Poisons of plant origin that leave traces. Food poisoning

Glycosides complex, nitrogen-free organic. substances, the molecule of which consists of a carbohydrate and a non-carbohydrate component, the so-called. aglycone (genin). Aglycones can be residues of fatty, aromatic compounds. and heterocyclic. rows. G. are widespread in nature, especially in plants. world. Mn. of which are used in medical practice(as vitamins, antibiotics, heart medications) and have toxicological properties. properties. Medicines G. found in various parts pl. plants. G.'s composition usually includes monosaccharides; it is possible to add several sugar molecules.

According to chemistry composition of drug aglycones. G. is classified into phenol glycosides, thiogdicosides, nitrile glycosides (cyanoglycosides), G. - derivatives of phenylbenzo-y-pyrone (flavones); anthraglycosides; G. - derivatives of 1,2-cyclopentanophenanthrene, saponins, other glycosides. Phenol glycosides include G. isolated from bearberry leaves (for example, arbutin). G. drugs of this group are used as diuretics and disinfectants. Thioglycosides include sinigrin, isolated from the seeds of black mustard, as well as G., contained in plants of this family. cruciferous vegetables, which have toxicological properties. properties. Nitrile glycosides include nitrile glycosides contained in the kernels of bitter almonds, cherries, and apricots (amygdalin), in flax (linamarin), in commercial plants (durrin), etc. Being a source of the formation of hydrocyanic acid, they play an important role in phytotoxicology (see. Poisonous plants). G.-derivatives of phenyl-benzo-y-pyrone include yellow plants. pigments found in many plants. Flavonic acids eliminate increased permeability and fragility of capillaries, have a hypotensive effect, and protect ascorbic acid from oxidation. Anthraglycosides are found in various types cassia, sabur, rhubarb, buckthorn. Some preparations of these plants are used as laxatives. G. derivatives of 1,2-cyclopentanophenanthrene (for example, G. foxglove, adonis, lily of the valley) represent the most important group of medicinal G., which have a pronounced cardiotonic effect. activity. Saponins are found in more than 150 species of plants of the ranunculaceae, lilies, legumes, cloves, primroses, etc. Saponins belonging to this group form, like soap, highly foaming with water colloidal solutions; are cellular poisons. Other G. in chemistry. relation has not been sufficiently studied. Some of them are used as bitters. Bitter substances in the form of G. contain trefoil, dandelion and other plants.

Cardiac glycosides very toxic substances of plant origin, but in small doses they stimulate cardiac activity. Used to treat heart and other diseases. Under the influence of acids, they break down into sugar and aglycone (steroid). Free aglycones of cardiac glycosides (genins) strong poisons that are not used in medicine; Among them, strophanthidin (convallate oxygenin) is the most well studied; it is contained in lily of the valley, hemp lily, and wallflower. Other aglycones are also known, for example, digitoxigenin, dioxygenin, gitoxigenin, periplogenin, sarmentogenin, adonitoxigenin, etc.

Poisonous plants plants containing specific substances that, with a certain exposure (dose and duration of exposure), can cause illness or death in humans or other animals. There are thousands of toxic substances in the plant world, which are usually divided depending on their chemical nature for several groups. For example, alkaloids, glycosides, phytotoxins, photosensitizing pigments, saponins, mineral poisons, etc. are isolated. They can also be classified according to the clinical picture of poisoning. There are, say, neurotoxins, liver and kidney poisons, substances that irritate the digestive tract, cause respiratory arrest, damage the skin, and cause developmental defects. Sometimes one substance belongs to several chemical classes or acts on multiple organ systems.

Toxicity has been accurately established at least 700 species of North American plants. They are known in all major taxonomic groups, from algae to monocots. There are poisonous unicellular ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms; Sometimes poisoning is caused by mold, smut or rust fungi present on plants or in plant foods. Although bacteria and fungi are now classified as independent kingdoms of organisms, some of them are traditionally considered together with poisonous plants.

Poisoning and other reactions. A distinction is made between poisoning and infection caused by bacteria or fungi. Infectious agents settle in another organism, destroying tissues and multiplying at their expense. Poisonous organisms release toxic substances that act regardless of whether the organism that formed them is alive or dead, whether it is present or no longer present at the time of poisoning. For example, botulinum toxin produced by bacteria Clostridium botulinum, causes intoxication (botulism), even if the bacterium itself was killed during sterilization of the products.

Poisoning should also be distinguished from allergic reactions that occur in animals when they are exposed to special substances - allergens, present, in particular, in some plants. Thus, a skin rash that occurs when touching rooting sumac ( Rhus toxicodendron, according to another classification Toxicodendron radicans) or species close to it, allergic reaction for certain substances present in this plant. Repeated contact with an allergen can increase sensitivity to it. Redness and irritation of the skin are caused by certain substances without sensitization, for example the milky juice of euphorbia ( Euphorbia spp.) or the secretion of stinging nettle hairs ( Urtica spp.). Local sunburn, sometimes persisting for many months as a dark pigment spot, can occur due to exposure to psoralen on damp skin. This phenolic compound is present in parsnips ( Pastinaca sativa), white ash ( Dictamnus albus), lime zest ( Citrus aurantifolia) and some other plants.

Exposure to toxic compounds. The nature of poisoning depends on the reactions that occur in the animal’s body, as well as on the extent to which the poison accumulates in the body and how it is removed from it. In some cases, a toxic substance is formed in animal tissues from a harmless precursor present in the plant. So, when eating wild plum leaves ( Prunus spp.) cyanide is released from the harmless glycosides they contain; Nitrates present in feed or food are converted by the animal's body into the much more toxic nitrites. However, in most cases, plant toxins exert their effects without prior chemical change.

When eaten, the poison enters primarily into the oral cavity. Some irritants, such as arum plants ( Dieffenbachia etc.) operate mainly at this level. The poison then passes to the following sections digestive system(without necessarily damaging them) and can be absorbed or excreted. After absorption, it primarily enters the portal vein of the liver and the liver itself. There, its chemical detoxification can occur, i.e., it is converted into a harmless form and excreted in the bile; on the other hand, it can cause damage to liver cells or simply pass through it and enter other organs and tissues with the blood; in this case, damage to the entire body or only some structures sensitive to the poison is possible.

Since poisons enter primarily the digestive system, its anatomical and physiological characteristics in a given animal species significantly influence the manifestation of the toxic effect of a particular substance. For example, in birds, food passes through the crop and gizzard before absorption, and in ruminants, in particular cows, goats and sheep, it is first (in the rumen) exposed to microbial enzymes and only then is it actually digested and absorbed. Both birds and ruminants in this sense differ sharply from “one-gastric” animals, such as pigs and horses, in which plant material begins to be digested in the stomach almost immediately after ingestion. The ease of removing eaten food by vomiting also varies depending on the type of digestive system. Ruminants are able to get rid of only part of the contents of the first section of the stomach - the rumen - in this way, while humans, dogs and pigs can quickly and efficiently empty this entire organ. A horse also vomits, but due to the structure of its soft palate, the vomited material ends up in the trachea, which usually results in death from suffocation. Fortunately, many poisons themselves stimulate the vomiting reaction.

From the book: “Poisons yesterday and today.”
Ida Gadaskina.

Aconitum napelles(monk's hood, wrestler), a perennial herb in the ranunculaceae family, has a helmet-shaped flower. About 300 species of this plant are known, all of them are poisonous, although they were used in the Middle Ages in Arab and Persian medicine. Currently used only in homeopathy. The toxic alkaloid is found mainly in tubers in the form of a compound with organic acids (C 34 H 47 NO 17). Aconitine stimulates and then paralyzes the production of chemical transmitters (mediators) in the nerve nodes (ganglia) of the autonomic nervous system. Death occurs from the direct action of the poison on the respiratory center.

Theophrastus writes that “the poison from it (monkshood) is prepared in a certain way, which is not known to everyone. Therefore, doctors who do not know this composition give aconite as an aid to digestion, as well as in other cases. If you drink it with wine and honey, then its taste is completely imperceptible. The poison is made from it with the expectation that it will act within the prescribed period: after two, three, six months, after a year, sometimes after two years. People who pine away from it for a long time die very hard; the easiest death from it is instantaneous. Plants that would serve as an antidote to it, which we have heard exist for other poisons, have not been found... It is not allowed to buy it, and such a purchase is punishable by death.” It must be added, however, that there is no certainty that what has been said refers specifically to the plant in question, since its description does not coincide with the descriptions made by Dioscorides and other later authors. It is quite possible that this poison became a symbol of all poison for antiquity.

The plant got its name from the Greeks either from the name of the city Akon, associated with the name of Hercules, or from the word “akon”, which means “poisonous juice”. The strong salivation caused by the poison, according to legend, is also associated with the myth of Hercules, who, in a fight with the guardian of Hades, the three-headed dog Cerberus, drove him into such a rage that the dog began to emit saliva, from which poisonous aconite grew. Aconite, the most poisonous plant poison, was familiar to many peoples of the East. In India and the Himalayas there is a species of plant called "scourge". This kind ( Aconitum ferox) contains the alkaloid pseudoakonitine C 36 H 49 NO 12, which is close to aconitine, but is even more toxic. Harvesting of the root in India occurs in the fall and is accompanied by a number of mystical ceremonies, and when drying and grinding the root, precautions are taken, fearing its poisonous effect. The root is stored in bamboo tubes and sold in this form. The drink “nehvai” was widespread, obtained by fermenting boiled rice, to which aconite root was sometimes added, which repeatedly led to poisoning. Once upon a time, in the Kazakh steppes (USSR), aconite was not only poisoned, but also doomed the victim to slow, inevitable death. Even horses of rivals in competitions were eliminated with the help of a poisonous root (P. Massagetov). A.P. Chekhov met with victims of this poison on Sakhalin.

History has not preserved the origins of the custom of using poison to punish criminals. However, already in historical times, the Hellenes had a “state poison”, which they called hemlock, which acquired bitter fame, being the cause of the death of many illustrious men in Greece. They write about the deadly hemlock in Roman time Pliny, Tacitus, Seneca: “Hemlock, a poison terrible when consumed, was used in Athens to kill criminals” (Pliny St.); “This is the poison that was used to kill criminals in Athens” (Tacitus); “The poison with which Athenians convicted by a criminal court are killed” (Seneca). Athens, like other policies, did not immediately reach democracy, but the reforms of Solon (594 BC), the rule and laws of Pericles (about 490...429 BC) strengthened the democratic management, which must be understood as the presence of certain legal norms of all free citizens of the policy.

Conium maculatum spotted hemlock, omega spotted, or hemlock (a name preserved from ancient times), belongs to the Umbelliferae family, all parts of it are poisonous. The toxic principle is the alkaloid coniine (C 8 H 17 N). The minimum lethal dose for humans is not clear, but it is certainly only a few milligrams. Coniine is a poison that causes paralysis of the endings of motor nerves, apparently little affecting the cerebral hemispheres. Convulsions caused by poison lead to suffocation.

Theophrastus gives a detailed description of the method of making poison from the stems of the plant and refers his readers to the doctor Thrasius, who “found, they say, a remedy that makes death easy and painless. He took the juice of hemlock, poppy and other similar herbs and prepared tiny pills, weighing about a drachm... There is no antidote for this at all.” Pliny the Elder, the author of Natural History, who lived in an era when suicide was considered a worthy way out, among other poisonous plants, described the effect of hemlock. At the same time, he emphasizes that nature took pity on man and sent him various poisons for a painless death. It is quite possible that the ancients called the poisonous hemlock Cicuta virosa, containing the poisonous alkaloid cicutotoxin..

After isolating the alkaloid from the plant, attempts were made to use it as a medicine; The effect of the poison was studied on animals, but the alkaloid did not receive medicinal value. Already in the 19th century. At the Vienna School of Pharmacology, auto-experiments were widely carried out to analyze the effect of toxic substances on humans. These experiments involved doctors or medical students. The historical glory of hemlock aroused special interest in its poison. Several students carried out experiments on themselves who took single doses of coniine from 0.003 to 0.008 g orally. They revealed a local irritant effect on the mucous membranes, pronounced muscle weakness, which at the slightest muscle tension led to painful cramps. Poisoning was accompanied by headache, dizziness, and gastrointestinal tract, drowsiness, confusion.

“The Age of Pericles” is the heyday of Athenian democracy and at the same time the hegemony of Athens in the Greek world: their enrichment, extensive trade activities, entrepreneurship, successes in art and literature. Political and economic conditions lead to the fact that philosophers begin to turn from questions of cosmology to man: his initiative, entrepreneurial activity, knowledge. Any Athenian citizen can speak in the national assembly, but he must express his opinion well and clearly. New skills are now needed: logical, consistent presentation, eloquence is needed. The teachers of these modern demands are sophistic philosophers, paid teachers of logical eloquence who have little interest in moral issues. It is against this background of passion for sophistry that Socrates appears, about whom our further story will go. Seneca will later say about Socrates: “Hemlock made Socrates great... he drank hemlock juice as a way to become immortal.”

Socrates, together with some sophists, was the first to turn in philosophy to the problem of man and, in particular, to the problem of reason. This was new. His desire to analyze ordinary human actions and concepts aroused hostility and sometimes even fear among many of his contemporaries. Socrates expressed his views orally, conducting conversations in the streets, squares, public and private places. His life was spent in conversations, but the manner of conversations, both in style and content, and in its purpose, differed sharply from the external pomposity of sophistic rhetoricians. These polemical conversations, often ironic, usually baffled the interlocutor, as they hurt his self-esteem. Aristocrats considered Socrates a cheeky commoner, and democrats saw him as their whistleblower.

The philosophy of Socrates came down to an understanding of a virtuous life, achieved by moderation, abstinence, and reasonable needs. Directly or indirectly, ambition, the desire for wealth, luxury, and the subordination of a person to his passions, feelings, and whims were condemned or ridiculed. These conversations made Socrates, during his lifetime, the most popular figure not only in Athens, but throughout Hellas. Socrates didn't write anything. His views, conversations, and habits can be judged from the notes of his friends and students, from the dialogues of Plato and from the memoirs of Xenophon.

Great excitement in the February days of 399 BC. e. caused a message in Athenian society that the young, unimportant writer Meletus filed a complaint against the seventy-year-old philosopher, demanding his death. The text of the accusation is as follows: “This accusation was drawn up and, confirmed by oath, filed by Meletus, son of Meletus from the deme of Pittos, against Socrates, son of Sophronix from the deme of Alopeka: Socrates is guilty of denying the gods recognized by the city and introducing new divine beings; He is also guilty of seducing young people. The death penalty is proposed."

Over 500 judges took part in the process. Three hundred people against two hundred and fifty sentenced Socrates to death. What happened? The authorities, who considered themselves democratic, could not stand the good-natured irony of Socrates, and he was sentenced to death, such as had never been pronounced in Athens in cases of abstract ideological disagreement. Socrates did not want to ask for pardon or commutation of punishment. He told his judges: “...it is not life, but a good life that is the greatest good for a mortal.” For a number of reasons, his execution was postponed for 30 days. They tried to persuade him to escape, but he remained imprisoned and continued to talk with his friends, talking about life and death.

Plato met Socrates when Socrates was already 60 years old, and Socrates forever remained for him the ideal of a man and a philosopher: in Plato’s writings, Socrates appears as a character. The death of Socrates was described by Plato, although he was not present during the last conversation with him, as he was ill (Plato “Phaedo”).

When Socrates saw the prison servant, he asked him: “Well, dear friend, what should I do with this cup?” He replied: “You must only drink it, then walk back and forth until your thighs become heavy, and then lie down, and then the poison will continue its effect...” Socrates emptied the goblet very cheerfully and without malice. He walked back and forth, and when he noticed that his thighs were heavy, he lay down straight on his back, as the prison servant had told him. Then the latter began to touch him from time to time and examine his feet and thighs... After this, the attendant squeezed his foot tightly and asked if he felt anything at the same time. Socrates replied: “No.” The attendant first pressed on the knee, then pressed higher and higher and showed us that the body was becoming cold and numb. After that, he touched him again and said that as soon as the effect of the poison reaches the heart, death will occur. When his stomach had already become completely cold, Socrates opened up (he was lying covered) and said: “We must sacrifice a rooster to Asclepius, do it immediately,” these were his last words. “It will be done,” replied Crito, “but think about whether you have anything else to tell us.” But Socrates did not answer, and soon after this his body shuddered. When the servant opened it, his eyes were already motionless. Seeing this, Crito closed his mouth and eyes.

The sacrifice of a rooster to Asclepius, the god of healing, was usually supposed to ensure recovery. Did Socrates mean the recovery of his soul and its liberation from the mortal body? Or was this his usual irony?

Who doesn’t remember this wonderful Pushkin poem? The forces of nature are formidable and mysterious, but man steals them... True, in the time of Pushkin the composition of the poison contained in the anchar was not yet known and its effect had not been studied. Now toxicologists know that the poisonous principle of the Javanese anchar is antiarin is a substance of steroid nature (close in chemical structure to foxglove, strophanthin and other potent cardiac drugs). The juice of anchar and other related plants has long been used as an arrow poison in East Asia. On the Malay Peninsula and the islands of Indonesia, where anchar juice became widespread, they knew that only 90 grams of it was enough for 100 deadly arrows. If you hit a monkey with one such arrow, it will fall from the tree dead in two to three minutes. Antiarin and strophanthin have an exceptionally strong effect on the heart muscle - this is their particular danger. If the heart has stopped and two or three minutes have passed, then it is almost impossible to restore its contractions. It is interesting that the discovery of the effect of strophanthin on the heart was led to... accidental contamination of a toothbrush with African arrow poison (this happened during one of Livingston's expeditions).

The cardiac poisons digitoxin and convallotoxin, which are similar in action, are contained in digitalis and lily of the valley, which serve as sources for medicinal cardiac glucosides. But not only anchar or foxglove - the plant world is fraught with an unlimited number of poisons. A simple listing of the most poisonous plants would take several pages. Here, in addition to antiarin, we will talk about only a few more plant poisons that are of particular interest both historically and toxicologically. Many of them are now obtained not only from plants, but also synthetically.

Atropa cuts the thread of life

Atropine known since ancient times. Today it has many medicinal benefits, but in the distant past it was better known as a poison. Atropine is found in such widespread plants as belladonna and henbane. In addition, atropine is found in mandrake, which has long enjoyed the reputation of being an unsurpassed medicine and poison. The word atropine comes from the Latin name of the belladonna plant - atropa belladonna. Atropa is the name of one of the three mythological Parks (goddesses of fate). The French sculptor Debe gave the Parks images of young maidens: Clotho, crowned with fruits, holds a spindle and thread human life, which the inexorable Atropa, with branches of a gloomy, mournful cypress on her head, is about to cut, and Lachesis takes a ball from the urn to inscribe on it everything that will happen in the life of a mortal. (Interestingly, one of the modern atropine-like drugs was named lachesine). History holds many secrets related to the use of atropine for criminal purposes. Fiction also talks about this: Shakespeare, describing the murder of Hamlet’s father, turns to henbane, the active principle of which is atropine. The Phantom speaks about this, addressing the Prince of Denmark:

"...When I was sleeping in the garden in my afternoon, your uncle crept into my corner with the cursed henbane juice in a flask and poured an infusion into the narthex of my ears, whose action is in such discord with the blood..."

Henbane poisoning occurs with symptoms of mental agitation (hence the saying “henbane has eaten too much”). But it is related to atropine in chemical structure scopolamine, on the contrary, has a calming effect. In this regard, plants containing scopolamine (datura, mandrake) were previously used as narcotic and sleeping pills.

Atropine and scopolamine are now widely used in medicine to treat a number of diseases.

Sleeping Poppy, is the name of a plant whose juice contains opium. Opium is an ancient sedative and hypnotic; The juice obtained from unripe poppy pods was known among the Greeks as a good soporific. According to Pliny, it was widely used as a drug for “complete deliverance from all suffering and disease.” This sleeping pill gradually migrated to the East as a drug. Since then, the infection of opium smoking has brought huge profits to the black market bosses. For many centuries, the secrets of the sleeping pills poppy remained unsolved. But in 1803, 20-year-old Serturner, who was at that time a pharmacist's apprentice in Paderborn, obtained white crystalline powder from opium. The study of its effects on animals began. It turned out that the drug causes in dogs not only the drowsiness characteristic of opium, but also immunity to pain. After performing a series of experiments on himself, Serturner determined the dose required to obtain this effect. In honor of greek god sleep he named his drug morphine.

Nowadays, morphine is needed relatively rarely as a painkiller, since in Lately its substitutes have been obtained. The action of the latter does not lead to the development morphinism and therefore their use is safer.

Curare

Curare is one of the poisons that played an exceptional role in the development of experimental toxicology, so it should be discussed in more detail. Its name comes from the Indian word "uirari" ("uira" - bird, and "eor" - to kill). The use of arrows lubricated with curare in hunting and war began in South America. Initially, the use of curare was limited to the northern region of the river basin. Amazon, and then, after the discovery of America, began to spread to the west and south. The most potent types of curare were produced in the north, along the entire length of the Solemoe River (the name of which means “poison”). Interestingly, this area is still a kind of center for obtaining curare. In the city of Iquitos, east of Solemwe, to this day there is an exchange of poisons between the Indians and the rest of the population. One might have expected that with the advent of firearms among the Indians, curare would lose its importance. However, this did not happen. A blowgun loaded with a curare arrow continues to this day to be the Indians’ favorite weapon for hunting, as it allows them to act covertly and silently. Due to the mysterious ritual involved in making the poison, identifying the plants used to prepare it required extensive observation. It is now known that the active principles that are part of various varieties of curare are extracted from strychnos and chondrodendron plants. The natives, having crushed the shoots of these plants, boil them, evaporating the juice and determining its readiness by the degree of bitterness. The juice of a new plant is added to the condensed boiling liquid and thereby turns the extract into a thick syrup. “It is difficult to imagine how experience and intuition led seemingly such primitive tribes to this extremely significant discovery,” writes the prominent modern Italian pharmacologist Bove.

The active principle of curare, tubocurarine, was isolated in 1820, but it took almost a century to establish its formula (see Fig. 1). Based on Beauvais' research, the first synthetic curare, gallamine, was obtained. In the USSR, diplacin and paramion were proposed. Curare-like drugs have now become necessary in the practice of surgical anesthesia. The fact is that painkillers “relieve” only sensitivity to pain, without causing the necessary relaxation of the muscles. Simultaneous use painkillers and muscle relaxants completely solve the problem of surgical anesthesia. That is why Bove entitled his article for the Soviet collection “Science and Humanity” (1964) “The blessed poison of curare.” Beneficial in clinical use under strict medical supervision and... deadly in all other cases of life! After all, relaxation and paralysis of the respiratory muscles (diaphragm, intercostal muscles) inevitably lead to respiratory arrest and death. An animal struck by an arrow with curare falls and lies helpless, completely immobilized, until paralysis of the respiratory muscles occurs. The classical experiments of C. Bernard, which we will discuss below, convinced that the effect of curare is “peripheral”: this poison paralyzes the muscles without affecting the brain.

The healing properties of curare, due to its great danger, could not be used for a long time: doctors were simply afraid to use it. And so doctor Smith from the University of Utah decided to conduct an experiment on himself - a successful experiment that, without exaggeration, can be called heroic. Subsequently, he said that after the injection of poison, the throat muscles were first paralyzed. He could no longer swallow and was choking on his own saliva. Then the muscles of the limbs became immobilized: it was impossible to move either an arm or a leg. Then the worst thing happened: paralysis affected respiratory muscles, but the heart and brain continued to work. At this point the experiment was interrupted. And not without reason... Smith later said: “I felt as if I was buried alive.”

Socrates Cup

Action coniine- an alkaloid contained in the plant hemlock or omega spotted (Latin name - conium), reminiscent of the action of curare. In addition, he has narcotic effect; It also has toxic manifestations characteristic of nicotine. Hemlock is similar to garden parsley, horseradish, and parsnips (Fig. 2). Distributed throughout the European part of the USSR, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. Poisoning can occur if the roots of the plant are accidentally consumed instead of horseradish.

Spotted hemlock went down in history as the poison that killed the great ancient Greek philosopher Socrates. (According to other sources, Socrates died from omega swamp or poisonous milestone containing cicutotoxin.) His student Plato describes the death of Socrates very plausibly: “When Socrates saw the prison servant, he asked him: well, dear friend, what should I do with this cup? He answered: you must only drink it, then walk back and forth until your thighs become heavy, and then lie down, and then the poison will continue its effect... Socrates emptied the cup very cheerfully and without anger... He walked back and forth, and when he noticed that his thighs were heavy, he lay down straight on his back, as the prison servant told him.”

Centuries passed before scientists tackled the Socratic Cup in the 19th century. After experiments on animals, it was necessary to test its effect on humans. But how to do that? Three Viennese medical students volunteered to help science, each of whom took the poisonous principle of hemlock (coniine) in an amount of 0.003 to 0.08 g. They compiled a detailed description of the action of coniine, much more accurately than Plato did. In particular, students experience such symptoms of poisoning as drowsiness, depression (as with a hangover), deterioration of vision and hearing, drooling, dulling of the sense of touch (the skin became “fluffy” and “goosebumps were running all over it”). Due to the ensuing weakness, the young people could barely keep their heads straight. They moved their arms with great difficulty, their gait became shaky and uncertain, and even the next day their legs trembled when walking... It became obvious that coniine has a multifaceted effect: it causes muscle paralysis and drowsiness, that is, it somehow combines effects of curare and narcotic drugs, complementing them with peculiar sensitivity disorders. This “auto-experiment” was only a weak semblance of the poisoning of Socrates. One can imagine how painful his death was: after all, he drank his cup to the bottom...

"Blue Buttercup"

"Blue Buttercup" is better known as Latin name aconite (see Fig. 3). The last king of Pergamin was Attalus III (Philometr), who lived in the 2nd century. BC e., in his garden he cultivated various poisonous plants, but he paid special attention to aconite (in ancient times it was called the poison of Cerberus). Just like an arrow carrying strophanthin, aconite is capable of instantly hitting an elephant. Yes, this is not surprising if you keep in mind that its lethal dose is only a few milligrams! The poisonous principle of the “blue buttercup” (also called the fighter) is aconitine, which has a burning taste. It is found mainly in the tubers of the plant, where it is extracted from. Grows in forests and ravines. Distributed in the European part of the USSR, Siberia and the Far East. Widely used in homeopathy in the form of tincture. The concentration of aconite in the tincture is 0.05% (this means that 1 cm 3 of tincture contains 0.5 mg of aconite). This dose is approximately 10 times less than the toxic dose. (It is clear from this that other homeopathic remedies not so innocent!). In modern scientific medicine, aconite is not used.

Rice. 3. "Blue Buttercup" (wolfsbane)

Aconitine is a universal “nerve” poison. It affects the motor, sensory and autonomic nerves, and their excitation is replaced by paralysis. In addition, aconitine has a strong effect on the central nervous system, leading to respiratory arrest.

"The Gift" by Jean Nicot

In the 16th century The French envoy in Lisbon, Jean Nicot, a great lover and collector of plants, was sent unknown seeds from America. It was tobacco. Since then, the cultivation, sniffing and smoking of tobacco began in Europe. In the 17th century, it became so widespread that in some countries the plant itself was “outlawed.” Thus, Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich did not allow soldiers to smoke tobacco under pain of exile to Siberia; Pope Urban VIII forbade clergy and laity from chewing and smoking tobacco during worship, so that “they would not stain church utensils with spittle and poison the air.” tobacco smoke"How widespread smoking is is well known. It’s just difficult to understand what considerations make people revel in the “gift of Jean Nicot” and chronically poison their bodies with nicotine? Most of all, this hobby fits the category of bad habits. It doesn’t hurt to remind you that active principle tobacco leaves belong to very strong poisons. A few hundredths of a gram (about 1 drop) of pure nicotine causes severe poisoning in an unaccustomed person. (A case is described when one strong subject smoked 40 cigarettes and 14 cigars within 12 hours and died from nicotine poisoning). At one time, two doctors - Dvorak and Heinrich, who worked for the Viennese pharmacologist Shroff, performed a scientific experiment on themselves, taking 4.5 mg of pure nicotine. Both developed severe poisoning. Among the variety of symptoms, the most serious were the convulsions that appeared at the beginning of the second hour. They also covered the respiratory muscles; breathing became difficult: each exhalation consisted of a series of short convulsive tremors. The subjects also felt unwell the next day. After the experience, both doctors acquired an aversion not only to smoking, but even to the smell of tobacco.

From "judicial" beans to modern OBs

In Calabar (Nigeria), the poisonous effect of the beans of the climbing plant Physostigma venosum (somewhat reminiscent of our beans in appearance) has been known since ancient times. Its pods contain 2-3 seeds containing an extremely poisonous alkaloid physostigmine (eserine). These beans served in Calabar as a means of testing people accused of witchcraft. In addition, duels were in fashion there, in which opponents divided an equal number of beans among themselves. The seeds were also used for the purpose of holding court (hence the name “judicial beans”): the accused was publicly offered to eat a certain amount of them. If he vomited, the person was acquitted; if he died, then his condemnation was considered fair. This one is as naive as he is cruel way legal proceedings were nevertheless based on certain elements of a psychological order. The fact is that a person who considered himself innocent ate beans confidently and quickly, as a result of which vomiting began. The culprit ate the beans carefully and slowly; this most often led to the fact that he did not vomit, the eserine was absorbed and death occurred.

According to the first reports of the effects of Calabar beans, the symptoms of eserine poisoning consist of gradually increasing paralysis of the voluntary muscles. "The poisoned person looks blankly, the muscles cease to obey him, he staggers on his feet as if drunk. Breathing becomes difficult, the pulse is weak and rare, the body cools and becomes covered with sweat; finally, complete relaxation and death sets in - apparently without suffering. If detected diarrhea and vomiting, then life is saved in most cases." This is the description given in the first scientific leadership on toxicology in Russian (E. Pelikan, 1878), quite colorfully characterizes eserine poisoning. Physostigmine was not found wide application in medicine, but he was destined to play an outstanding role in the development of the science of drugs and poisons. Second decade of the 20th century. was marked by an important discovery: the enzyme cholinesterase, which is of exceptional importance for all nervous activity, was discovered in the body. It was found that physostigmine blocks this enzyme, and this “disarms” and leads to disruption of the normal course of nervous processes, as a result of which poisoning occurs. Such poisons were called anticholinesterase substances, and the discovery itself was used to obtain synthetic substitutes for physostigmine. One by one, anticholinesterase poisons were discovered, which are now the most toxic of all known synthetic compounds. We are talking about organophosphorus agents, the mechanism of action of which is similar to the action of physostigmine.

As mentioned above, the number of poisonous plants is extremely large, and we have mentioned here only a small part of what is the content of thick manuals and reference books. Our task is not to give a systematic presentation of data on plant poisons, but to show, using several examples, the truly amazing variety of properties that plants contain. Some of them act primarily on the peripheral parts of the nervous system, others selectively affect the functions of the brain, others “wound” the heart, and the action of others is diverse, covering various organs and systems. If we continued to describe poisons of plant origin, we would probably write about strychnine, colchicine, emetine ("emetic root"), ricin (from castor beans), cocaine, santonin, quinine, veratrine (hebore) and many other substances. Unraveling the secrets of nature, man singled them out from the most various plants for use in therapeutic medicine. However, there is no need to clutter the presentation with this data. Having understood what inexhaustible reserves of physiologically active compounds are hidden in the plant world, we must hasten to describe the no less extensive kingdom of fungi, microbes and animals. In the process of evolution and the centuries-long struggle for existence, they have developed even more toxic principles that pose a threat to humans.

Dangerously similar

Toxic substances are found in some mushrooms, such as fly agaric and toadstool. Was isolated from fly agaric muscarine, which turned out to be, unlike many plant poisons, a substance of a fairly simple structure. Despite the name, inherited from the mushroom itself ("muska" in Greek for fly), muscarine is safe for insects. Along with muscarine, mushrooms contain protein substances (toxalbumins) that kill flies. Surprisingly, the fly agaric also contains an atropine-like substance, which, as we will see below, is the complete antipode of muscarine in its physiological action. The role of such a symbiosis still remains a mystery. Another comparison is no less interesting: muscarine in its structure almost coincides with acetylcholine, a substance produced in the body of humans and animals and which performs an important function - transmission nervous excitement. Take a look at two structural formulas(see page 21). This similarity is where the danger of mushroom poisoning lies. When muscarine enters the body, it interacts with the same specific systems (they are called cholinergic), which were previously the object of action only by acetylcholine. This invasion turns out to be lengthy and brutal. The result is overexcitation of the entire system and a sharp disruption of the normal course of nervous processes, leading to poisoning. But this overexcitation is relatively easy to eliminate. As soon as atropine is administered to the patient, the poisoning will be cured. What happened? Atropine's structure is partly reminiscent of acetylcholine and thanks to this it “hurries” to connect with “cholinergic” systems. However, the atropine molecule is more bulky and therefore it seems to cover (block) the active surface of the nerve receptor. By doing this, she protects him from the attacks of muscarine.

Muscarine is a strong poison. Exciting the autonomic part of the nervous system (in charge of regulating cardiac activity, digestion, sweating, smooth muscles of the bronchi, blood vessels and intestines), it causes a slow heartbeat, a fall blood pressure, bronchospasm (hence - suffocation) and others characteristic symptoms. Lethal dose muscarine for humans is 3-5 mg, which corresponds to 3-4 fly agarics.

There are indications that the drink, previously prepared from fly agaric mushrooms in the north, caused a kind of dope. Since muscarine does not have such an effect, it is attributed to the presence of other toxic substances in the mushroom, in particular atropine-like ones. Psilocybin, a poison found in many types of Mexican mushrooms, has a much more pronounced effect on the psyche. These mushrooms have long been used by Mexicans and Indians as an aphrodisiac.

Antonov fire

It is now well known that ergot contains several toxic substances, one of which causes convulsions, and the other a sharp and prolonged spasm of the blood vessels of the extremities, which leads to severe disruption of the trophism (nutrition) of the skin and muscles in the form of gangrene.

Ergot poisoning is now rare, since flour, before entering the bakery, undergoes a thorough hygienic examination and, at the slightest suspicion of containing fungus, is not allowed into food.

Ergot turned out to be an exceptionally rich source for obtaining biologically active substances. This is due to the fact that the structural basis of all alkaloids contained in it is the so-called lysergic acid, which has a complex and unique structure. Minor changes in its structure produce compounds that differ significantly in their properties from ergot. This is how lysergic acid diethylamide was obtained, now widely known under the short name LSD, a drug that has the ability to cause hallucinations in humans in negligible doses. But more on that later.

Poisonous microbes

Some microorganisms produce extremely toxic substances. Thus, the poison of the botulinus bacillus (sausage poison) causes death in humans at a dose of 0.5 mg. It is easy to calculate that 1 g of this neurotoxin can kill 2000 people! However, this is not the limit: the toxins of some types (strains) of the poisonous bacillus are even more dangerous. Thus, the lethal dose of bacillus A neurotoxin is about 0.003 mg (3 micrograms). Fortunately, modern medicine has a reliable remedy for botulism - a very effective anti-botulism serum. In addition to the botulinus bacillus, several other types of microorganisms are known that produce toxins dangerous to humans. These include tetanus bacillus, some types of staphylococci and salmonella (microbes that cause intestinal damage), etc.

Contents: Poisonous substances and poisoning……………………………………………………….3 2. Poisonous plants……………………………………………………….7 3. Mushroom poisoning……………………………………………………..9 4. First aid for poisoning………………………………………………………11 5 Treatment for poisoning……………………………………………13 6. Prevention of poisoning……………………………………………………………..13 7. Literature …………………………………………………………………………………15 1. Toxic substances and poisoning Poisons are substances that, when exposed to living organisms, can cause a sharp disruption of normal life, that is, poisoning or death. The concept of poisons is relative. The strength and nature of the effect of toxic substances on the body depend not only on the physical and chemical properties of the substances, but also on the characteristics of the living organism. The same chemical may or may not have any effect depending on different conditions. There are potent chemical substances, which in small doses and under certain conditions are used as medicines. The effect of toxic substances on a living organism, causing a painful condition, is called poisoning. Depending on their origin, shipments can be intentional or accidental. The majority of poisonings are accidents, when poison accidentally enters the human body. Acute poisoning develops as a result of chemical substances of various nature entering the human or animal body in such quantities that can cause disruption of vital functions and create a danger to life. The smaller the amount (dose) of a chemical substance that causes poisoning, the more pronounced its toxicity, that is, toxicity. Acute poisonings are divided according to the route of entry of the toxic substance into the body. The most common food poisoning results from poison entering the gastrointestinal tract through the mouth, from where it is more or less quickly absorbed into the blood and distributed throughout the body. In addition, inhalation poisoning is possible when inhaling vapors of a toxic substance, skin poisoning when poisons penetrate the body through unprotected skin, abdominal poisoning when a toxic substance enters various body cavities: the nasal cavity, ear, genitals and others. Injection poisoning is also possible due to the introduction of solutions of toxic substances directly into tissues or the bloodstream using a syringe or from the bites of poisonous insects and snakes. In case of poisoning, toxic substances enter the blood and are carried throughout the body. Some toxic substances have a harmful effect on the entire human body, while others have a selective effect on individual organs and their systems. Removal of poisons from the body occurs in a variety of ways. Almost all toxic substances or their breakdown products are excreted from the body through the kidneys along with urine. The organs through which poisons are released are often severely damaged by them, which causes serious illness. Many toxic substances, when affecting the body, cause characteristic changes inherent in them and characteristic clinical signs by which poisoning with a given substance is recognized. However, specific signs of poisoning a certain substance are not always clearly expressed or are masked by general signs of poisoning. Such general symptoms, which are observed in almost all poisonings, include general malaise, weakness, apathy, loss of appetite, sleep disturbance, headaches, dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting. Often, in case of poisoning, acute disorders of cardiovascular activity are observed, accompanied by palpitations, increased or slowed pulse, increased or decreased blood pressure; breathing disorders - shortness of breath, feeling of lack of air, increased or slow breathing. Some poisonings are accompanied by mental disorder, agitation, disturbances or loss of consciousness, involuntary urination or defecation. External changes in the skin and mucous membranes, bluishness of the face and lips, dry skin or, conversely, increased sweating are also observed. The development of poisoning and its severity, in addition to the amount (dose) of poison entering the body and its chemical composition, are influenced by many conditions. It is known that children and the elderly are more sensitive to certain toxic substances. In women during pregnancy, breastfeeding and menstruation, sensitivity to various substances also increased. Sick people, especially those with diseases of the liver, heart, kidneys, etc., are more susceptible to poisoning. Some people have unusually increased individual sensitivity to various chemicals or drugs (allergies). In such cases, from not large quantity When exposed to this substance, a severe general allergic reaction develops, sometimes ending in death. At the same time, there are known facts of individual resistance to obviously toxic substances due to addiction to them, for example, to nicotine and other drugs of plant origin. There are many chemicals that cause acute poisoning. These include, for example, drugs used to treat diseases, but in increased dose having toxic properties; various animal toxins and plant poisons used by humans to prepare medicines and many other substances. All these numerous chemicals exhibit their toxic effects on the body. different ways, according to which they are divided into irritating, cauterizing, blister, suffocating, hypnotic, convulsive and other poisons. Moreover, most of them, regardless of the dose and route of entry into the body, have so-called selective toxicity, that is, the ability to affect strictly defined cells and tissue structures, without affecting others with which they are in direct contact. According to the principle of selective toxicity, blood poisons are isolated that act primarily on blood cells ( carbon monoxide, saltpeter and others); nervous, or neurotoxic, poisons that affect cells of the central and peripheral nervous system (alcohol, drugs, etc.); kidney and liver poisons that disrupt the functions of these organs (some fungal toxins and others); cardiac poisons, the influence of which disrupts the functioning of the heart muscle (some plant poisons from the group of alkaloids); gastrointestinal poisons that affect the stomach and intestines, respectively. Acute poisoning by poisonous plants is a common type of food intoxication with a number of characteristic features. The causes of acute poisoning by plant poisons can be self-medication - self-ingestion of tinctures and herbal decoctions without consulting a doctor or on the recommendations of persons without medical education. Among the painful phenomena that occur after ingestion of poisonous plants, the main place is often occupied by disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. The active toxic principle of poisonous plants are various chemical compounds, which belong mainly to the class of alkaloids, glycosides, as well as some essential oils and organic acids (hydrocyanic, oxalic). Alkaloids are complex organic compounds containing carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen. Their salts quickly dissolve in water and are absorbed in the stomach or intestines. The structural uniqueness of glycosides lies in the fact that they easily break down into their constituent carbohydrate (sugar) part and several other toxic substances. Symptoms of human damage to plant poisons depend on their predominant effect on certain organs and systems of the body (selective toxicity). In case of poisoning by many plants, symptoms of damage to the nervous system come to the fore. The nature of the lesion may vary. In some cases, poisonous plant substances stimulate activity central departments nervous system, in others, on the contrary, they quickly depress them or completely paralyze them. Depending on this, in the first case, the picture of poisoning is dominated by signs of increased arousal, manifested in the form of increased agitation, cramps of the arms and legs, manic disorder of consciousness, deceptive sensations, itching of the skin, vision of small insects. At the same time, the pupils of the eyes noticeably dilate, the skin becomes dry and hot, swallowing is impaired, and the pulse and breathing increase. Such symptoms can occur in case of poisoning with belladonna, datura, henbane, wormwood, vekh, aconite and other plant poisons of nervous action. In the second case of poisoning with such poisons, signs of depression of nervous activity predominate in the form of decreased skin sensitivity, drowsiness, depressed mood, difficulty in voluntary movements to a state of complete immobility and loss of consciousness. At the same time, the pulse and breathing slow down, the skin becomes damp and cold. Similar symptoms are observed in case of poisoning with poppy, horsetail, omega spotted, pikulnik and others. In severe poisoning, stimulation of the nervous system is often only the first stage of the action of the poison, which is followed, sometimes very quickly, by severe depression and paralysis of its activity. The initial effect on the nervous system is usually complicated by disorders of other organs, primarily the heart and respiratory organs, which can lead to the development of insufficiency of their function and death of patients. A significant number of poisonous plants have a strong effect on the mucous membrane digestive tract and calls sharp pains in the stomach, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. As a result, due to rapid dehydration of the body, severe weakness, shortness of breath, weakening of cardiac activity. This group includes plants containing saponin (euphorbia, sprouted potatoes, nightshade), mustard and others. Pesticides of plant origin (anabasine, nicotine) are very strong poisons. The lethal dose of anabasine for humans is 2-3 drops. Both poisons, when ingested, affect the central nervous system and cause respiratory paralysis. In acute anabasine poisoning, patients report a burning sensation in the mouth, headache, vomiting, general weakness, palpitations. In more severe cases, hallucinations and delirium, convulsions, and loss of consciousness are noted. Anabasine and nicotine enter the body especially easily through abrasions, scratches and skin ulcerations. Poisoning with witchcraft remedies. Among the poisonings encountered by witchcraft remedies are the following: . tobacco tincture poisoning. A tincture or decoction of tobacco contains a large amount of a strong alkaloid - nicotine, which causes severe poisoning, paralysis of the nervous system and death. The lethal dose of nicotine is 0.05 g. Healers recommend making enemas and lotions from an infusion or decoction of tobacco and drinking this poisonous liquid. In such cases, nicotine is quickly absorbed into the blood and has a harmful effects on the body. . Poisoning from decoctions and infusions of poisonous plants. Often, under the pretext of “medicinal, folk” herbs, healers sell the roots of poisonous plants, the use of which causes severe poisoning and death. Thus, under the name “Adam’s root” they sell the roots of poisonous plants containing very life-threatening substances. These roots include: 1. hemlock (omega) spotted roots, which contain a strong alkaloid, coniine, which causes poisoning and death; 2. roots of aconite (wrestler, “blue buttercup”), containing the strongest poison - aconitine glucoside, which causes death in a dose of 0.003 g; 3. roots of omega swamp (veh poisonous, hemlock), containing an extremely toxic substance cicutotoxin; 2. Poisonous plants Poisonous plants are plants that are capable of producing and accumulating toxic substances that cause poisoning in humans and animals. Different types of poisonous plants can produce one or more toxic compounds: alkaloids, glucosides, saponins and others. In this case, toxic substances are contained in the entire plant or only in its individual parts. For example, quinine is contained in the bark of the cinchona tree, but is absent in the leaves; the leaves, stems, and seed pods of poppy are poisonous, but the seeds are not poisonous. The toxic properties of most poisonous plants (monkshood, castor beans, bitter almonds) are not lost by drying or heat treatment. Other plants lose these properties when dried. The most common cases of human poisoning are poisonous plants that are externally similar to edible non-poisonous species. For example, hemlock leaves are similar in appearance to parsley and can be mistakenly used in food as a seasoning. All plants containing the alkaloid coniine, which has similar effects to curare, are poisonous. In case of poisoning, loss of skin sensitivity and respiratory depression are observed. In severe cases, death occurs from suffocation. One of the most poisonous plants of the Russian flora is the poisonous hemlock or hemlock. The entire plant is poisonous, especially the rhizome. The toxic principle is the resinous substance cicutotoxin. In case of poisoning, unconsciousness occurs, convulsions and foam at the mouth appear. Death occurs from respiratory arrest. Severe poisoning is caused by belladonna berries, similar to cherries, and henbane seeds, similar to poppy seeds. Symptoms of poisoning from belladonna berries and henbane seeds are similar. Dry mouth appears, a feeling of thirst appears, the pupils dilate greatly, and the skin of the face turns red. The victim becomes very agitated with hallucinations and delusions. Possible death from suffocation due to paralysis of the respiratory center and vascular insufficiency. Similar phenomena are observed in case of poisoning with Datura vulgare. There are frequent cases of children being poisoned by raven's eye berries, which vaguely resemble blueberries or blueberries. A victim who is poisoned by this berry experiences headache and dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and frequent urination. Wolf's bast is a shrub with juicy bright red or orange-red berries, reminiscent of sea buckthorn. The whole plant is poisonous, especially the berries. When eating berries, there is a burning sensation in the mouth, increased salivation and thirst. Vomiting, bloody diarrhea appear, and a little later - blood in the urine, cardiac dysfunction. Contact with wolf bast juice on the skin causes a burn with the formation of blisters and ulcerations. May lily of the valley is also poisonous. The whole plant is poisonous, especially its red juicy berries. In case of poisoning, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and dizziness occur. If you come into contact with poisonous plants or get the juice of a poisonous plant on your skin, acute inflammation, eczema, and dermatitis can develop. When collecting dope on hot days, poisoning from plant vapors is possible. If you inhale dust generated when grinding castor beans, allergic reactions with symptoms of bronchial asthma are possible. Dermatitis is often observed upon contact with primrose (room primrose, Chinese primrose and others). Dermatitis caused by meadow plants (sedge, parsnip, yarrow and others) is often observed in people lying in the meadow after swimming. Exposed parts of the body are affected, and stripe-like rashes are characteristic. Severe dermatitis is also caused by Sosnowski's hogweed. The active toxic substances in plants, which primarily disrupt the activity of the heart, are glycosides. These include well-known plants - foxglove, adonis, oleander, lily of the valley, from which special tinctures are prepared, which have been used as medicines for a long time. Toxic doses overstimulate the heart and make it unable to perceive the inhibitory influence from the central nervous system transmitted through the vagus nerve. Poisoning manifests itself strong heartbeat, a feeling of “fading” in the heart due to a disturbance in the rhythm of its activity, paleness of the face and fainting. Cardiac glycosides from digitalis and other plants have a cumulative effect, that is, the ability to accumulate in the body when taken for a long time. In this case, symptoms of poisoning may develop after taking even a small dose of these drugs. In addition, saponins and a number of other organic matter destroy the mucous membrane of the digestive tract and can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. A number of poisonous plants have a predominant effect on the liver, as a result of which they are called liver poisons. These include ragwort, heliotrope, and pink mustard. The alkaloids of these plants cause loss of appetite, digestive disorders (nausea, diarrhea), jaundice (jaundiced discoloration of the whites of the eyes and skin), itching of the skin, pain in the liver, mental disturbances (speech agitation followed by a state of drowsiness). Special place Hogweeds are among the poisonous plants. The main manifestation of their toxic effect is observed upon contact with unprotected skin. What they highlight essential oil, especially in cloudy weather, severely burns the skin and forms watery blisters. Poisoning can also occur when eating plants that are considered non-poisonous. For example, grains of bitter almonds, apricots, cherries, bird cherry and other stone fruits contain hydrocyanic acid. Green potato tubers contain a large amount of the glycoalkaloid solanine, which causes diarrhea, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, and stupor in humans. Similar symptoms are observed with poisoning from bittersweet nightshade berries. Poisoning by volatile substances of some plants (bird cherry, poppy, lily, tuberose and others) is common when large bouquets are kept indoors. Victims experience headache and dizziness. 3. Mushroom poisoning Mushroom poisoning occurs not only when eating inedible mushrooms, but also edible ones if they are improperly processed and preserved. Mushroom poisoning is quite common and sometimes ends in death, since the mushroom toxin is poisonous. For example, morels and strings contain poisonous helwellic acid, which can cause hemolysis (dissolution of red blood cells) and damage the liver, heart, kidneys and spleen. Strings, in addition to helvelic acid, also contain a whole group of very dangerous toxic substances, for example gyrometrin, which, in addition to the ability to cause damage to the liver and other vital important organs, also renders toxic effect on the nervous system and disrupts metabolic processes in the body, including in brain cells. Typically, the effect of the poison does not begin to appear immediately, but after 6-10 hours. The disease develops gradually. First, a feeling of fullness and squeezing appears in the stomach area, which becomes more pronounced over time. pain and pain, nausea occurs, turning into uncontrollable vomiting. Sometimes there is diarrhea, a rapidly growing feeling of weakness and weakness. Very often there is a sharp headache, confusion, delirium, convulsions, and jaundice is often observed. Children and people are especially sensitive to the effects of helwellic acid and gyrometrin. young, pregnant women and the elderly. It has been experimentally established that helvelic acid is extracted from mushrooms when boiled. Unlike helvelic acid, gyrometrin dissolves in hot water, heat treatment also does not affect it. But during prolonged drying, gyrometrin and other substances of this group contained in the lines are still destroyed during prolonged drying. Thus, correct processing mushrooms can eliminate the possibility of poisoning by them. Pale grebe is the most poisonous mushroom of all found in Russia. Amanitotoxin plays the main role in the mechanism of poisoning by toadstool. This substance is completely insoluble in water, retains its toxicity even after 20 minutes of boiling, and is not destroyed by enzymes of the gastrointestinal tract. The venom of the toadstool affects the liver, cells of the central nervous system, blood vessels, glandular tissue and the walls of the digestive tract. Along with this, the poison also causes disruption of many biochemical processes in the body. Once in the body, the poison does not make itself known immediately, but many hours after dinner or lunch. Meanwhile, the poison does its job, and when signs of poisoning appear, it is already difficult to save the person: the fungal toxin that has penetrated the blood can only be removed from the body with the help of hemodialysis. Therefore, early hospitalization in a qualified medical institution can save a person poisoned by toadstool, even when the fungal toxin is in the blood. Fly agaric. The chemical composition of fly agaric and the mechanism of its action on human organs are now well studied. The main poisonous element of fly agarics is the alkaloid muscarine - a strong poison, 3-5 mg of which kills a person (this amount of poison is contained in 3-4 fly agarics). Cases deaths are very rare and occur only when a large amount of these mushrooms is eaten. Recovery occurs relatively quickly: after 1-3 days. However, sometimes, due to some reasons, this period can be delayed up to 11 days. False honey mushrooms, skillfully masquerading as true ones, still end up in the baskets of inexperienced mushroom pickers, sometimes causing severe poisoning. False honey mushrooms are not very poisonous. Poisoning with these mushrooms causes gastrointestinal disorders. These phenomena are associated with the action of the “milk” juice of honey mushrooms, which has pronounced irritating properties and causes gastroenteritis (inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract), accompanied by nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. 4. First aid for poisoning First aid for accidental poisoning is of great importance to avoid serious health consequences. First aid to victims should be provided immediately, since in acute poisoning, disruption of the basic vital functions of the body (breathing, heartbeat, blood circulation) can occur very quickly. Timely first aid contributes to a milder course of the disease caused by poisoning and often prevents the possibility of death. You need to know that in cases of poisoning, literally every minute is precious. Therefore, everyone should be able to provide first aid to themselves or the injured person, without waiting for medical workers to arrive. At the same time, it should be remembered that measures first aid are only preliminary, urgent. In case of any degree of poisoning, with any toxic substance, you must immediately call a doctor to the victim. In no case should you hide from doctors what substance was taken, as this makes timely diagnosis difficult, delaying the necessary help and reducing the chances of saving a life. Methods of providing first aid depend both on the routes of penetration of poisons into the body and on their chemical composition. If poison enters the body, it is necessary to give the victim 6-10 glasses of warm water or a solution of baking soda to drink; then, irritating the back wall of the pharynx and the root of the tongue (with a finger or spoon), induce vomiting. The procedure should be repeated. After washing, the victim should take Activated carbon or slightly crushed carbolene tablets with water. Give milk, sweet tea, coffee to drink. Give a laxative. Before the doctor arrives, the victim must be wrapped and warmed with heating pads. If vomiting persists, give ice cubes to swallow. If a toxic substance gets on the skin, you need to remove this substance from the surface of the skin as quickly as possible with a cotton or gauze swab or rag, being careful not to smear it on the surface of the skin. After this, the skin should be washed well with warm water and soap or a weak solution of drinking (baking) soda. If a toxic substance gets into your eyes, rinse them immediately with a stream of water with your eyelids open. Rinsing should be thorough for 20-30 minutes, since even a small amount of a toxic substance that gets into the eyes can cause deep damage to the organ of vision. After rinsing the eyes, apply a dry bandage and immediately consult an eye doctor. If poison enters through the respiratory tract, the victim must be removed from the place with poisonous air. Fresh air or take measures to quickly ventilate the room. Free the victim from clothing that restricts breathing. The victim should be wrapped warmly, warmed with heating pads, and given a soda solution to rinse his throat and mouth. If necessary, perform artificial respiration. 5. Treatment for poisoning Treatment of victims of poisoning by poisonous plants is carried out by removing the poison that has entered the body and reducing its toxicity with the help of various antidotes. It is very important to carry out necessary measures in the order of self- and mutual assistance. Regardless of the type of plant poison that caused the poisoning, it is necessary to urgently induce vomiting by irritating the pharynx or the root of the tongue. When excited, the patient is placed on the head cold compress and try to keep him in bed; if the patient faints, in a supine position, lower his head down and raise his legs, give strong warm tea inside; If breathing and cardiac activity stop, artificial respiration is performed and indirect massage hearts. 6. Prevention of acute poisoning Using medicinal plants at home without knowledge of their medicinal properties can cause harm to health and even cause death. Therefore, prepare healing herbs and you yourself must prepare preparations for treatment from them with extreme caution and only with reliable knowledge of the matter, and not by hearsay. Medicinal plants are widely used to make medicines, such as lily of the valley, aloe, ergot, white hellebore, belladonna and many others. From them, under special conditions, medicinal substances are extracted that provide great benefits to patients in therapeutic doses. However, from these same plants at home (in decoctions, infusions, etc.) substances are obtained that can cause great harm, since, for example, it is almost impossible to determine the therapeutic dose of these substances by eye. It is especially dangerous to use home remedies to treat children. All preventive measures against poisoning by poisonous mushrooms boil down to the following: it is necessary to remember well the distinctive signs of false mushrooms and toadstool. In general, prevention of poisoning by plant poisons consists of consistently following following rules: 1. do not use unfamiliar plants or mushrooms for food; 2. do not eat well-known cultivated plants (potatoes, grains, buckwheat, peas and others) that were improperly stored and overwintered in the field; 3. do not take home-prepared tinctures and herbal medicines without consulting a doctor; 4. do not spontaneously increase the dose prescribed by the doctor and the tincture prepared in the pharmacy; 5. do not allow children, especially younger ones, to pick mushrooms and berries on their own, without adult supervision; 6. Do not trust your life and health to persons without special medical education who offer “miracle” drugs for the treatment of diseases. medicines, made by them from plants. 7. Literature: 1. A. A. Lukash “ Household poisoning and their prevention.” - M.: “Medicine”, 1968. 2. S. M. Martynov “Prevention of mushroom poisoning.” – M.: “Medicine”, 1975. 3. J. Zeccardi “Encyclopedia of emergency medical care" – M.: KRON-PRESS, 1998.

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In nature there is always a chance to stumble upon poisonous plant. And while adults will most likely just pass by, curious children who want to taste everything may get hurt.

website reminds: many are very dangerous species plants are grown as ornamental and can be seen not only in the forest, but also on window sills and flower beds. Therefore, you should also be vigilant in the city.

Where it occurs: In the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere; prefers damp places, swamps.

There are several types of buttercups, many of them poisonous.

Where it occurs: Temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere, Australia.

The most common representatives are red and black elderberry. All parts of the plant are poisonous, and if you just touch the elderberry, it is best to wash your hands. Interestingly, black berries are completely safe when ripe; they are used to make drinks and pies.

Why it is dangerous: Provokes headache, weakness, abdominal pain, and sometimes cramps. Possible heart failure and respiratory arrest.

Where it occurs: In tropical and subtropical regions. Used in landscape design, it is grown all over the world as an indoor flower.

A truly insidious plant that attracts with its pleasant aroma and beautiful pink or white flowers.

Why it’s dangerous: Contains cardiac glycosides, which can change heart rhythm, cause vomiting, headache, weakness and even death. There is a legend that Napoleon's soldiers unknowingly made a fire from oleander branches and fried meat on it. The next morning, some of the soldiers did not wake up.

Where it occurs: In Europe, Asia and North America. Because of its beautiful purple, blue and yellowish flowers, it is grown in flower beds. This is a tall and conspicuous plant.

IN ancient world it was used to poison arrows. Even bees can get poisoned if they take honey from aconite. By the way, delphinium is its close relative, and it is also poisonous.

Why it’s dangerous: VERY poisonous plant. Causes disruption heart rate, numbness of the skin of the face, arms and legs, darkening of the eyes and death. The juice even penetrates the skin.

Where it occurs: In Northern and Central America, Europe, southern regions of Russia.

Datura resembles a potato or tomato, which is not surprising, since it is their close relative. This is an inconspicuous plant with spiky fruit-pods with black seeds inside. Its white flowers emit an intoxicating scent.

Why it’s dangerous: Contains alkaloids that cause rapid heartbeat, disorientation and delirium. In severe cases, death or coma may occur. Shamans of many nations used this plant in their rituals.

Where it occurs: In temperate regions of Eurasia, one species exists in the USA.

Just a giant among umbrellas, which looks quite impressive, but it is better not to take pictures next to it.

Why it’s dangerous: Some species contain furanocoumarins, which, under the influence sunlight cause painful burns. Therefore, if hogweed juice gets on your hand, wash it and protect it from sun rays about two days.

Where it occurs: Everywhere. Often seen on window sills, including in children's institutions.

Euphorbias include a huge number of species, often very different in appearance: some look like cacti, others look like flowers. Teach children not to touch unfamiliar plants, even if they grow in pots.

Why it’s dangerous: The juice leaves burns. Later, malaise, swelling and fever appear.

Some plant poisons are highly toxic. They can cause irreparable harm if ingested or come into contact with human skin. In nature, there are at least 700 plants containing toxic components. They are used to bait household pests, but you should know the specifics of use and observe certain rules when collecting and processing raw materials.

The most dangerous plant poisons

Many plants contain a huge amount of organic compounds that affect the work in various ways. internal organs. For several centuries they have been actively used for cooking healing decoctions, infusions Modern pharmacology also studies the properties of herbs, creating on their basis unique drugs for the treatment of pain, inflammation and infections.

The most dangerous plant poisons with which you should be extremely careful:

• Ricin. When released into the blood, it disrupts the production of proteins. The victim experiences liver and kidney dysfunction and worsens respiratory function. Without help, death occurs within 2–3 days.
• Amatoxin. The plant toxin accumulates in the liver tissue, affects the heart muscles, leading to their paralysis. Does not collapse during heat treatment. It provokes tissue necrosis and is practically not excreted in the urine.
• Curare. A substance of plant origin has paralyzing properties, blocking the functioning of the muscular system. A person stops breathing and can die from suffocation in just a few minutes.
• Muscarine. The lethal dose for an adult is only 3 mg. The substance affects the production of glandular secretions, the functioning of the digestive system is disrupted, the mucous membranes dry out, and the temperature rises. The problem occurs at the level of brain receptors.
• Quinine. When poison is consumed, blood clots form in the vessels, increasing the risk of hyperthermia of the heart muscle. At a dosage of 8–10 mg, the kidneys stop working, toxic substances are not excreted with liquid. If the pancreas is damaged, the patient dies from hypoglycemia.
• Konyin. The plant poison has a powerful paralytic effect and affects the human nervous system. Leads to the destruction of the protein that makes up all the cells of the body. Death occurs with the introduction of 0.5–1 g of toxin.
• Hydrocyanic acid. When poison enters the bloodstream, it develops quickly oxygen starvation tissues, vital processes stop. The cause of death is cerebral edema and suffocation.

The natural poisons of plant origin listed above are among the ten most dangerous substances for humans. In addition to them, there is a group of organic compounds that, when consumed, provoke mild poisoning, impair digestion and affect mucous membranes. These include solanine, aconitine, hypaconitine, and furocoumarin. They have the ability to accumulate in the tissues of the liver and spleen, worsen the condition of the blood, but are not capable of instantly killing a person. Useful article: what you need to know in case of poisoning.

Poisonous properties of plants

Some plants contain unique substances that may provide benefits. People use them to prepare medicines for many diseases, but in case of overdose there is a risk of damage to important organs and their dysfunction. Therefore, you must be careful when working with them and carefully read the instructions for the treatment collection.

Poisoning with poisons of plant origin can occur not only through oral consumption. It is easy to obtain a dose of a dangerous substance during processing summer cottage, a walk in the forest, while picking mushrooms. The pollen and sap of some plants are poisonous. They settle on the skin and are inhaled through the nose when weeding or trying to smell a flower. The most common ones are:

Often occurs when taking homemade medicines from celandine, bird cherry, gelsemium, adonis. Sometimes intoxication is observed after eating the kernels of bitter almonds, apricots, and cashew nuts. In everyday life, severe digestive disorders are caused by cooking dishes from unripe potatoes with green sides.

With the help of plants, you can prepare poisons that are not determined by forensic examination: atropine, aflatoxin, solanine. If accidentally consumed, acute intoxication occurs, the brain, nervous system and liver. They enter into chemical reactions with enzymes, gradually decompose to safe compounds. If 3–4 days have passed since the poisoning, it is no longer possible to correctly identify the organic toxin.

Preparation of poisons from plants

To kill rodents, you can prepare effective poisons that leave no traces yourself. Many plants grow in the nearest forest belt, so it is not difficult to prepare raw materials for the toxic composition. The poison is added to food, mixed into porridges, which are placed in the form of traps in corners where pests pass. After work, utensils and available materials should be thrown away to eliminate the possibility of poisoning pets.

To prepare a plant toxin from castor beans, you need to collect the seed pods, select the contents and carefully grind them into a homogeneous mass. The gruel has a distinct “mouse” smell, so it is mixed into meat fillings, which attract rodents with the aroma of frying oil. In the same way, a toxin is produced based on nightshade berries, asarum vulgaris or aconite.

When making plant poison for baiting the Colorado potato beetle, experienced gardeners recommend using dried hogweed stems. They are carefully ground to flour, diluted in ordinary water. Using a broom or sprayer, treat the potato bushes, repeating the procedure several times during the season.

Important! When making any poison from plant materials, you should use protective masks, gloves and a special disposable cape. They must be disposed of, and after work, take a shower with soap, rinse your throat and nose.

Help with poisoning from plant poisons

When preparing and using plant poisons, extreme caution should be taken. Many of them do not have an effective antidote and worsen a person’s condition in the presence of chronic diseases, hypertension, diabetes mellitus. Proper first aid can save the victim’s life:

1. Rinse the stomach with water containing table salt or manganese, be sure to induce vomiting.
2. If hogweed powder is inhaled, rinse the nose and force the person to gargle.
3. During the first hour, they try to give a sorbent that reduces the absorption of poison in the intestines (Polysorb, activated carbon, Enterosgel, Atoxil).
4. It is advisable to provide bed rest and reduce activity as much as possible.
5. Give the victim sweetened tea, still mineral water, and raisin decoction in small portions.

If you are poisoned by poison from a plant, you should definitely take the person to the hospital and relieve the symptoms. Doctors select drugs that reduce damage to internal organs, if necessary, carry out blood purification - hemodialysis, and administer stimulants. Self-medication often leads to irreversible consequences, death of a person from internal bleeding, necrosis of parts of the brain.