Toxic Hallucinogenic and Toxic Hallucinogenic and Allergic PlantsAllergic Plants

Prof. Suleiman OlimatProf. Suleiman Olimat11

1. Introduction1. Introduction

Humans learned about plant Humans learned about plant toxicity early on, by probably toxicity early on, by probably the hard way. When toxicity the hard way. When toxicity was high, it was exploited for was high, it was exploited for hunting or for war; when it hunting or for war; when it was moderate, humans was moderate, humans learned to watch out for it.learned to watch out for it.

In fact, vernacular names document In fact, vernacular names document this empirical knowledge (poison this empirical knowledge (poison hemlock, deadly nightshade, hemlock, deadly nightshade, henbane, dumbcane, poison oak). henbane, dumbcane, poison oak).

Early on as well, humans recorded Early on as well, humans recorded their observations. their observations.

In common language, toxic plant is In common language, toxic plant is equated with poison hemlock, equated with poison hemlock, digitalis, belladonna, in other words digitalis, belladonna, in other words ““lethallethal”” plants. Fortunately, the plants. Fortunately, the problems caused by the plants in our problems caused by the plants in our environment are generally less environment are generally less dramatic. They mostly have multiple dramatic. They mostly have multiple facets.facets.

Respiratory allergy, Respiratory allergy, allergic dermatitis, phytophotoallergic dermatitis, phytophoto

dermatitis, dermatitis, and thorn injury are plant problems and thorn injury are plant problems

as probable as ingestion.as probable as ingestion.

Defining exactly what constitutes a Defining exactly what constitutes a poisonous plant is not easy; almost any poisonous plant is not easy; almost any plant can cause nausea and vomiting or plant can cause nausea and vomiting or intestinal cramping when enough is intestinal cramping when enough is ingested. However a suitable definition is ingested. However a suitable definition is that poisonous plants are those which that poisonous plants are those which contain specific components that when contain specific components that when small quantities are used (via ingestion or small quantities are used (via ingestion or just via contact) cause specific just via contact) cause specific biochemical alterations or physiological biochemical alterations or physiological symptoms.symptoms.

In 1994, the United States poison In 1994, the United States poison control centers (AAPCC) recorded control centers (AAPCC) recorded 103,616 calls. The magnitude of 103,616 calls. The magnitude of these figures is an invitation to these figures is an invitation to determine the circumstances of the determine the circumstances of the calls, to evaluate the true calls, to evaluate the true consequences of the accidents, and consequences of the accidents, and to inventory the plant species at to inventory the plant species at fault.fault.

Health professionals, physicians, Health professionals, physicians, pharmacists are the first to be pharmacists are the first to be concerned with incidents and concerned with incidents and accidents caused by plants.accidents caused by plants.

Pharmacist are considered the only Pharmacist are considered the only health professional members who health professional members who are familiar in botany, so is the main are familiar in botany, so is the main defense line.defense line.

Humans learned about plant toxicity early Humans learned about plant toxicity early on, by probably the hard way.on, by probably the hard way.

When toxicity was high, it was exploited When toxicity was high, it was exploited for hunting or for war; when it was for hunting or for war; when it was moderate, humans learned to watch out moderate, humans learned to watch out for it.for it.

In fact, vernacular names document this In fact, vernacular names document this empirical knowledge (poison hemlock, empirical knowledge (poison hemlock, deadly nightshade, henbane, dumb- cane, deadly nightshade, henbane, dumb- cane, poison oak). Early on as well, humans poison oak). Early on as well, humans recorded their observations. recorded their observations.

In common language, toxic plant is In common language, toxic plant is equated with poison hemlock, digitalis, equated with poison hemlock, digitalis, belladonna, in other words belladonna, in other words ““lethallethal”” plants. plants. Fortunately, the problems caused by the Fortunately, the problems caused by the plants in our environment are generally plants in our environment are generally less dramatic. They mostly have multiple less dramatic. They mostly have multiple facets.facets.

Respiratory allergy, allergic dermatitis, Respiratory allergy, allergic dermatitis, phytophotophytophoto dermatitis, and thorn injury are dermatitis, and thorn injury are plant problems as probable as ingestion.plant problems as probable as ingestion.

Defining exactly what constitutes a Defining exactly what constitutes a poisonous plant is not easy; almost any poisonous plant is not easy; almost any plant can cause nausea and vomiting or plant can cause nausea and vomiting or intestinal cramping when enough is intestinal cramping when enough is ingested. However a suitable definition is ingested. However a suitable definition is that poisonous plants are those which that poisonous plants are those which contain specific components that when contain specific components that when small quantities are used (via ingestion or small quantities are used (via ingestion or just via contact) cause specific just via contact) cause specific biochemical alterations or physiological biochemical alterations or physiological symptoms.symptoms.

In 1994, the United States poison In 1994, the United States poison control centers (AAPCC) recorded control centers (AAPCC) recorded 103,616 calls. The magnitude of 103,616 calls. The magnitude of these figures is an invitation to these figures is an invitation to determine the circumstances of the determine the circumstances of the calls, to evaluate the true calls, to evaluate the true consequences of the accidents, and consequences of the accidents, and to inventory the plant species at to inventory the plant species at fault.fault.

It is well known that many plants produce It is well known that many plants produce chemical compounds which cause different chemical compounds which cause different reaction for other living organisms, ether in reaction for other living organisms, ether in direct contact or by ingestion. direct contact or by ingestion.

Primary compounds can be defined as Primary compounds can be defined as those required for a plant's basic those required for a plant's basic metabolism. Secondary compounds, metabolism. Secondary compounds, loosely, are all others. loosely, are all others.

Many of the secondary metabolites would Many of the secondary metabolites would be toxic to the organism producing them if be toxic to the organism producing them if allowed to accumulate or become allowed to accumulate or become concentrated in living tissues.concentrated in living tissues.

Plants evolved self-protective ways of Plants evolved self-protective ways of handling potentially toxic secondary handling potentially toxic secondary metabolites by:metabolites by:

removing them physically into removing them physically into metabolically inactive locations (e.g. bark, metabolically inactive locations (e.g. bark, vacuoles, roots, etc);vacuoles, roots, etc);

converting them into non toxic compounds converting them into non toxic compounds via specific chemical reactions via specific chemical reactions (hydroxylation);(hydroxylation);

Plants found that secondary metabolites Plants found that secondary metabolites gave them an opportunity for effective gave them an opportunity for effective defense against attack by herbivorous defense against attack by herbivorous insects.insects.

For years, emphasis was shown For years, emphasis was shown mainly on these plant compounds mainly on these plant compounds possessing many therapeutically possessing many therapeutically activities. activities.

Poisonous plants are to be found Poisonous plants are to be found among all types of native plants: among all types of native plants: algae, fungi, ferns, herbs, shrubs, algae, fungi, ferns, herbs, shrubs, and trees. and trees.

Some of our most cultivated Some of our most cultivated ornamentals are extremely ornamentals are extremely poisonous and these plants very poisonous and these plants very common in houses and public common in houses and public buildings. Fortunately, relatively buildings. Fortunately, relatively large amounts of most plants are large amounts of most plants are necessary to produce serious or fatal necessary to produce serious or fatal poisoning in man.poisoning in man.

The majority of the victims in The majority of the victims in poisoning are children; small children poisoning are children; small children have a great curiosity and will often have a great curiosity and will often chew on anything within reach. chew on anything within reach. Much smaller amounts of the toxin Much smaller amounts of the toxin are needed to cause very severe or are needed to cause very severe or fatal results.fatal results.

The toxic constituents of these plants are The toxic constituents of these plants are determined by different factors such as: determined by different factors such as: stage of the development, climate and stage of the development, climate and other environmental factors, habitat, plant other environmental factors, habitat, plant parts, and different varieties of the same parts, and different varieties of the same species.species.

The term poisonous plant designates The term poisonous plant designates many kinds of plants as well as a wide many kinds of plants as well as a wide range of poisonous or disturbing effects. range of poisonous or disturbing effects. These effects may generally be classified These effects may generally be classified as:as:

22 . .INTERNAL POISONING CAUSED INTERNAL POISONING CAUSED BY EATING PLANT PARTSBY EATING PLANT PARTS

• Gastrointestinal IrritantsGastrointestinal Irritants Oxalates ( calcium oxalate, oxalic Oxalates ( calcium oxalate, oxalic

acid)acid) Protoanemonins ( protoanemonin, Protoanemonins ( protoanemonin,

ranunculin)ranunculin) Toxalbumins ( ricin)Toxalbumins ( ricin) Saponins ( hederin, cucurbitacin E)Saponins ( hederin, cucurbitacin E)

Action on the heart muscle Action on the heart muscle ( Cardiovascular Stimulants/ ( Cardiovascular Stimulants/

Depressants)Depressants) Cardenolides ( oleander, squill)Cardenolides ( oleander, squill) Diterpene Alkaloids ( aconite)Diterpene Alkaloids ( aconite) Glycosteroidal Alkaloids ( solanine, Glycosteroidal Alkaloids ( solanine,

solasodine)solasodine) Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids ( Iycorine)Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids ( Iycorine)

C. ColchicinoidsC. Colchicinoids D. Carcinogenic irritant EupborbiaceaeD. Carcinogenic irritant Eupborbiaceae F. Action on the autonomic nervous F. Action on the autonomic nervous

systemsystem- Anticholinergics ( hyoscyamine, scopolamine)- Anticholinergics ( hyoscyamine, scopolamine)- Nicotinomimetic Alkaloids (coniine, nicotine)- Nicotinomimetic Alkaloids (coniine, nicotine) G. Cyanogenic Plants ( amygdaline, G. Cyanogenic Plants ( amygdaline,

prunasin)prunasin) H- Toxins and TeratogensH- Toxins and Teratogens I I –– Miscellaneous Miscellaneous

ALLERGIES OR ALLERGIC REACTIONS ALLERGIES OR ALLERGIC REACTIONS TO WIND-BLOWN SPORES OR POLLENTO WIND-BLOWN SPORES OR POLLEN..

Inhalant AllergensInhalant Allergens Ingestant AllergensIngestant Allergens Injectant allergensInjectant allergens Contactant allergensContactant allergens

3. DERMATITIS OR SKIN 3. DERMATITIS OR SKIN IRRITATION CAUSED BY DIRECT IRRITATION CAUSED BY DIRECT OR INDIRECT CONTACT WITH A OR INDIRECT CONTACT WITH A PLANT.PLANT.

4. MECHANICAL INJURY FROM 4. MECHANICAL INJURY FROM SHARP PRICKLES, OR THORNS SHARP PRICKLES, OR THORNS FOUND IN MANY PLANTS.FOUND IN MANY PLANTS.

5. Hallucinogens5. Hallucinogens FungiFungi Lysergic Acid Derivatives (LSD)Lysergic Acid Derivatives (LSD) Indian HempIndian Hemp IbogainIbogain DMT ( Dimethyltryptamine)DMT ( Dimethyltryptamine) PeyotePeyote Coca and Cocaine Coca and Cocaine Alkaloids of OpiumAlkaloids of Opium

Our objectives are to increase the Our objectives are to increase the awareness of these potential awareness of these potential

dangers, to aid in the identification of dangers, to aid in the identification of the more common poisonous plants the more common poisonous plants native, ornamental or cultivated in native, ornamental or cultivated in

Jordan, and to assist you in the Jordan, and to assist you in the recognition of symptoms and recognition of symptoms and

treatment of such cases.treatment of such cases. This field is where the practicing This field is where the practicing pharmacist, in his ever-expanding pharmacist, in his ever-expanding

clinical role of adviser, can make an clinical role of adviser, can make an outstanding contribution to public outstanding contribution to public

health and community welfare.health and community welfare.