Plant and Animal Toxins

Plant Toxins

Phytotoxins are toxic chemicals produced by plants.

                 
                 Alkaloids

                           

                             - Chemical compounds that naturally occur in plants. 

                             - Contains nitrogen derived from amino acids.

                             -  Most are bitter tasting

                             - Some which are use as medicines particularly affects the                                                  nervous system.

                       

                                                     Examples of Plants: 

                                                                             Larkspur (Delphinium)

                                                                             Monkshood (Aconitum)

                                                                             Lupin or Lupine

            

        Glycosides

                  -Toxins in which a sugar molecule is linked with oxygen to another compound which is most commonly nitrogen-based.

                  -Develop into a harmful substance when the sugar molecule is removed.

                                                     Examples of Plants:

                                                                             Star of Bethlehem

                                                                             Lily if the Valley

                                                                             Wild Hyacinth

                   Oxalates

                           -Are the unstable salts of oxalic acid

                           -Undergo breakdown when eaten to release the highly                                                poisonous acid 

                                                     Examples of Plants:

                                                                             Rhubarb

                                                                             Docks

                                                                             Sorrels

           Animal Toxins


                               Zootoxins are toxins produced by animals

                 Hemotoxins

                              -Toxins that affects and destroy the red blood cells

                              -Interrupts the blood clotting process

                              -Causes damage to internal organs and body tissue

                  Myotoxins

    

                             -Toxins that causes permanent tissue damage(myonecrosis).

                  Neurotoxins

                         

                            -Toxins that affects the nervous system mainly influencing the                                   neurons of nerve cells.

                            -Primarily causes paralysis.

                 Other Animal Toxin Classes

Photo Credit: thinkquest.org

References:

                         Nova Scotia Museum     

                                      http://museum.gov.ns.ca/poison/default.asp?section=plants

                         Oracle Thinkquest

                                      http://library.thinkquest.org/C007974/4cla.htm

                         Venomous Reptiles of the United States, Canada and Northern Mexico

                                             Carl H. Ernst, Evelyn M. Hurst

                         International Society for Complexity, Information  and Design

                                      http://www.iscid.org/encyclopedia/Neurotoxin

Anterior Pituitary Hormones (POEM)

Anterior Pituitary where could you be?

One must know where I could find thee.

Part of the Pituitary Gland I know you would be,

The master gland that’s no larger than A pea.

Photo Credit: Pituitary

Anterior Pituitary also known as Adenohypophysis,

Secretes hormones that are essential for bodily activities.

Responsible for one’s growth and development,

Even for one’s reproductive health.

Human growth hormone also known as Somatotropin,

Hormone that regulates body growth and metabolism.

Harm could come if too much as well as too little levels there would be.

Gigantism and Dwarfism are few conditions one could cause thee.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Photo Credit: Dwarfism

Thyroid –Stimulating Hormone concerns the thyroid gland,

Also known as Thyrotropin that controls its activities and secretions.

Harm could come if too much as well as too little levels there would be.

Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism are few conditions one could cause thee.

Luteinizing Hormone and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone concern the gonads,

Which are jointly termed as the gonadotrophins.

Stimulate secretion of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone,

Even the maturation of oocytes and sperm production.

Prolactin Hormone together with other hormones,

Initiate milk secretion and production.

This hormone is mainly concerned with Lactation,

Which provides for little ones nourishment and immune protection.

Photo Credit: Breastfeeding Logo

Adrenocorticotropic hormone also known as corticotropin.

Stimulates the adrenal cortex to secrete gluco-corticoids,

Such as cortisol, it is released in response to stress.

This is how the Anterior Pituitary Hormones work at its best.

.

Photo Credit: Anterior Pituitary Hormones

Reference:

                                Principles of Anatomy and Physiology

                                                Gerard J. Tortora, Bryan Derrickson

                                             

Endocrinology, Toxicology and Drug Testing

Various diseases are clustered into studies which they belong to.

Some are group according to the organ affected or the organ involved like in the case of cardiology which is a study that involves the heart.

  A number of diseases are not organ related, they can be glands which produces hormones that are essential in several body processes and development to be carried out.

            Endocrinology is a good example of this type of study.

 It is a study that deals with hormones produce by the endocrine glands which are the thyroid, adrenal glands, the pituitary, pancreas, hypothalamus and the reproductive glands –ovaries for females and testes for males. 

Photo Credit: pituitary.org

And few diseases are group into studies which are not organs, glands and hormone related.

Toxicology is a form of this type of study.

It is a study that deals with poisons, toxins or drugs that may be illegal or legal and could cause harm as well as death to a person.

Photo Credit: ocw.jhsph.edu

Along with Toxicology, Drug testing although it is not a type of study, it is a method employed to determine if a person make use of illegal drugs and also to determine if there are substances present that may be of medical use or illegally taken.

Photo Credit: Drug Testing

Referrences:

       Toxicology By Gary D. Osweiler

                               Fundamental toxicology By John H. Duffus, Howard G. J. Worth

                               Endocrinology Research Info

                         http://www.endocrinologyresearch.com/endocrinology-as-a-profession.php

                               University of Mary Land Medical Center

                         Endocrinology Health Guide

                     http://www.umm.edu/endocrin/

                               HealthyPlace America's Mental Health Channel

                          http://www.healthyplace.com/addictions/main/what-is-drug-testing/menu-id-54/