Mind-Altering and Poisonous Plants of the World

by Wink, Michael

• ISBN13: 9780881929522
• ISBN10: 0881929522
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-09-24
• Publisher: Workman Pub Co

Summary

Written by respected professors of botany and pharmaceutical biology, this is the definitive account of plants and mushrooms used for poison darts, traditional medicine, ceremonial and spiritual purposes, and recreational drugs. Hazardous plants are commonly used as garden ornamentals, potted plants, or florist flowers, yet many people are unaware of the dangers posed by the toxins derived from them. In addition to exploring plants that are ingested, the authors also treat plants that cause irritation and inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes. A special focus is given to psychoactive plants, which can have stimulant, sedative, hypnotic, narcotic, or hallucinogenic properties. These include coca, opium, cannabis, and scopolamine. Mind-Altering and Poisonous Plants of the World is a must for gardeners, farmers, veterinarians, botanists, pharmacists, chemists, doctors, and poison control centers.

Author Biography

Ben-Erik Van Wyk is a professor of botany at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Michael Wink is a professor of pharmaceutical biology and a director of the Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology at the University of Heidelberg in Germany.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. 6
Introduction	p. 7
What are toxins and toxic plants?	p. 7
What are mind-altering substances and psychoactive plants?	p. 10
Why do poisons and mind-altering substances exist in nature?	p. 12
Occurrence of toxins and mind-altering substances in nature	p. 14
Poisonous and mind-altering plants in human history - murder, magic and medicine	p. 17
Murder and Magic	p. 18
Mind-altering plants of the Old World	p. 19
Mind-altering plants of the New World	p. 22
Early medicine	p. 24
Importance of poisonous plants in modern life	p. 25
Plants that affect the skin	p. 26
Statistics of plant poisoning	p. 26
Animal poisoning	p. 29
First aid treatment	p. 30
Diagnosis	p. 30
Therapy	p. 32
First aid - removal of toxins	p. 32
Clinical therapy	p. 33
Methods of testing for toxicity in humans	p. 35
Information	p. 35
Plants in alphabetical order	p. 36
Structure of monographs	p. 37
Toxins	p. 241
How do poisons and mind-altering substances function?	p. 242
Molecular modes of action	p. 242
How do neurotoxins and mind-altering substances work?	p. 250
Main classes of toxins and psychoactive compounds	p. 252
Secondary metabolites with nitrogen	p. 252
Aconitine, protoveratrine B and related terpene alkaloids	p. 252
Bufotenin, tryptamines and tyramines	p. 255
Caffeine and other purine alkaloids	p. 257
Cytisine and related quinolizidine alkaloids	p. 258
Colchicine and related alkaloids	p. 260
Ephedrine, cathinone and mescaline	p. 262
Ergot alkaloids	p. 263
Hyoscyamine, cocaine and other tropane alkaloids	p. 265
Indole alkaloids	p. 267
Isoquinoline alkaloids	p. 270
Lycopodium alkaloids	p. 274
Lycorine and other Amaryllidaceae alkaloids	p. 275
Morphine and other morphinane alkaloids	p. 277
Pyrrolidine and piperidine alkaloids	p. 279
Quinoline alkaloids	p. 281
Senecionine and related pyrrolizidine alkaloids	p. 283
Solanine and other steroid alkaloids	p. 285
Amygdalin, other cyanogenic glucosides and HCN	p. 287
Mustard oils/ glucosinolates	p. 289
Non-protein amino acids (NPAAs)	p. 291
Abrin, ricin other lectins and peptides	p. 294
Secondary metabolites without nitrogen	p. 295
Phenolics
Flavonoids, isoflavones, alkyl phenols, tannins, lignans and other phenolics	p. 295
Coumarins and furanocoumarins	p. 301
Myristicin and other phenylpropanoids	p. 304
Quinones
Hydroquinones and naphthoquinones	p. 306
Anthraquinones and naphthodianthrones	p. 308
Polyacetylenes	p. 310
Terpenoids
Monoterpenes	p. 312
Terpenes and phenylpropanoids with aldehyde groups	p. 315
Sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpene lactones	p. 317
Diterpenes: Phorbol ester	p. 320
Andromedotoxin or grayanotoxin I	p. 322
Steroids and triterpenes: Cardiac glycosides	p. 324
Cucurbitacin E and related triterpenes	p. 327
Saponins	p. 329
Small reactive metabolites
Ethanol	p. 332
Oxalic acid, oxalates and other organic acids	p. 334
Protoanemonin, tulipalin and parasorbic acid	p. 336
Quick Guide to poisonous plants, mind-altering plants and fungi	p. 338
Glossary	p. 420
Further reading	p. 433
Acknowledgements	p. 436
Index	p. 437
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