial, with the stem woody at the base, up to 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter; it has a habit like the scarlet runner, and attains a height of about 50 feet (15 m).
Uses
• Physostigmine is used to treat myasthenia gravis, glaucoma, Alzheimer's disease and delayed gastric emptying. It has been shown to improve short term memory (Krus et al. 1968).
• Recently, it has begun to be used in the treatment of orthostatic hypotension.
Cichona Tree(Cinchona Rubra)
• The Cinchona plants are large shrubs or small trees with evergreen foliage, growing 5–15 m (16–49 ft) in height. The leaves are opposite, rounded to lanceolate and 10–40 cm long.
• The flowers are white, pink or red, produced in terminal panicles. The fruit is a small capsule containing numerous seeds.
• Antimalarial• analgesic (painkilling), • anti-inflammatory properties• treat lupus and arthritis• Tonic Water
Uses
• from the castor oil plant Ricinus communis, is a highly toxic, naturally occurring protein.
Risin
• is a rodshaped , anaerobic bacterium of the genus Clostridium
• Its appearance is like a tennis rackets or drumsticks.
• C. tetani is found as spores in soil or in the gastrointestinal tract of animals. C. tetani produces a potent biological toxin,tetanospasmin
Clostridium Tetani
• is a protein and neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
• Botulinum toxin can cause botulism, a serious and life-threatening illness in humans and animals
Botulinum Toxin