plant-toxins-carcinogens

Plant Toxins
A plant is poisonous (Toxic) if it causes chemical injury to a person who either touches or swallows it, or in rare cases, breathes its scent. Harmful substances (Toxins) in plants are commonly classified by their effects upon victims or their chemical structure:
•	PROTEINS & AMINO ACIDS are complex chemicals necessary to all living cells; most are highly beneficial, not harmful. Chains of amino acids form proteins; if more than two are joined, they are called PEPTIDES, some of which are the most deadly poisons known, such as that of the Amanitin found in DESTROYING ANGEL fungus or the Domoic Acid found in some species of the algae commonly known collectively as RED TIDE. Other, less toxic proteins are ISOXAZOLS, such as muscamol and ibotenic acid, which cause the hallucinatory effects of the FLY AGARIC fungus., or LECTINS, such as RICIN, which makes CASTOR BEANS or castor oil derived from them an effective and dangerous purgative.
•	ALKALOIDS are nitrogen-bearing alkaline chemicals that originate in plants. Alkaloids are derived from amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, and especially affect the nervous system. They occur in at least 40% of all plants. Some alkaloids are useful medicines; others are harmful, even fatal. Most are bitter-tasting. Common Nova Scotian plants that contain alkaloid poisons are ; BANEBERRY; POISON HEMLOCK; WATER HEMLOCK; COWBANE; JIMSON WEED; NIGHTSHADE; FLY AGARIC; CONOCYBE & OTHER MAGIC MUSHROOMS; some SPRING FLOWERS; YEW; BUTTERCUP; & SPURGES.
•	GLYCOSIDES are toxins in which at least one sugar molecule is linked with oxygen to another compound, often nitrogen-based. They become harmful when the sugar molecule is stripped off, as in the process of digestion. Glycoside poisons are found in FOXGLOVES; ROSE FAMILY MEMBERS; some SPRING FLOWERS AND LEGUMES; DAPHNE; HORSE CHESTNUTS; BUTTERCUPS; SPURGES; & ALOES.
•	OXALATES are unstable salts of the highly poisonous oxalic acid. When eaten, they break down to release the poisonous acid. ARUMS such as DIFFENBACHIA and PHILODENDRONS; & RHUBARB all contain oxalate poisons.
•	PHENOLS are acidic compounds that can stop all functions of living cells, by altering or binding proteins. The most notorious phenol plant poison in Nova Scotia is the irritant found in POISON IVY and its relatives, but phenols are also found in NETTLES.
•	RESINS & VOLATILE OILS are derived mostly from hydrocarbons- chemicals composed of hydrogen, carbon & oxygen. This group of poisons is very diverse; examples can be found in many unrelated Nova Scotian plants, such as DAPHNE; RHODODENDRONS; & SPURGES.
•	PHOTOTOXINS are chemical substances which make the skin very sensitive to the ultraviolet radiation in sunlight & other light sources. In Nova Scotia, contact with ST. JOHN'S WORT can cause this sort of irritation.