Toxic nature: 10 poisons growing on the ground
1. Deadly nightshade
Atropine (221.5 mg/kg) // Alkaloid, C17H23N03
Source: belladonna (Atropa belladonna), henbane (Hyoscyamus niger), datura (Datura stramonium).
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Most often, poisoning occurs after eating belladonna, henbane or dope berries.
Mechanism: atropine blocks M-cholinergic receptors in the body. Symptoms of poisoning develop almost immediately. Atropine causes psychomotor agitation, hallucinations, delirium. In addition, there is tachycardia, headache, dizziness, "stopping" of the intestine. Characteristic signs are dilated pupils (mydriasis) and severe dry mouth (xerostomia). Cause of death: paralysis of the respiratory center, usually death overtakes the poisoned person on the first day.
Antidote: There is no specific antidote. The treatment is symptomatic.
2. Water hemlock
Cicutoxin (50 mg/kg) // Alcohol, C17H22O2
Source: water hemlock (hemlock, Cicuta virosa).
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The rhizome of the plant is poisonous, including the dried one. Water hemlock is often confused with spotted hemlock, which is used as a "folk" remedy, although it is also poisonous.
Mechanism: a centrally acting poison, a neurotoxin, is an antagonist of one of the most important neurotransmitters, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Symptoms of poisoning develop after 5-10 minutes. First, abdominal pain, headache, dizziness, general weakness, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, pallor of the skin appear. Later, convulsions are added, which remain leading in the clinical picture. Death can occur against the background of incessant convulsions due to suffocation.
Antidote: There is no specific antidote. Treatment is symptomatic, aimed primarily at stopping seizures.
3. False morel
Gyromitrin (10 mg/kg) // Hydrazine derivative, C4H8N2O
Source: mushrooms of the genus of Gyromitra, the most common line is Gyromitra esculenta.
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Poisoning occurs when improper cooking. The critical "dose" is 0.21 kg.
Mechanism: A classic example of "lethal fusion", when a toxic substance entering the body is converted into an even more powerful poison by the action of enzymes. Symptoms depend on the dose and individual characteristics of a particular person. With mild poisoning, the case will cost dizziness, nausea and headache. In severe cases, damage to the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract, especially the liver, develops. The so-called cerebral vomiting is characteristic, which is not associated with food intake and does not bring relief. Death can occur from acute liver failure.
Antidote: specific antidote - pyridoxine (vitamin B6), which is administered intravenously.
4. Death cap
Alpha-amanitin (1 mg/kg) // Protein, C39H54N10O14S
Source: death cap (Amanita phalloides).
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Blocks the transcription of DNA into mRNA.
Mechanism: protein synthesis stops in the cell, and it is destroyed. Symptoms: diarrhea and convulsions occur after 10-24 hours and pass quickly, but at this time kidney and liver failure develops, reaching a maximum by the 7-10th day, when it is no longer possible to help and death occurs.
Antidote: Penicillin antibiotics can be an antidote.
5. Palma Christi
Ricin (0.3mg/kg) // Protein C57H104O9
Source: palma Christi (Ricinus communis).
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You can get poisoned by eating too many castor beans.
Mechanism: the effect of ricin aerosol is comparable to sarin, but it did not become a “chemical weapon” due to instability in water and in the light. Symptoms: the first one (after 15-72 hours) - hemorrhages in the retina. Then nausea and vomiting, severe pain in the abdomen, convulsions. Death occurs in 6–8 days.
Antidote: There is no antidote; the cure is to alleviate suffering.
6. Aconite
Aconitine (0.25 mg/kg) // Alkaloid, C34H47NO11
Source: plants of the genus ranunculoideae, also known as aconite (Aconitum).
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More than 25 plant species are poisonous.
Mechanism: aconitine paralyzes sensory nerve endings. Symptoms: itching begins almost immediately, the rhythm of breathing changes, the temperature drops, profuse sweat and pain in the heart area appear. Later, convulsions are added, paralysis develops. Death comes from suffocation.
Antidote: There is no specific antidote. Treatment is symptomatic.
7. Fly agaric
Muscarine (0.2 mg/kg) // Alkaloid, C9H20NO2+
Source: fly agaric (Amanita muscaria).
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Poisoning develops when eating (for example, in order to "change consciousness").
Mechanism: it excites M-cholinergic receptors. Symptoms: salivation, increased sweating, pulse slowing, constriction of the pupils and decrease in blood pressure, coma. In severe poisoning, pulmonary edema may develop. Death can come as a logical continuation of the coma.
Antidote: injection of atropine.
8. Strychnine tree
Strychnine (0.12 mg/kg) // Alkaloid, C21H22N2O2
Source: chilibukha (Strychnos nux-vomica).
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Poisoning is rare - bitter strychnine usually causes a gag reflex.
Mechanism: blocks the action of inhibitory neurotransmitters such as glycine. Symptoms: drawing pains in all muscles of the body, developing into painful cramps. Strychnine enhances reflexes so much that convulsions can occur in response to the slightest stimulus. Death comes from suffocation.
Antidote: Curare-like agents may work as an antidote.
9. Hellebore
Veratrin (0.003 mg/kg) // Alkaloid, C32H49O9N
Source: white hellebore (Veratrum album L.) and black hellebore (Veratrum nigrum L.).
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Veratrin acts as a neurotoxin.
Mechanism: Opens sodium channels in cell membranes. Symptoms: dizziness, uneven pulse, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea. Then the body temperature drops, breathing becomes difficult, convulsions develop. Death can occur from cardiac arrest or paralysis of the respiratory center.
Antidote: There is no specific antidote. Treatment is symptomatic.
10. Spotted hemlock
Coniine (0.002 mg/kg) // Alkaloid, C8H17N
Source: spotted hemlock (Conium maculatum)
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Accidental poisoning occurs when eating the rhizome of the plant, which is confused with horseradish, and children may confuse it with white carrots. Less often - when using leaves that are confused with parsley. It is believed that the poison of this particular plant was executed in ancient Greece and it was it that caused the death of Socrates.
Mechanism: coniine blocks H-cholinergic receptors of the postsynaptic membrane of neuromuscular synapses. That is, it is an analogue of the world-famous curare poison. Symptoms: The clinical picture develops rapidly and begins with profuse salivation and blurred vision. Nausea and vomiting may appear, but gradually developing paralysis of the skeletal muscles comes to the fore. It has an "ascending" character - it starts from the muscles of the foot and lower leg and reaches the diaphragm gradually. This makes breathing impossible. Consciousness is usually preserved to the last. Death occurs from suffocation due to paralysis of the diaphragm.
Antidote: There is no specific antidote. Treatment is symptomatic, including the transfer of the patient to pulmonary ventilation.
Ranking plant poisons is even more difficult than animal ones. The fact is that even plants of the same species growing in different conditions can accumulate certain substances (including toxins) in different ways. Different parts of the plant contain different amounts of toxic substances.
Nevertheless, we tried to compile a conditionally average rating based on the average lethal dose (DL50) for laboratory mice. For simplicity, the rating also includes "mushroom" poisons. The result is the "Top 10" poisons growing on the ground, from a toxicologist's point of view, which may differ from that of a botanist or mushroom specialist.
