Toxin of the week – University of Copenhagen

Cocaine – a tropane alkaloid

2020.05.18

Cocaine is a naturally occurring tropane alkaloid extracted from the leaves of an Andean shrub, … »

Forsythoside

2020.05.11

The compound Forsythoside A (C29H36O15, CAS 79916-77-1) is a phenylethanoid glycoside with Log P of … »

Psolaren

2020.05.05

Psolaren - the reason why you should never hide from the sun under a fig tree … »

Toxic hypoglycin in ackee. Wait until it is ripe!

2020.04.21

Ackee (Blighia sapida) is a member of soapberry family of Western Africa origin. … »

Artemisinin

2020.03.30

Artemisinin - natural compound from Artemisia annua L. … »

Menthol

2020.03.23

Menthol – Is minty freshness safe? … »

Parthenin: A toxin from Parthenium weed

2020.03.16

Parthenium hysterophorus L. (Asteraceae) is considered to be one of the worst invasive weeds … »

Vicine and convicine - the main anti-nutritional factors restriciting faba bean usage

2020.03.10

In spite of the vast nutritional and environmental benefits provided by faba bean cultivation, its … »

Picrocrocin – Saffron’s taste

2020.03.02

is one of the main components responsible for the taste of saffron … »

Cyclopamine

2020.02.24

Cyclopamine and its horrifying effect … »

Weed – cannabinoids

2020.02.17

Cannabis, marijuana, hemp, weed – these are many names for a plant, that is economically valued, … »

Cryptophycin – a potent cytotoxic agent

2020.01.31

Cryptophycin – a potent cytotoxic agent … »

Sanguinarine

2020.01.27

Eutrophication has accelerated during the last years, thanks of the increase of phosphorus and … »

Colchicine - lethal confusion with wild garlic

2020.01.20

Colchicine is a lethal tropolone alkaloid of autumn crocus, often confused with the edible wild … »

Oxalyldiaminopropionic acid

2020.01.13

Oxalyldiaminopropionic acid (ODAP) is a neurotoxin that causes the neurological syndrome called … »

Botulinum toxin – deadly but useful

2020.01.06

Botulinum toxin (BTX), one of the most lethal substances, is produced by the gram-positive bacterium … »

Physostigmine – a natural carbamate derivate and an indole alkaloid

2019.12.16

Physostigmine is a secondary metabolites of Physostigma venenosum (Calabar bean). The plant is … »

Caudatoside – an unfamiliar terpene glycoside from ferns

2019.12.06

Hydroxyptaquiloside analogue caudatoside demonstrate similar chemical reactivity and is even more … »

Salicin

2019.12.03

Salicin is an active secondary metabolite produced by the genus Salix, primarily produced within the … »

Brevetoxins: Looks colourful but it is harmful

2019.11.27

Toxic dinoflagellate Karenia brevis (K. brevis), a species of phytoplankton produces lipid-soluble … »

Pyrethrum – the natural role model for the synthetic pyrethroid insecticides

2019.11.18

In the region of Dalmatia, where one of the main producing plants Tanacetum cinerariifolium … »

Atropine

2019.11.11

It is widely distributed from Central and Southern Europe to Asia, also naturalized in many other … »

Aesculine

2019.11.04

coumarin glucoside found in horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum),There are other species that can … »

Patulin - can apple juice be dangerous?

2019.10.28

Apples and apple-based products are among the most popular foods around the world for their … »

Nutmeg - The dose makes a Toxin

2019.10.21

is a lovely spice when enjoyed in minute doses. However, higher amounts of nutmeg cause severe … »

Gelsemine - from yellow jasmine and Arthur Conan Doyles' self-poisoning experience

2019.10.07

This plant also grows in Mexico and parts of Central America. At least 120 alkaloids have been … »

Paclitaxel - a “friendly” toxin that helps you with cancer

2019.09.30

Yew is the common name to different species of the genus Taxus, formed by coniferous trees and … »

Microviridin – the largest known cyanopeptide

2019.09.23

Microviridins are potent and selective inhibitors of a variety of serine proteases including … »

Rutecarpine - not all toxins are bad

2019.09.16

Rutaecarpine possesses anti-inflammatory action, larvicidal effects, and positive action to contrast … »

Skimmianine - a natural alkaloid from family Rutaceae

2019.09.09

Skimmianine is found to be mutagenic and can affect 5-HTz receptors. … »

S-methylcysteine sulfoxide – the Kale anaemia factor

2019.09.02

The primary factor causing haemolytic anaemia in ruminant livestock after feeding excessive amounts … »

Amygdalin – sweet sugar and lethal cyanide in one molecule

2019.08.26

You better throw the gnawed apple away. … »

Cytisine - a quinolizidine alkaloid

2019.06.24

A teratogenic, respiratory stimulant (with nicotine-like activity) and a hallucinogenic alkaloid. … »

Echimidine - A weed by any other name – Paterson’s Curse or Salvation Jane?

2019.06.17

Echium plantagineum is a plant that has caused much debate within Australia for over a 100 years … »

Tannins - protein binding polyphenolics

2019.05.27

Tannins are phenolic polymers that help plants deter herbivores through toxicity and impalatability. … »

Kahweol: It's Qahweh

2019.05.20

Kahweol is an antioxidant diterpene, mostly present in unfiltered coffee. After water, coffee is the … »

Gramine – fighting natural toxins with natural toxins

2019.05.13

Gramine is an indole alkaloid found in various higher plants, including agriculturally relevant … »

Aristolochic acids - the culprit behind Balkan endemic nephropathy

2019.05.06

The compounds are nephrotoxic and carcinogenic, and are the causative factor for the Balkan endemic … »

Catechins - benefits of green tea

2019.04.29

Catechins are well known as antioxidants and used traditionally to prevent several diseases. … »

Muscarine - mushroom hunting can be a dangerous sport

2019.04.08

Wild forms of mushrooms are often poisonous and visually mimic the edible ones, thus leading to … »

Caffeine – the most widely consumed psychoactive drug

2019.04.01

Beware approaching a busy person before their first coffee. Here is a closer look at the active … »

Brucine – another neurotoxic alkaloid present in the Nux-vomica tree

2019.03.25

It has shown promising results as inhibitor of angiogenesis in carcinoma tumors, repressing … »

Microginin – a toxin or a potential drug?

2019.03.18

The class of microginin it is a very interesting class of biological active molecules due to its … »

Lycorine - is making daffodils inedible

2019.03.11

Lycorine is a toxic natural alkaloid produced by most species of Amaryllidaceae family … »

Xanthotoxol - a secondary product originated from imperatorin

2019.03.04

Xanthotoxol or 8-hydroxypsoralen is a furanocoumarin generally isolated from Aegle marmelos (bael … »

Maitotoxin – the heavyweight of nonbiopolymeric toxins

2019.02.25

Maitotoxin is one of the largest and most toxic non-protein and non-polysaccharide molecules … »

Ptesculentoside – an unfamiliar terpene glycoside from ferns

2019.01.07

Hydroxyptaquiloside analogue ptesculentoside demonstrate similar chemical reactivity and is even … »

Helenalin – a toxic sesquiterpene lactone

2018.12.17

Intensely poisonous to human and other mammals, causing paralysis of voluntary and cardiac muscles … »

Rotenone - a natural pesticide

2018.12.12

Rotenone is a broad-spectrum piscicide and insecticide used for e.g. the elimination of invasive … »

Menisdaurin – deck the halls with boughs of holly

2018.12.03

Despite its toxicity, holly has been connected to Christmas time for centuries, is used for … »

Digoxin – the cardenolide that may give you van Gogh’s “yellow vision”

2018.11.26

For a long time period in history extracts of Digitalis have been widely used in folk medicine for … »

Cucurbitacin - the bitter end

2018.11.19

Despite toxic, cucurbitacin is being studied as a drug for its pharmacological potential, due to its … »

Retinoic acid and its relatives - I can't live with or without you

2018.11.12

The intake of retinoic compounds, e.g. vitamin A, has to be monitored to prevent adverse effects on … »

Carboxyatractyloside – the toxin produced by the common cockleburs

2018.11.05

This weed is a widespread problem, invading agricultural land and poisoning livestock … »

Cyclamide – a wealth of different bioactivities

2018.10.29

Cyanobacteria have been extensively studied since the 1970s since their toxins have imposed a threat … »

Geosmin and 2-Methylisoborneol – nontoxic but stinky terpenoids that make your drinking water unpalatable

2018.10.22

Geosmin and 2-Methylisoborneol are frequently occurring representatives of a vast range of taste and … »

Ophobiolin A - a toxic fungal sesterterpenoid toxin.

2018.10.15

Is it a threat for humans or not? It is important to highlight that not all the natural toxins can … »

Juglone – a toxic chemical from Juglandaceae family

2018.10.08

Juglone is a herbicide, allowing the plants to retard the growth of other competing plants nearby. … »

Tutin - sweet poison

2018.10.01

Tutin is a neurotoxin found in the tutu plants (Coriaria spp.), native to New Zealand. Intoxication … »

Furanocoumarins - the defence of wild Parsnip and Giant Hogweed

2018.09.24

A touch of the sap of the plants containing furanocoumarins causes painful inflammation of the skin … »

Quercetin - creating an estrogenic response

2018.09.17

Quercetin is found in large range of plant species, however most often in one of its conjugated … »

Ergotamine - can cause death of your body tissue

2018.09.10

Ergotamine is a naturally occurring ergot alkaloid. It causes constriction of blood vessels. … »

Papaverine - the secret companion of morphine

2018.09.03

P. somniferium is grown as agricultural crop for the production of either poppy seeds, poppy seed … »

Emodin – a Natural Anthraquinone Derivative Occurred in Rhubarb

2018.08.27

Rhubarbs are among the most popular vegetables found at European consumer markets. The edible stalks … »

Glycyrrhizin – a sweet poison

2018.08.20

Glycyrrhizin is responsible for sweet flavor in licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) and can cause … »

Puwainaphycins – when your heart skips a beat

2018.05.22

Puwainaphycins represent a novel class of cyclic (lipo-) peptides that have cardioactive functions. … »

Ricin - it takes so little to get a lethal dose

2018.05.14

Accidental and intended intoxications by ricin in humans and animals have been known for centuries … »

Anatoxin-a(S) – the currently only naturally occurring organophosphate we know of

2018.05.07

Anatoxin-a(S) is a neurotoxic cyanobacterial secondary metabolite exerting a mode of action similar … »

Jacobine - one of the reasons behind the toxicity of ragwort

2018.04.30

Ragwort causes a great number of animal loses due to poisoning … »

Aeruginosin – a thrombin and trypsin inhibitor

2018.04.24

Aeruginosin 828A showed not only strong inhibition against thrombin and trypsin but was also found … »

Convallatoxin – the toxin of wild garlic’s deadly doppelganger

2018.04.16

When picking wild garlic (Allium ursinum), you better take care not to mistake the … »

Sparteine – another Alkaloid in luteus family

2018.04.09

Sparteine is one of the quinolizidine alkaloids that show acute oral toxicity due to neurological … »

Coumarin – a liver damaging toxin in cheap cinnamon.

2018.04.02

Ordinary food products, especially spices, may contain moderate amounts of toxins … »

Abrin from Rosary Pea - attractive and fatal

2018.03.26

Traditionally the seeds of rosary pea (Abrus precatorius) have been made into bracelets and … »

Cicutoxin - a cholinergic poison

2018.03.19

Cicutoxin is a poisonous natural compound extractable from Cicuta species. It causes disruption of … »

Genistein - an agent of endocrine disruptive effects and relief of menopausal disorders

2018.03.12

Phytoestrogens can have both positive and negative effects. … »

Apicidin - a hemorrhagic factor produced by Toxic Fusarium spp.

2018.03.05

There is a long history of toxicosis associated with the consumption of Fusarium-infected cereals by … »

Nicotine – a natural insecticide

2018.02.26

Nicotine has been used as a natural insecticide and is the archetype for the large range of … »

Galanthamine – onions make you cry, others could make you die

2018.02.19

Galanthamine is one of the toxins produced by several plants from family Amaryllidaceae, such as … »

Endotoxins - a structural link between cyanobacteria and human pathogens

2018.02.12

Responsible for major complications in the treatment of bacterial infections, lipopolysaccharides … »

Strychnine - a highly toxic indole alkaloid

2018.02.05

Strychnine is a highly poisonous natural compound well known to chemists as well as to the broader … »

Cylindrospermopsins - alkaloid hepatotoxins beyond the Palm Island mystery disease in the late 1970s

2018.01.29

Cylindrospermopsins are cyanobacterial secondary metabolites capable of causing severe damage to the … »

Aconitine – the queen of poison

2018.01.22

Aconitine binds with sodium channels, changing the conformation to an activated state and therefore, … »

Anabaenopeptins - versatile in structure and function

2018.01.15

Cyanobacteria are frequently involved in the formation of harmful algal blooms wherein, apart from … »

Senecionine – a pyrrolizidine alkaloid

2018.01.08

The phytotoxin Senecionine is one of over 660 known secondary metabolites of the pyrrolizidine … »

Lupinine - the chemical stopping you from eating Lupin

2017.12.11

Lupinine and other alkaloids give a bitter tasting for Lupinus species (lupins), plants of the … »

Oleandrin – a powerful cardiac glycoside

2017.12.04

The cardiac glycoside Oleandrin is named under a blossoming plant oleander which synthesizes this … »

Nodularins - hepatotoxic cyclic pentapeptides

2017.11.27

Nodularins are produced by the cyanobacteria Nodularia spumigena … »

Coniine - a piperidine alkaloid

2017.11.20

Coniine, a piperidine alkaloid, is a nicotinic antagonist, which disrupts the function of central … »

Bergapten – a phototoxic furanocoumarin

2017.11.13

Many furanocoumarins are phototoxic and can cause phytophotodermatitis (skin inflammation and burns) … »

Gossypol - a polyphenolic compound

2017.11.06

Gossypol is a toxic polyphenolic compound found in the pigment glands throughout the plant, and may … »

Lyngbyatoxins - the swimmer’s itch disease causing agents.

2017.10.30

Lyngbyatoxin was investigated after some dermatitis cases, due by reports of “swimmer’s itch” which … »

Aflatoxins - The risk in mold

2017.10.23

Aflatoxins are a carcinogenic group of mycotoxins produced by certain molds from genera Aspergillus. … »

Saponins - amphipathic glycosides

2017.10.16

Saponins are distinguished by their bitter taste, and ability to haemolyse red blood cells. … »

Saxitoxins – a class of alkaloid neurotoxins produced by diverse algal organisms

2017.10.09

Saxitoxins - produced by organisms from different taxonomic kingdoms - dinoflagellates and … »

Anatoxin-A - a neurotoxic amine

2017.10.02

Anatoxin A (ATX-A) is a semi-rigid bicyclic secondary amine molecule that presents acute neurotoxic … »

Grayanotoxin - From honey to hospital

2017.09.25

Grayanotoxin is found in plants of the Ericaceae (heath) family including: Rhododendron spp.—azaleas … »

Shiga toxins - Stowaways on your sprouts

2017.09.18

Some serogroups of the faecal bacterium Escherichia coli produce Shiga toxins Stx1 and Stx2. E. coli … »

Cyanopeptolins - cyanotoxins in the shadow of the famous microcystins

2017.09.11

Cyanotoxins are a structurally diverse group of secondary metabolites often co-produced by various … »

Solanine – The reason your mother told you not to eat green potatoes

2017.08.28

Solanine is a general name for a family of alkaloidal glycosides that are produced by plants in the … »

Formononetin from red clover – is freshwater fish at risk?

2017.08.21

Pastures or grasslands with red clover produce tens to hundreds of kg per year of estrogenic … »

Microcystins – hepatotoxic cyclic peptides from blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)

2017.06.25

Cyanobacteria, belonging to the world’s oldest eukaryotic inhabitants, produce many secondary … »

(S)-(-)-Hyoscyamine - a tropane alkaloid

2017.06.19

Alkaloids are very important phytotoxins occurring in plants all over the world. (S)-(-)-Hyoscyamine … »

Ouabain – a cardenolide glycoside

2017.06.12

Cardenolides are steroids found in plant species all over the world. Many of them contain one or … »

Thujone - a terpenoid

2017.06.06

Thujone is a natural toxin produced by many plant species e.g. Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), … »

Ptaquiloside - a carcinogenic terpene glycoside from ferns

2017.05.29

Terpene glycosides are found in a variety of plants. Ptaquiloside is one the most studied among this … »

Linamarin - a cyanogenic glucoside

2017.05.22

Cyanogenic glucosides are common in crop and non-crop plants. On hydrolysis toxic hydrogencyanide is … »