Toxins

TOXINS: PLANTS AND ANIMALS

Here we go again..still having difficulty on how to start my blog. The topic is just simple, so why can’t I think of a good way to start it. Hhhhhmmmmmmmm.........tick tock tick tock.......Almost an hour of thinking.......tick tock tick tock.......an hour again have passed........Okay! I really need to start this..........Then finally I remember the first topic we usually have in our Values Education............THE STORY OF CREATION!

They say that God made all things beautiful. He made everything in harmony. Providing every creature like the plants which were created on the 3^rd day and animals on the 5^th day with what they need and giving them each their unique characteristics. Looking at, they refreshes human soul because of their beautiful and attractive appearance. But remember, in order to survive and maintain their unique looks they were created with a special characteristic to protect them from dying. One of these is the toxins being produced by them.....And that is our topic for today...TOXINS

So let’s start off with the definition of Toxins..        

“Toxins are poisonous manmade compounds, or those occurring in nature, or found in the body in the form of microorganisms that have an adverse impact on immune function.”

                                                                                                      

 - Janice Wittenberg, R.N.

How could we possibly think that we are actually the one imposing the toxins on ourselves repeatedly and regularly? Yeah that’s right! We are actually doing it by just simply eating, drinking, breathing, and touching them. 

Toxicity can occur in two levels, external and internal. External toxins refer to those that derived from our environment which get into our body (food, air, water). Internal toxins refer to those that derived from external sources but once in the body, they become internal toxins (microorganisms).

This blog requires us to concentrate on plants and animals which are the commonly known organisms that produce toxins.

Plant Toxins   

So why do plants have toxins within them? A plant like we humans need to protect themselves from their enemies (other plants invading the place  where  they get sustenance, microorganisms, insects, and both large and small mammalian, avian, or reptilian herbivores) in order to survive. One way of defense is through their physical characteristics, such as the presence of spines. Other and the most common way of defense is through the chemicals that a certain plant produces.

Listed below are some of plant toxins:

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Ricin is a mixture of poisonous proteins from the seeds of the castor oil plant. Ricin poisoning occurs through blockages of the body's synthesis of proteins. The development is slow and includes decreased blood pressure. Death frequently occurs through heart failure. Different forms of ricin bound to, e.g., monoclonal antibodies are being studied today in order to treat leukemia and cancer of the liver. 

Orellanine is a protoplasmic poison caused by the Sorrel Webcap mushroom (Cortinarius orellanus) and some of its relatives. An intense, burning thirst (polydipsia) and excessive urination (polyuria) are the first symptoms. This may be followed by nausea, headache, muscular pains, chills, spasms, and loss of consciousness. In severe cases, severe renal tubular necrosis and kidney failure may result in death (15%) several weeks after the poisoning.

See this site for more lists of mushroom toxins: http://www.bitterrootrestoration.com/medicinal-plants/types-of-mushroom-toxins.html

                                                                          

Cyanogens are toxins usually present in sorghum and cassava. The predominant cyanogens are, respectively, dhurrin and linamarin. The latter compound is also present in linseed. Cyanogens are glycosides that readily yield HCN and it is this latter molecule that causes dysfunction of the central nervous system, respiratory failure and cardiac arrest (D'Mello, 2000).

Can you see it, even those foods we normally and wanting to eat can harm our body if ingested. 

Cassava

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Animal Toxins

Same with plants, some animals produce toxins in order to survive and adapt to their environment.

Usually, when asked on what animal we are afraid of, we’ll mostly answer snake isn’t it?

I myself is afraid of snake. Whenever I passed by places with long and thick grasses,  snake coming out from somewhere redy to bite me anytime always struck my mind. Fear will energized me to rush from walking till I get home.

So why are we afraid of snakes?

Simply because it could kill us..

But by how??? its VENOM...

www.stewart.army.mil/
dpwfish/
venomous_snakes.htm

Most frequently, venomous species have proteins or smaller polypeptides ranging from 30 to 80 amino acid residues. The poisonous species primarily have alkaloids, which are small molecules that have very strong biological effects.

Acetylcholine receptors, potassium channels, calcium channels--these are different receptors on the surface of the nerve or muscle cells that have a very basic role in maintaining and propagating action potential and muscle contraction. And because one of the primary functions of animal venoms is to immobilize the prey or the predator, toxins are targeted against those molecules that play a very basic role in the locomotion of the prey animal. We don’t only have snake venom but also a spider and scorpion venom which are likewise also dangerous.

Another animal that other people like me could be scared of is the frog especially when it jumps over, feeling its slimy texture on our skin. Many people nowadays catch frogs and have it as their viand, not knowing that it could have adverse effects in their bodies.

Phyllobates terriblis. Photo courtesy of Dirk Huppert.

 Phyllobates terriblis. Photo courtesy of Dirk Huppert.

Batrachotoxins is a toxin most famously found in Phyllobates terriblis (specie of a poison dart frog). These incredibly potent chemicals have the ability to "selectively increase the permeability of the outer membrane of nerve and muscle cells to sodium ions" (Myers and Daly 1983). By preventing the normal closing of these channels within muscle fibers it permits a large influx of sodium into the cell causing an irreversible electrical depolarization. Consequently, nerve signals which under normal circumstances would allow the muscle to relax are blocked and the muscle remains in a contracted state (Myers and Daly 1983).

See this site for more lists of poisonous animals and the toxin they produced:

http://www.vency.com/poisonousanimals.html

Truly, we can be shocked with the many toxins we are exposed to everyday because of their presence in our surroundings. As they say prevention is better than cure so always remember to be more careful in what we ingest and touch because once we are infected, we can’t be sure of what will happen next. 

 

References:

http://www.fao.org/agrippa/publications/4DMellonew-06.htm#TopOfPage

http://www.opcw.org/about-chemical-weapons/types-of-chemical-agent/toxins/

http://www.bio.davidson.edu/courses/anphys/2000/Todd/toxintype.htm