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Poisonous Plants, Fungi, and Algae

Poisonous Plants, Fungi, and Algae. Poisonous Plants. A few Poisonous Plants. Dumb cane – calcium oxalate crystals. Yew (Taxus spp) - taxines. Pokeweed. Poke - Phytolacca americana. Roots and seeds especially toxic Young stems and leaves often eaten as cooked greens - should be avoided?

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Poisonous Plants, Fungi, and Algae

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  1. Poisonous Plants, Fungi, and Algae Poisonous Plants

  2. A few Poisonous Plants

  3. Dumb cane – calcium oxalate crystals

  4. Yew (Taxus spp) - taxines

  5. Pokeweed

  6. Poke - Phytolaccaamericana • Roots and seeds especially toxic • Young stems and leaves often eaten as cooked greens - should be avoided? • Toxic compound - phytolaccigenin - triterpene saponins • Also contains toxic alkaloids and other glycosides

  7. Oleander - Nerium oleander contains cardiac glycosides - oleandroside and nerioside

  8. Castor bean - Riccinus communis

  9. Ricin • One of the most potent natural toxins known • One seed can kill a child • Inhibit protein synthesis by specifically and irreversibly inactivating eukaryotic ribosomes • A single ricin molecule that enters the cytosol can inactivate over 1,500 ribosomes per minute and kill the cell • Lots of possible medical applications - could also be used in biological warfare - weapon of mass destruction • http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic889.htm

  10. Cycads • Cycads are gymnosperms with a palm-like appearance • They are found in tropical and subtropical areas of the world • Large female cones with large seeds

  11. Cycad toxins • Cycasin and BMAA (beta-methylamino-alanine) • Cycasin is a carcinogenic and neurotoxic glycoside • BMAA is an unusual amino acid which is also neurotoxic and believed to act by mimicking glutamate and blocking glutamate receptors in the brain

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