Planet Earth is full of many plants. Scientists count about 300,000 species, and only less than 1% of them are considered poisonous.
Depending on the degree of toxicity, they are divided into:
- poisonous;
- highly poisonous;
- deadly poisonous;
The active dangerous principles are various compounds related to alkaloids, glycosides, resins, acids etc.
The pioneer in the study of plant poisons was Zertuner, who discovered the most popular drug - morphine. At the beginning of the 19th century, strychnine (the deadly nut) was discovered, and almost immediately caffeine, quinine, and nicotine became known. The number of discoveries only increased from year to year. The results were used not only for medical purposes, but also for murder.
The most dangerous plant poisons and plants
Plants are considered poisonous; after contact with them, health deterioration occurs; they secrete plant poisons.
Amatoxin
Amatoxin is found in mushrooms of the genus lepiota and some of their subspecies, for example, the toadstool contains such poison.
The poison, once it enters the body, is not destroyed by heat treatment. Accordingly, if a person cooks or fries such a mushroom, he will still receive a dose of poison.
This poison blocks RNA polymerase and stops protein synthesis in the cell. It enters the liver and kidneys, causing their cells to die in a few days.
The antidote is in the form of penicillin, but this does not mean that it will work and that death will be avoided. Each case is individual, depending on the concentration of the poison and many other factors.
Ricin
A popular plant poison for military special operations.
The most “useful” poison for the military is ricin, which can paralyze or lead to death. Contained in the seed of the castor bean, from which castor oil is made. Manufactured using simple technology.
Another purpose of the plant is to produce poison from the seeds. The output is a white powder, easily soluble in water.
Poisoning occurs when inhaling the dry mixture, injecting it, or consuming it with liquid.
If you do not provide the necessary assistance in time, the person will die after much suffering. If you suspect poisoning, immediately drink a large amount of water, coal, rice broth and a little soda alternately. If possible, seek medical help.
Be careful that your child does not accidentally eat a castor bean seed. If such a situation occurs, call an ambulance immediately!
Muscarine
The well-known fly agaric contains the most dangerous poison - muscarine. Just 3 mg of this substance can cause human death.
But the course of treatment will take a long time, almost 2 weeks. After all, the poison stimulates the endings of the vagus nerve, as a result of which the activity of the secretory glands increases. It becomes difficult to breathe, the pulse is weakly palpable, and dizziness is felt.
It is a misconception that fly agaric is the most dangerous mushroom. Cases of death from fly agaric poisoning are not as frequent as from the consumption of the same pale toadstool. Maybe because it is difficult to confuse it with other mushrooms. By the way, forest animals are treated with fly agaric.
Curare is a favorite poison of hunters
Curare is considered the most powerful poison in terms of its effects on animals or humans.. It was known back in the times of South American tribes. Used when hunting wild animals.
It is obtained from different plants, therefore the strength of its action is also different:
- The most powerful mixture from the bark of the poisonous Schomburg strychnos. Application: hunting animals and military purposes.
- From the bark of Strychnos castelniaeana Wedd or Chondrodendron - a less toxic substance is obtained, used when hunting birds and small animals.
- The poison from Chondrodendron tomentosum is less dangerous. Purpose: hunting.
If ingested, the poison blocks motor activity and leads to respiratory arrest and death..
They learned to use curare poison in small quantities as an anesthesia.
Curare poison replaced narcotic substances for anesthesia. Medicine after this began to be divided into the discovery of poison and after.
The antidote is any inhibitors.
Quinine is the main alkaloid
Quinine is a poison obtained from the bark of the cinchona tree. The most powerful protoplasmic poison.
With minor poisoning, dizziness, agitation, and foggy consciousness occur As a rule, certain organs are affected. For example, if the organs of vision are affected, vasospasm, pale nipples, amblyopia, etc. will certainly occur.
10 grams of poison is enough to cause death.
The antidote is tannin, used for gastric lavage in a 0.5-2% solution.
Spotted hemlock - one step from benefit to harm
On the one hand, the plant of the umbrella family is often used in conjunction with traditional medicine in the treatment of cancer.
On the other hand, the harm lies in the fact that the poison from this plant accumulates in the liver, after which it destroys it forever.
Hemlock antidote is a mixture of 5% glucose in a volume of 0.5 liters and 1% novocaine 30 ml.
It is administered intravenously using a dropper. Slowly and fully.
Hydrocyanic acid is in your favorite compote!
Everyone loves compote, apricots, cherries, cherries, but no one ever thought that the depths of stone-shaped plants contain a deadly poison!
Cylinic acid was created by nature in order to protect plants from pests.
In addition, the concentration of such poison is found in tobacco smoke and emissions from industrial enterprises. If we talk about the most dangerous kernels, then the main role is given to bitter almonds. Next comes the bird cherry, and then the peach family.
Do not confuse with sweet almonds - bitter, or wild, almonds are grown for medicinal purposes. And we eat sweets.
Due to this composition, bird cherry berries and compote are prohibited for pregnant women., and everyone else should not overuse berry compotes.
Frozen berries containing hydrocyanic acid are prohibited from being eaten after a year!
Spotted hemlock, horse meat
One of the most powerful plant poisons. Outwardly it resembles white carrots, horseradish. Therefore, it is easy to confuse them with safe products.
The effect of the poisonous substance of the plant begins with such signs as excessive salivation, blurred vision, nausea, and after a while the person becomes paralyzed. Death occurs after diaphragmatic paralysis.
There is no antidote. According to one version, Socrates was poisoned with horse meat.
Other poisons not included in the list
In addition to the most dangerous plant poisons discussed, there are many others that are no less popular and used.
These include:
- Aconite.
- Morphine.
- Grain overwintered under snow.
- Strychnine.
- Heroin.
- Cocaine.
For what purposes are deadly plant poisons used?
- hunting;
- military purpose;
- contamination of food, perfumes, personal hygiene products;
- medicine;
- industrial and domestic use.
General assistance for poisoning
- Avoid human exposure to poison. Find out the cause of the poisoning.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Give activated charcoal if possible.
- Call for medical help immediately. Life can count in minutes!
The natural world has thought of everything long ago. To protect themselves and ensure survival, not only animals, but also plants are endowed with the ability to self-preserve.
That is why many of them are fraught with danger, a threat to human life. Humanity uses some of these poisons for humane purposes, makes medicines, and uses them in medicine as anesthesia. Some became assistants in wars and crime.
To survive and know what measures to take in case of poisoning, you should carefully study the plant poisons that are easily accessible in your country, city, or on your street.
Adults and children, not knowing what danger this or that plant poses, can accidentally become poisoned by a fruit or seed. Be careful, take care of yourself!
Let's say right away - this is not a guide to poisoning - this is information about which plants and which parts of them are poisonous and where you can find them. It is designed to protect you and your loved ones, especially children, from accidents.
No one is safe from encountering poisonous plants; you can encounter them not only in the wild, but also at your own dacha, and it is no coincidence that these will be sneaking poisoners - harmful and deadly poisonous pets can be planted on the site with your own hands, without even knowing it.
From a practical point of view, what matters is not the strength of the poison, but how real the possibility of it entering the body is.
Some deadly plants are simply unlikely to be encountered in the garden.
Where can poisonous plants grow?
So, henbane usually grows in wastelands, hemlock (vekh) and omezhnik- in reservoirs, belladonna is grown only by collectors. And the terrible aconite, although not uncommon in gardens, is also not dangerous: it is unappetizing to look at, and even a small child would not think of eating it, much less digging up the roots for this.
But the most common one potato has many victims on its account. Just eat the green tubers and you're done. They can accumulate up to 700 mg of alkaloids per 1 kg, and a dose of 400 mg is considered lethal for an adult.
They are also poisoned by its green berries, and at the same time by the unripe fruits of related vegetables - eggplant, physalis, black nightshade and other red ones, even green tomatoes should not be abused, at least in its raw form.
In addition to the side effects of food crops, a common cause of accidents is the similarity of poisoners to food plants. According to statistics, children under six years of age predominate among the victims. What attracts them? First of all, berries, which are always associated with food.
Fortunately, most harmful berries, although they look tempting, taste disgusting, which makes it difficult to eat a large toxic dose. A dozen berries will only cause an upset stomach. Fruits of most species are dangerous honeysuckle, snowberry, asparagus, red elderberry, joster and buckthorn, privet, euonymus and, finally, the destructive power of which is significantly exaggerated.
Cardiac glycosides of lily of the valley are poorly absorbed in the intestine and cannot have a strong effect when swallowed. Bright red fruits are much worse Arizema or arum.
Their juice immediately causes pain and swelling of the mucous membranes of the pharynx and esophagus, which makes breathing difficult.
You should not rely on chance, and if there are small children in the house, it is better not to grow such especially dangerous plants. Among them we can also include moonseed, step-over, raven's eye, and are especially often poisoned by the magnificent Lakonosom. Although its berries cause a burning sensation in the mouth, this does not always stop children, and a handful is enough to cause cramps, stomach upset and vision. Serious harm is caused to fruits, wolfberry And .
They are especially insidious, their mature pulp is completely harmless, but the seeds contained in it are toxic and damage the body when chewed. Some people are happy to eat sweet acetals yew, but who can guarantee that a deadly seed will not fall on the tooth?
They are poisoned not only with berries, but also with dry fruits, reminiscent of such tasty nuts and peas. Beans yellow acacia, lupine, decorative beans, hyacinth bean is unpleasant for many, but, as you know, the taste and color...
If eaten in large quantities, they will cause serious problems: confusion, convulsions, suffocation. However, the most dangerous plants in this group are castor bean And .
Already three castor bean seeds cause symptoms of poisoning, six are fatal for children, and 20 are fatal for an adult. Treatment for such poisoning is difficult and lengthy.
Horse chestnut It is very bitter and you can’t eat a lot of it, but one nut is enough to cause a painful stomach upset. A large dose will lead to disruption of the nervous system.
Adults can also be caught by the external similarity of plants, and here the leaders are bulbs that imitate onions: daffodils, hyacinths, colchicum.
The worst thing is poisoning Colchicum, leading to a painful, protracted illness that can result in paralysis. Therefore, symptoms that appear immediately - numbness of the lips, tongue and throat - should alert you and force you to put off food.
It's not just the colchicum bulb that is poisonous: a serving of lettuce made from its leaves can be fatal. Such cases are known and the reason for them is the similarity of the leaves of this plant with wild garlic.
You need to take a closer look at fragrant herbs from Umbelliferae. Weeds can creep in among parsley and dill. hemlock, stupefying buten and kokorush. They act no worse than the popular hemlock and eating them can end in disaster - paralysis and suffocation.
They are distinguished by an unpleasant odor (hemlock, cory) or its complete absence (buten), purple spots and stubble on the stem, which do not occur in food herbs.
The appetizing curls of ferns may seduce those who have heard of them being eaten. However, eating, and then little by little, is only possible bracken, and shield and nomadic contain neurotoxins that remain even after cooking.
In the garden you need to remain vigilant at all times. The frivolous habit of chewing twigs can lead to stomach problems if you get caught in a twig yew, boxwood, thuja, the already mentioned privet and wolfberry.
A special group consists of plants whose juice causes damage to the skin, mucous membranes and is dangerous if it gets into the eyes. You need to cut them off carefully, and do not rub your eyes with hands stained with juice.
The milky sap of many plants directly causes irritation, for example milkweed, milkweed, molokan, celandine.
Indirectly, increasing the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight and causing burns, the juice of the famous Sosnovsky's hogweed and beautiful ash tree. At the same time, allergic dermatitis is often included as a bonus. And on especially hot sunny days you can suffer in the same way from garden friends: lovage, parsley, rue, celery.
✓ Note:
A hastily assembled salad may contain other random ingredients that, while not lethal, will provide several unpleasant hours. These include common garden plants: aquilegia, anemone and other buttercups, as well as irises, hellebore, and sedum.
First aid for poisoning by an unknown plant
The methods used to cleanse the body, as well as antidotes, depend on what plant caused the poisoning, which is not always known, especially in cases with children.
Inappropriate remedies will not help, or even worsen the effect of toxins, so we will limit ourselves to the most general information about first aid for mild disorders of the digestive system.
If the victim has trouble breathing, heartbeat, fainting and paralysis, then you should urgently consult a doctor without wasting time on self-care.
First of all, you should quickly cleanse your stomach, since within 1 - 2 hours any poison enters the bloodstream.
To do this, the victim is given plenty of warm, possibly salty (3 teaspoons of salt per glass), water and induces vomiting. This method is not recommended for general weakness, fainting and convulsions, as the patient may suffocate. It is useful to give laxatives, such as petroleum jelly.
Antidotes are given after cleaning the stomach. Activated carbon is universal, but it is effective only in the first 30 minutes after poisoning. In many cases, potassium permanganate in the form of a 0.1% solution will help. It can be used for poisoning with henbane, hemlock and veh. Popular remedies such as egg whites or strong tea help only in specific cases, and milk can even be harmful in case of fat-soluble poisons (ferns).
If after cleansing the stomach the victim feels tolerable, then after taking activated charcoal, he can limit himself to rest and a glass of strong tea. But you should not let your guard down: in some cases (for example, with yew and castor beans), symptoms may appear a day after poisoning.
If hogweed juice or the like comes into contact with the skin, immediately wash it off with soap and water and apply a sunscreen bandage. If irritation has already begun, wash with an antiseptic and apply a bandage with hydrocortisone ointment or anesthesin. If juice gets into your eyes, then after thorough rinsing, wear black glasses for at least a week.
Note: Beware of poison!
The gardener should familiarize all uninformed household members and guests with potentially dangerous plants. Planting material, especially bulbs that like to be kept in the refrigerator along with food, must be provided with a warning label. In the garden, it is better to grow food crops separately from ornamental ones, and if you want to decorate your garden, then choose safe plants for this.
List of poisonous plants that can be found in the garden
| NAME OF THE PLANT | POISONOUS NASTY |
| Aquilegia(Aquilegia) | All parts of the plant |
| Aconite (Aconitum) | All parts of the plant |
| Arizema (Arisaema) | Fruit |
| Eggplant (Solanum melongena) | Unripe fruits |
| Colchicum(Colchicum) | Bulbs and leaves |
| Henbane(Hyoscyamus) | All parts of the plant |
| Belladonna(Atropa belladonna) | All parts of the plant |
| Euonymus(Euonymus) | Fruit |
| Privet(Ligustrum) | Fruits, bark and leaves |
| Hemlock(Conium) | All parts of the plant are poisonous |
| Hogweed Sosnovsky(Heracleum sosnowskyi) | Juice causes burns |
| Red elderberry(Sambucus racemosa) | Fruit |
| Butane intoxicating(Chaerophyllumtemulum) | All parts of the plant |
| Vatochnik(Asclepias) | Juice |
| Anemone(Anemone) | All parts of the plant |
| Daphne(Daphne) | Fruits, korai leaves |
| Crow's eye(Paris) | Fruit |
| Hyacinth(Hyacinthus) | Bulbs |
| Hyacinth bean(Dolichos lablab) | Fruits in large quantities |
| yellow acacia(Caragana arborescens) | Fruits in large quantities |
| Honeysuckleordinary(Loniceraxylosteum) | Fruits in large quantities |
| Joster (Rhamnus) | Fruit |
| Iris(Iris) | Leaves |
| Potato(Solanum tuberosum) | Green tubers, berries |
| Castor bean(Ricinus communis) | Fruits and seeds |
| Kokorysh(Aethusa cynapium) | Ground part of the plant |
| Horse chestnut (Aesculus) | Fruit |
| Kochedyzhnik(Athyrium) | All parts of the plant |
| Buckthorn brittle(Frangula alnus) | Fruits and bark |
| Lakonos (Phytolacca) | Fruit |
| Lily of the Valley (Convallaria) | Fruit |
| Lunosemyannik(Menispermum) | Fruit |
| Lovage (Levisticum) | Juice |
| Lupine(Lupinus) | Fruits are poisonous in large quantities |
| Molokan (Lactuca) | Juice |
| Euphorbia (Euphorbia) | Juice |
| Narcissus | Bulbs |
| Omezhnik water(Oenanthe aquatica) | All parts of the plant |
| Caustic sedum(Sedum acre) | Juice |
| Nightshade red and p. black (Solanum) | Unripe fruits |
| Crossstep (Bryonia) | Fruit |
| Podophyllum(Podophyllum) | Fruit |
| Ruta | Juice |
| Boxwood (Buxus) | Ground part |
| Snowberry(Symphoricarpos) | Fruits in large quantities |
| Asparagus | Fruit |
| Tiss(Taxus) | Ground parts and seeds (pulp is harmless) |
| Thuja | Bark and needles |
| Decorative beans(Phaseolus) | Fruits in large quantities |
| Physalis | Unripe fruits |
| Hemlock (veh)(Cicuta) | |
| Hellebore (Veratrum) | All parts of the plant |
| Celandine (Chelidonium) | Juice |
| Shieldweed(Dryopteris) | All parts of the plant, especially the rhizome |
| Ash tree (Dictamnus) | Juice |
Dispensed strictly according to prescription!
Since ancient times, the medical truth has been known: “Everything is poison, everything is medicine; both are determined by the dose.” Among garden plants used in folk medicine, many are poisonous. In the hands of an experienced herbalist they will be beneficial, but the difference between a medicinal and a dangerous dose is very small. Therefore, under no circumstances should they be used for self-medication. Here are some of these plants.
DIGITALIS
In old reference books, digitalis purpurea is often mentioned as a remedy for tachycardia and heart failure. True, one of the main active ingredients – digitoxin – is very poisonous. It was believed that a safe dosage could be found. However, it was later discovered that digitoxin can accumulate in the body, which can ultimately lead to an overdose. Therefore, digitalis extracts are now only included in potent medicines that are used under strict control.
LILY OF THE VALLEY
This is another well-known remedy for the heart. But for heart diseases such as cardiosclerosis, endocarditis and some others, lily of the valley preparations will only lead to a rapid deterioration of the condition. Also, tinctures of lily of the valley leaves and flowers are recommended for neuroses, insomnia, epilepsy, glaucoma, however, the slightest non-compliance with the dosage leads to severe poisoning.
HELLEBORE
Some time ago, Caucasian hellebore became a fashionable remedy for weight loss, as well as cleansing and general improvement of the body. But this plant actually has an irritating effect on the intestines. So it may be possible to lose weight, but getting healthier is a big question. Hellebore poisons, like foxgloves, accumulate in the body and can lead to dangerous consequences if taken for a long time.
ACONITE
Blue and variegated aconite is occasionally found in flower beds. The plant is quite elegant, looks a bit like a delphinium, but all its parts are highly poisonous. In ancient times, aconite juice was used to lubricate spear and arrow tips and sword blades. Various sources recommend using aconite preparations for injuries, pain, as well as very serious diseases, including tuberculosis and oncology. Although the slightest carelessness in use may not speed up recovery, but cause the opposite effect.
DELPHINIUM
This plant is not only similar to aconite, they are “relatives”, both belong to the buttercup family, generally famous for its poisonous “abilities”. As an ornamental plant, delphinium does not pose any particular harm, but it should not be used to treat the liver, kidneys, and especially malignant tumors without the supervision of a doctor.
ECHINACEA
Rudbeckia purpurea, or Echinacea, is grown in flower beds and is also used to restore the body after long-term use of drugs, in the treatment of non-healing wounds and burns. However, it is contraindicated in autoimmune diseases and cannot be combined with many medications.
COLLECCIBLE
Colchicum autumnalis is very similar to spring crocuses, but blooms in the fall. Even transplanting colchicum should be done with gloves to avoid burns. The poison colchicine, which accumulates in all parts of the plant, kills like arsenic. So do not try to treat rheumatism, gout, or kidney disease with it yourself.
CASTOR BEAN
This unusual plant is loved by gardeners for its size and spectacular carved leaves. The famous castor oil is squeezed from castor bean seeds, which is widely used in cosmetology and for constipation. Commercially purified oil will not cause much harm. But direct use of castor bean seeds and fruits is very dangerous, since the poisons they contain are not inferior in strength to cyanide. Do not make decorations from castor beans, do not let children play with them!
More than once I have seen a picture: a small child, finding himself in the country, picks a flower he likes and pulls it to his face - either to smell it, or to taste it. For some, this picture evokes emotion, but if you know how dangerous there are our green friends, then it’s time to sound the alarm! At the very least, it would be useful to have information about plants that threaten the health of not only children, but also adults.
The very name of this flower, common in nature, speaks of its evil power - fierce! Another name for a small plant with yellow flowers is night blindness. It is not accidental: buttercup juice causes eye irritation, leading to temporary loss of vision. If it enters the digestive tract, it causes stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, convulsions and even clouding of consciousness.
All this applies to the greatest extent to wild plant species. And it seems that if weed control is carried out on the site, then there is no danger? But this is not so: there are types of buttercups (ranunculus) that are specially bred in gardens. Their flowers - simple or double - can be similar to
live on peonies, poppies and even roses. And although their degree of toxicity is lower than that of their wild “relatives,” these plants can also cause trouble, especially for children.
Snowdrop
The desire to have the earliest flowers on the site, which throw out their white bells at the end of March, must be weighed against the possibility of poisoning by this plant. Where there are small children, it is better not to plant it at all. All parts of the plant, especially the bulbs and fruits, are poisonous. Symptoms of poisoning: excessive salivation, rare heartbeat and dizziness. In large doses (it is enough for a child to eat a few onions) it causes nausea, vomiting, severe diarrhea, hair loss, bleeding disorders and kidney damage.
This elegant, fragrant flower can be found in almost any garden plot, which cannot but cause alarm. Toxic substances are contained in almost all parts of the plant; the concentration of poison is especially high in red fruits, which arouse the interest of children. Attempts to try such berries end in attacks of nausea, alternating with vomiting, abdominal pain, weakness, slow heartbeat, decreased blood pressure, clouding of consciousness, and in severe cases, cardiac arrest.
Lily of the valley poisoning can also occur when treated with drugs based on this plant. Therefore, you should never deviate from the dosage prescribed by your doctor!
Colchicum
In autumn, another danger may lurk in the garden in the form of delicate lilac flowers of colchicum. All parts of this plant are poisonous, but especially the bulbs and seeds. Just 6 g of the plant can cause the death of an adult, and for a child the lethal dose is only 1.5-2 g.
In case of poisoning, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, watery or bloody diarrhea, a burning sensation in the throat, decreased blood pressure, weak pulse, decreased body temperature, weakened breathing until it stops.
Better to play it safe
Elderberry, aconite, foxglove, castor bean, wolf's bast, and belladonna are also poisonous. It is unlikely that we will be able to protect restless children from them. This means that it is better to play it safe and not only not plant them on the site, but also prevent them from entering from the wild.
Not herbs, but POISONS!
Please note: apple and apricot kernels contain hydrocyanic acid; medicinal herbs such as belladonna, lily of the valley or foxglove can easily kill if you exceed the dose or use the wrong part. But there are also fly agarics, toadstools, henbane, wolf's bast and other poison! Try to miss her this summer... However, first things first.
The insidious Foxglove.
What would a garden be without foxgloves? This very unpretentious and long-flowering plant is very popular among gardeners. Not only is it beautiful, but it’s also healing: it helps with heart ailments! Just don’t try to be treated with digitalis if you suddenly have a heart attack and don’t have pills for it at hand.
Even the Roman physician Galen, who lived in the 2nd century, liked to repeat that any plant can be both poison and medicine - it’s all a matter of dose. So, foxglove has a very low threshold of “toxicity”. Over the 4,000 years of its use in medicine, it has known both universal recognition and periods of oblivion caused by fears of the unpredictability of its action. All parts of foxglove are poisonous: only leaves are used for treatment, and even then not just any, but plants collected in the first year of life and dried in a special way.
When poisoned with it, the pulse slows down, there is a feeling of interruptions in the heart (extrasystoles), spots flash before the eyes, headaches and dizziness - up to fainting, blood drains from the face, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are possible. In such cases, you need to call an ambulance, and while it is driving, rinse your stomach and take activated carbon dissolved in water (one tablet per 1 kg of weight): it will bind excess cardiac glycosides that disrupt the functioning of the heart. After this, you need to take a laxative: it will help the intestines get rid of toxins and reduce the severity of poisoning. When your blood pressure drops, you can drink coffee or strong tea with sugar.
May month. How beautiful is the MAY LILY OF THE MAY! And it has also long been known for its medicinal properties. They wrote about its tincture in Rus' that it is “more precious than precious gold and is good for all ailments.”
But at the same time, lily of the valley is deadly poisonous: all parts of the plant are toxic, but especially the flowers and red berries that ripen in the summer. Adults are unlikely to feast on them, but children put these bright balls in their mouths, “earning” poisoning with cardiac glycosides with the same symptoms as with digitalis intoxication, and the help is the same, but it would be better if none of your loved ones needed!
Crazy cherry. This is how belladonna was called in the old days - BELLADONNA VULNA. They also called it crazy berry, sleepy foolishness and magic herb. Why it’s magical is not difficult to understand! In the old days, Italian women dropped belladonna juice into their eyes to make them sparkle and the pupils to dilate and become bottomless.
They rubbed the berries on their cheeks to make them flush. As a result, any ugly woman turned out to be a beautiful woman - in Italian “belladonna”. And in Rus', belladonna was nicknamed rabid, because the atropine contained in the plant causes strong emotional and motor arousal, reaching the point of rage and sometimes convulsions.
Poisonous panicle. This powerful and juicy perennial grass blooms for the first time in the 15th year of life, and lives up to 50 years literally everywhere - from the tundra to the subtropics! Its stem is thick and tall - up to 1.5 meters, decorated with several large oval, corrugated leaves and panicles of small white, yellow-green or dark purple flowers. Ego HEBELLE - a representative of the melanthiaceae family, close
[ideological. The plant is very poisonous and should be handled
carefully. Hellebore poisoning causes severe agitation, perspiration, increased salivation, vomiting, slow pulse, weakness and convulsions. At the first such signs, you need to act, as in the case of foxglove.
Interestingly, hellebore is not fatally poisonous to everyone. In the Altai mountains, wild deer and sika deer feast on it without any health consequences.
In small doses, hellebore can be a medicine, but not for internal use! Tinctures, decoctions and ointments from its rhizomes are used as an external pain reliever for neuralgia, skin diseases and for healing wounds, and powder from the rhizomes is used to kill insects. However, these products must be prepared by a specialist. It’s better for the rest to admire this beautiful poisoner from a distance.
An umbrella with a catch. A familiar story: you went to the forest and came back with burns on your legs? The reason for this is HORGE - a plant of the Umbelliferae family. Three of its species are found in central Russia. A small plant - Siberian hogweed - can often be found in meadows and along roadsides. It has broad lobes of dissected leaves and yellow-green flowers in complex umbels. Siberian hogweed is completely harmless, it is even used for food (as a seasoning in borscht).
Burns can be caused by two other species of this plant - Sosnovsky's hogweed and Mantegazzi's hogweed, which, however, is very rare. These are perennial cortical herbaceous plants up to three meters high with thick stems and leaf petioles and a huge (up to a meter in diameter) complex umbrella of white flowers. They bloom in July-August and bear fruit in September.
Why does contact with it cause burns? It’s just that hogweed juice contains furocoumarins - chemical compounds that have photosensitizing and lysing properties, that is, the ability to increase the sensitivity of the skin to ultraviolet radiation. A few hours after hogweed juice comes into contact with exposed areas of the body under the influence of sunlight, a burn will occur: the skin will turn red and become covered with blisters. How severe its damage will be depends on how much juice was splashed onto the affected area, how long this place was exposed to solar insolation and whether it was hot at the same time, whether sweat appeared on the skin. If it was wet (either from sweat or after swimming in a pond), furocoumarins penetrate the skin faster and the toxic reaction is more severe.
If any juice gets on your skin, immediately wash it off with water and take cover in the shade. Apply a sterile bandage to the affected area and consult a doctor. If this is not possible, do not self-medicate and, most importantly, do not puncture the blisters under any circumstances! After 2-5 days, the burn will go away on its own, and in its place a brown pigmented spot will form, which can last from a month to a year.
One flower, two flowers
Some people react with a burn not only to hogweed juice, but also to sandalwood oil, St. John's wort pollen, sedge, wild rowan, yarrow and a number of other plants containing furocoumarins, which are poisonous to the skin.
And nettle, for example, doesn’t even need the sun to cause the skin of any person to become covered with blisters, which is why experts consider its juice to be an obligate poison, that is, one that is dangerous for everyone. In addition to nettle, obligate skin irritants that cause burn-type dermatitis include caustic buttercup, spurge, poisonous star anise, ash and croton.
There are also optional skin poisons that threaten dermatitis not for everyone, like nettle, but only for those people who are sensitized to them, that is, have developed an allergy. This is the favorite country primrose - primrose, as well as poisonous sumac, geranium, rhododendron, garlic and figs. Well, let’s say figs don’t grow in the middle zone, but our gardeners grow primrose in large quantities, but it can be poisonous for them. Toxic contact dermatitis is caused only by ornamental varieties of this plant - indoor primrose and Chinese primrose. At the same time, not only fresh plants, but also wilted or dried ones can sensitize and cause irritation on the skin. But you can safely grow the primrose on the plot: it will not cause you any trouble.
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It is difficult to rank plant poisons, because even the same species growing in different conditions may not accumulate different substances in the same way. Including toxins. It also matters which part of the plant is eaten. Nevertheless, a conditionally average statistical rating can be compiled if you find a comparable indicator. We'll take a semi-lethal dose ( DL 50)* for laboratory mice that were injected with poison through the mouth, which is logical, because no one has heard of plants biting animals or people.
5th place. Cicutoxin
Veh poisonous, aka hemlock (Cicuta virosa)
Alcohol. Formula: C17H22O2
DL 50= 50 mg/kg (mice, oral)
Poisoning occurs when eating the rhizomes of the poisonous plant, including dried ones. Often confused with spotted hemlock, which is used as a “folk natural” remedy for many diseases, although it is also poisonous.
The centrally acting poison, neurotoxin, is an antagonist of one of the most important neurotransmitters - gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
Symptoms of poisoning develop within 5–10 minutes. First, abdominal pain, headache, dizziness, general weakness, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and pale skin appear. Later, convulsions appear, which remain the leading part of the clinical picture. Death can occur against their background - due to suffocation.
There is no specific antidote. Treatment is symptomatic, aimed primarily at stopping seizures.
4th place. Ricin
Castor bean (Ricinus communis)
A protein consisting of two subunits, which individually are non-toxic, only the whole molecule is capable of penetrating into cells and producing a toxic effect.
DL 50= 0.3 mg/kg (mice, orally). Inhalation of an aerosol of crude ricin has a DL50 comparable to that of the organophosphorus agent sarin, 0.004 mg/kg (mice, inhalation), and has therefore been considered a potential chemical weapon. Not suitable for military personnel due to instability in water and light. Possible agent for targeted terrorist attacks.
Most often, poisoning occurs after eating a large amount of castor beans containing from 0.5 to 1.5% ricin.
Ricin stops protein synthesis in cell ribosomes. This process is slow but irreversible.
Mushrooms do not belong to the plant kingdom, however, they also get into food and can cause poisoning. The most powerful mushroom poisons are muscarine (red fly agaric, DL 50= 0.2 mg/kg), alpha-amanitin, (pale grebe, DL 50= 1 mg/kg) and gyromitrin (lines, DL 50= 10 mg/kg).
The first manifestations of poisoning occur on average after 15 hours, sometimes the latent period can last up to 3 days. The first characteristic symptom is hemorrhages in the retina. Then nausea and vomiting, severe pain in the abdominal area, convulsions, prostration and collapse follow.
As a rule, death occurs after 6–8 days, the cause is multiple organ failure.
There is no specific antidote; treatment is limited to alleviating suffering.
3rd place. Aconitine
Plants of the genus fighter, aka aconite (Aconite), most often found in the middle zone Aconitum stoerckeanum, Aconitum napellus, Aconitum variegatum
Alkaloid. Formula C34H47NO11
DL 50= 0.25 mg/kg (mice, oral)
Poisoning can result from the use of more than 25 species of plants of the genus aconite (fighter) for “traditional medicinal purposes.” Even dried leaves and roots contain sufficient amounts of poison.
Aconitine excites and subsequently paralyzes the endings of sensory nerves.
The clinical picture of poisoning develops immediately. It begins with generalized skin itching. Then the nature of breathing changes: first it becomes faster and then slows down. Body temperature decreases, the skin becomes covered with profuse sweat. There is pain in the area of the heart and interruptions in its functioning. Later, convulsions, paralysis and adynamia occur.
Death can occur within a few minutes - from suffocation as a result of paralysis of the respiratory muscles.
The strongest natural poison is a protein neurotoxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum serovar D. For this botulinum toxin DL 50= 0.0000004 mg/kg.
2nd place. Veratrine
On the territory of the Russian Federation - in white hellebore ( Veratrum album L.) and black hellebore ( Veratrum nigrum L.)
Alkaloid. Formula: C32H49O9N
DL 50= 0.003 mg/kg (mice, oral).
Veratrine acts as a neurotoxin by opening sodium channels in cell membranes wide open.
The clinical picture develops in the following sequence: first appear dizziness, darkening of the eyes, uneven pulse, drooling, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea. Then - weakness, body temperature drops, breathing becomes difficult, convulsions and collapse occur.
Death can occur from cardiac arrest or paralysis of the respiratory center.
There is no specific antidote. Treatment is symptomatic.
1st place. Konyin
Spotted hemlock (Conium maculatum)
Alkaloid. Formula: C8H17N
DL 50= 0.002 mg/kg (mice, oral). The strongest plant poison.
Accidental poisoning occurs when eating the rhizome, which is confused with horseradish, and may be mistaken for white carrots by children. Less often - when using leaves similar to parsley. It is believed that the poison of this plant was used to execute people in Ancient Greece and that it was the poison that caused the death of Socrates.
Coniine blocks H-cholinergic receptors of the postsynaptic membrane of neuromuscular synapses. That is, this is the Russian analogue of the world famous plant poison curare.
The clinical picture develops quickly and begins with profuse drooling and blurred vision. Nausea and vomiting may occur, but gradually developing skeletal muscle paralysis comes to the fore. It is ascending in nature, that is, it begins with the muscles of the foot and lower leg and gradually reaches the diaphragm. This makes breathing movements impossible. Consciousness is usually preserved until the last moment.
Death occurs from suffocation due to paralysis of the diaphragm.
There is no specific antidote. Treatment is symptomatic, including transferring the patient to artificial ventilation (ALV).
———
*D.L.(from ancient Greek δόσις and lat. lētālis) 50
- the average dose of a substance that causes the death of half of the subjects in the experimental group. In Russian-language literature it is also designated as LD 50.
In the summer, city dwellers flock to nature, taking their children out of the stuffy city. But few people think that in nature, in the countryside, or just walking through a meadow or forest, poisonous plants can also be found among the diversity of flora. Children especially love to pick and smell armfuls of flowers, and you can even get hurt from some plants that you just pick up in your hand. Many plants produce and accumulate substances that produce poisoning of varying degrees of severity in humans. Due to their small body weight, children are especially susceptible to poisoning by plant toxins. Below is a small selection with photographs of especially dangerous plants. Try to remember these plants so that only pleasant memories remain from your vacation.
BLACK HEBRAIN. This is a biennial herbaceous plant with an unpleasant, very intoxicating odor from the nightshade family. It is especially poisonous during flowering. The fruit of the plant is a capsule with roundish brownish-black seeds that look like a poppy seed.
Mild henbane poisoning results in dry mouth, difficulty speaking and swallowing, dilated pupils, dryness and redness of the skin, agitation, possible delirium and hallucinations, and rapid heartbeat.
In case of severe poisoning, a person loses his bearings, feels a sharp motor and mental agitation, and his body temperature quickly rises.
If a child is poisoned, then, as a rule, he loses consciousness, and the skin becomes bluish. Cramps. The respiratory center becomes blocked and vascular failure begins, which leads to death.
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ACONITE DZHUNGARSKY (wrestler, shoes). All parts of the plant are poisonous, the tuberous, swollen conical root is especially poisonous. The bright flowers are shaped like shoes and, of course, attract attention, especially from children; the tubers and leaves of the plant are also of unusual shape. But the plant is so poisonous that poisoning makes itself felt within a few minutes.
Signs of poisoning: a sharp tingling sensation begins in the mouth and throat, turning into a burning sensation, salivation increases, then abdominal pain appears, turning into vomiting. Vision deteriorates. A state of stupefaction may occur. In severe cases - convulsions, loss of consciousness, immobilization of muscles and respiratory arrest.
The poison affects the heart - the pulse slows down and then quickens, the rhythm is disturbed, and the risk of cardiac arrest increases.
Datura. It belongs to the nightshade family and is also very poisonous.
Its flowers resemble miniature gramophones. The seeds are stored in large prickly capsules.
Symptoms of poisoning are the same as for henbane, including severe agitation, dilated pupils, flushing of the skin of the face and neck, dry mouth, hoarseness, rapid pulse, headache, and severe thirst. Next, a comatose state develops, hallucinations, unrelated speech, and when drinking water, the taste is disgusting.
Belladonna or Belladonna. Belongs to the nightshade family. The stem is thick, succulent and reaches up to 2 meters in height, densely pubescent in the upper part.
The fruit is especially poisonous - a purple-black berry with the same dark purple juice. Children may mistake it for a cherry.
Symptoms of poisoning are the same as for black henbane. Signs of mild poisoning appear within 10 minutes. Possible death from paralysis of the respiratory center and vascular insufficiency.
POPPY. It would seem, what does poppy have to do with it? It is even used in confectionery. However, white or light yellow opium poppy seeds are dangerous. Soporific poppy can often be seen in summer cottages; it is also found in nature as a wild plant.
Poppy (Latin -Papaver) comes from the phrase pappa vera, which translates as “real baby porridge”, since in ancient times immature poppy heads were used to calm overly noisy babies who had trouble sleeping. They were chewed, wrapped in a cloth and given to children instead of a pacifier. However, opium poppy is classified as a narcotic substance.
Symptoms of poisoning are the same as for black henbane. In addition, opium poppy has a depressant effect on the nervous system, vasomotor and respiratory centers of the brain. As a result, lethargy develops, the pulse becomes slower, and the body temperature becomes lower than normal. Flower petals contain poppy and readic acids, fatty substances and gum.
CELANDINE. A common plant that is often used in folk medicine. All parts of the plant contain milky sap, which is so poisonous that if it gets on the skin or mucous membranes, it can cause not only redness, but also a burn.
Celandine contains alkaloids, so when it enters the gastrointestinal tract, signs appear that are characteristic of poisoning by alkaloid plants.
All of the above plants contain ALKALOIDS. These are nitrogen-containing organic compounds that have high biological activity. Poisonous plants that contain alkaloids affect the central nervous system, have a depressant or stimulant effect, and negatively affect the functioning of the heart, liver, kidneys and stomach.
Below is the next group of poisonous plants.
LILY OF THE MAY. florists love to include them in bouquet compositions, including wedding ones. However, few people know that this is a particularly dangerous plant despite its fragile appearance - the leaves, flowers and fruits are poisonous - red-orange berries.
Mild poisoning causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, severe headache and acute pain in the stomach.
With more severe poisoning, the rhythm and heart rate are disrupted.
Sometimes the nervous system is affected, causing agitation, blurred vision, convulsions, and even loss of consciousness. As a result, death occurs from cardiac arrest.
Foxglove Purple It has a bright, unusual appearance and large purple flowers. All parts of the plant are poisonous even in small doses.
The botanical name comes from Lat. digitus, which means “ring, finger”, since the corolla resembles a thimble. Foxglove fruits are ovoid capsules with very small seeds that can be confused with poppy seeds.
Symptoms of poisoning are the same as for poisoning with lily of the valley.
WOLF BASS or WOLF BERRY. It is a shrub with bright red berries that are similar to sea buckthorn. It can often be found in mixed forests. All parts of the plant, especially the fruits, contain pungent and burning poisonous juice.
When the sap comes into contact with the skin, it causes pain, redness, swelling, blisters and ulcers, which after healing leave scars.
Signs of poisoning when berries or juice enter the stomach (especially often by children who decide to taste the berries) are a burning sensation in the mouth, pharynx and esophagus; difficulty breathing and swallowing, drooling. After some time, sharp pain in the stomach, severe diarrhea and vomiting begins. Poisoning occurs as hemorrhagic gastroenteritis.
When the skin comes into contact with wet bark or when plant sap gets on it, dermatitis develops.
Inhalation of dust from the bark causes irritation of the mucous membranes of the pharynx and respiratory tract, and contact with the eyes irritates the conjunctiva.
Other symptoms of poisoning are the same as for poisoning with lily of the valley.
The above plants contain CARDIAC GLYCOSIDES, which have a selective effect on the heart muscle, increasing the heart rate. These plants affect the cardiovascular system and simultaneously act on the gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system.
Now let's move on to another group of plants.
Poisonous plants that contain ORGANIC ACIDS, which, when ingested, cause damage to the gastrointestinal tract and simultaneously affect the central nervous and cardiovascular systems.
These plants include:
RAVEN'S EYE. All parts of the plant are poisonous, but especially the fruits - single bluish-black berries, which a child can confuse with blueberries. Therefore, immediately show and tell the children what these bushes look like.
Dried berries and leaves are used in folk medicine. If you eat fresh berries, you will experience diarrhea and vomiting. One berry will not have such severe consequences as a handful.
The berries can act on the heart in the same way as lily of the valley, and the leaves of the plant on the nervous system in the same way as black henbane.
Poisonous plants that contain ESSENTIAL OILS. These plants cause damage to the skin and mucous membranes, and if swallowed, damage the gastrointestinal tract.
Such plants include:
BUTTERCUPLE (lat. Ranúnculus, from lat. rana - “frog”) is a genus of annual or perennial herbaceous plants of the Ranunculaceae family, aquatic or terrestrial herbs with caustic and sometimes poisonous juice. The genus received its Latin name due to the fact that many of its representatives live in or near water, like frogs.
Buttercup sap is very poisonous. The vapors released by the plant cause serious irritation to the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and larynx.
One contact with a buttercup can cause lacrimation, runny nose, sore throat, coughing, even choking and spasm of the laryngeal muscles.
An ingested plant causes sharp pain in the esophagus, stomach and intestines, which is accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting. Therefore, domestic animals try to stay away from buttercups in the pasture.
COMMON HORGE and FLUFFY. Both pose a risk throughout the summer. A genus of plants in the Umbrella family. These are biennial, less often perennial herbs. The stems of different species grow from 20 cm to 2.5 meters. Usually the stems are hollow, with sparse pubescence or pubescence along the entire length (in northern species).
Hogweed is dangerous not only for people, but also for animals. The strong spread of hogweed disrupts the ecological balance. But, at the same time, hogweed absorbs carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide and produces oxygen.
Even a cut down wilted plant can harm a child, especially if he likes to take plants apart.
Just a drop of hogweed if it gets on the skin or mucous membranes can cause severe burns, which are accompanied by pain, redness, blisters, and erosion.
Do not even allow children to play in the hogweed thickets!
It is difficult to imagine how many mysteries the Russian land conceals, and how many dangers it conceals is even more difficult to imagine. We will talk about the most dangerous and poisonous plants growing in Russia.
In fact, plant poison, if collected on a mass scale, could partially replace chemical and biological weapons... and even simple weapons in some cases. There are stories when dedicated people used plant poisons for inhumane, selfish purposes, for example, eliminating an enemy.
In Ancient Greece, death sentences were carried out using the juice of hemlock (a plant that, by the way, is quite common in Russia). Socrates, according to available information, was sent to the Other World with the help of hemlock juice, according to other sources - spotted hemlock. Both plants live safely in Russia.
As legends say, earlier, when villages were captured by enemies, Russians fleeing to save their lives poured the juices of poisonous plants - belladonna, henbane, etc. - into barrels of wine stored in cellars.
Many herbs have healing properties, but there are those that can bring not only healing, but also death. The paradox is that almost all poisonous plants are used for the preparation of medicines along with useful ones, only the raw materials are carefully dosed.
As they say (the words of Paracelsus, the brilliant physician of all times): “Only the dose makes a substance a poison or a medicine.”
Very often, the juices and raw materials of poisonous plants are used to treat the heart, stop bleeding, and relieve pain.
Potato juice (and also juices of various vegetables, berries: sorrel, currants, beets, cucumber, cabbage, cranberries), beaten egg whites with raw milk, powder were used as antidotes (naturally for mild poisoning, and not when a person is convulsing). from dried orchis tubers, valerian root, elecampane root.
In total, about 10 thousand poisonous plants are known in the world, many of them grow in the tropics and subtropics, but on Russian soil, flowers and greens are almost always found that can, under certain conditions, cause harm to humans. It’s just that we don’t eat or pick up all the plants – this saves us from the consequences. However, when visiting the forest, especially with children, you should not forget how much danger can lurk among the grass, because it is children who often suffer from plant poisons.
Let's look at the most common poisonous plants in Russia.
In the photo the veh is poisonous
Vekh poisonous (or hemlock)
“Veh is poisonous (the spelling and pronunciation of vekh is allowed) (lat. Cicúta virósa) - a poisonous plant; species of the genus Veh of the Umbrella family, widespread in Europe.
Other names: hemlock, cat parsley, wood pig, omeg, omezhnik, water rabies, water hemlock, mutnik, dog angelica, gorigol, pig louse.”
The active toxic substance is cicutoxin. When taking hemlock juice in non-lethal doses (up to 100 grams of rhizome), symptoms of intestinal poisoning begin within a few minutes, then foam at the mouth, unsteady gait, and dizziness. When taking higher doses - convulsions leading to paralysis and death.
Hemlock can easily be confused with safer plants - this is its main danger. The taste is reminiscent of parsley, rutabaga, celery, it is sweet and cloying, which again makes hemlock harmless.
In Russia it is found in nature almost everywhere. The most common-looking plant, which is very easy to confuse with a harmless one.
Pictured is a hemlock
Hemlock spotted
“Spotted hemlock (lat. Conīum maculātum) is a biennial herbaceous plant, a species of the genus Hemlock (Conium) of the Umbrella family (Apiaceae).
In Russia it is found throughout almost the entire European part, the Caucasus, and Western Siberia.
Poisonous properties are determined by the alkaloids coniine (the most poisonous), methylkoniine, conhydrin, pseudoconhydrin, coniceine. Hemlock fruits contain up to 2% alkaloids, leaves - up to 0.1%, flowers - up to 0.24%, seeds - up to 2%.
Coniine is the most poisonous substance in hemlock; when taken in large doses, it first causes agitation and then stops breathing.
“The first symptoms of poisoning: nausea, drooling, dizziness, difficulty swallowing, speech, pale skin. Initial excitement is accompanied by convulsions and turns into depression of the central nervous system. Characteristic is ascending paralysis, starting from the lower extremities, accompanied by loss of skin sensitivity. The pupils are dilated and do not respond to light. Increasing suffocation can lead to respiratory arrest. When in contact with skin, the sap causes dermatitis.”
The antidote is milk with a solution of potassium permanganate - pink. To “die” hemlock, you need to eat a lot - a couple of kilograms; there are known cases of the death of starved cattle. But poisons isolated from leaves and parts of the plant can be fatal in much smaller quantities.
However, hemlock is also used as a healing plant; it is considered almost sacred for traditional healers - they treat cancer, heart problems, etc.
Externally it looks like hemlock, there are spots on the stem, which is why it is named accordingly.
In the photo there is a poisonous buttercup
Poisonous buttercup
“Poisonous buttercup (lat. Ranunculus sceleratus) is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant; species of the genus Buttercup (Ranunculus) of the Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). Very poisonous."
There are many types of buttercup, the poisonous one is similar to the safer species.
Active toxic substances: gamma-lactones (ranunculin and protoanemonin), flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin, etc.).
There are known cases of animal poisoning, and the milk of cows that have eaten buttercups is also poisonous.
In people, when the pulp from parts of the plant gets on damaged skin, burns appear; when it gets on the mucous membranes, it causes sharp pain and spasms of the larynx. When taken orally in small doses, hemorrhagic damage to the gastric tract occurs. With more impressive doses and constant intoxication with poisons, cardiac dysfunction, kidney damage, and vasoconstriction occur.
In the photo henbane
Henbane
“Henbane (lat. Hyoscýamus) is a genus of herbaceous plants of the Solanaceae family.”
Active toxic substances: atropine, hyoscyamine, scopolamine.
“Symptoms of poisoning (confusion, fever, rapid heartbeat, dry mouth, blurred vision, etc.) appear within 15-20 minutes.”
All parts of the plant are poisonous.
Pictured is belladonna
Belladonna
This poisonous flower got its name from the formation of two Italian words for “beautiful woman” (bella donna), since Italian women dropped the juice of the plant into their eyes to dilate their pupils and give their eyes shine.
In case of mild poisoning (occurring within 10-20 minutes), tachycardia, delirium, agitation begin, pupils dilate, and photophobia. In case of severe poisoning - convulsions, high temperature, drop in blood pressure, paralysis of the respiratory center, vascular insufficiency.
In the photo there is a raven's eye
Crow's eye four-leaf
“Crow's eye four-leafed, or Crow's eye ordinary (lat. Pāris quadrifōlia) is a species of herbaceous plants from the genus Crow's eye of the Melanthiaceae family (previously this genus was classified in the Liliaceae family). Poisonous plant."
The plant is deadly poisonous. Children often suffer, since the berry is quite beautiful and attractive to look at.
“The leaves act on the central nervous system, the fruits on the heart, the rhizomes cause vomiting. Symptoms of poisoning: abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, attacks of dizziness, convulsions, disruption of the heart until it stops. The use of the plant for medicinal purposes is prohibited."
Pictured is castor bean
Castor bean
« Castor bean (Ricinus commúnis) is an oilseed, medicinal and ornamental garden plant.” Used to decorate parks. According to sources, deaths from eating parts of the plant are rare, but castor beans are considered a very poisonous species.
The active toxic substances are ricin, ricinin.
« All parts of the plant contain the protein ricin and the alkaloid ricinin, poisonous to humans and animals (LD50 about 500 mcg). Ingestion of plant seeds causes enteritis, vomiting and colic, bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, water-electrolyte imbalance and death after 5-7 days. The damage to health is irreparable; survivors cannot fully restore their health, which is explained by the ability of ricin to irreversibly destroy proteins in human tissue. Inhalation of ricin powder similarly affects the lungs.”
It is amazing that castor oil, which is so popular in medicine, is made from castor beans. To neutralize the poison, the raw materials are treated with hot steam.
Castor bean is considered one of the most poisonous plants in the world.
In the photo Lobel's hellebore
Lobel's hellebore
“Lobel's hellebore, or Lobeliev's hellebore (lat. Verátrum lobeliánum) is a species of plant of the genus Chemeritsa of the Melanthiaceae family. Medicinal, poisonous, insecticidal plant."
Contains toxic alkaloids: yervin, rubijervin, isorubijervin, germine, germidine, protoveratrine.
“Hereboil is a very poisonous plant, its roots contain 5-6 alkaloids, of which the most poisonous is protoveratrine, which can suppress the central nervous system and has a harmful effect on the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system.”
If the plant is consumed internally, the throat begins to burn, a severe runny nose appears, then psychomotor agitation, weakened cardiac activity, hypotension, bradycardia, shock and death (when consuming high doses of root juice), usually consciousness remains until death - at high concentrations of poison, death can coming in a couple of hours.
In the photo there is dope
Datura common (smelly)
Toxic substances: atropine, hyoscyamine, scopolamine.
“Symptoms of poisoning: motor agitation, sharp dilation of the pupils, redness of the face and neck, hoarseness, thirst, headache. Subsequently, speech impairment, coma, hallucinations, paralysis.”
In the photo aconite
Wolfsbane, or fighter
One of the most poisonous plants. Extremely dangerous even when used externally.
The active toxic substances are aconitine, zongorin.
The taste is burning and immediately causes neurological disorders, including tachycardia, tremors of the limbs, dilated pupils, and headache. Then convulsions, clouding of consciousness, delirium, breathing problems, and if help is not provided - death.
In the photo there is a wolfberry
Wolf's bast, or wolf's berry
For a fatal outcome, according to information from medical sources, it is enough for an adult to consume 15 berries, for a child 5. Causes severe poisoning, and death if assistance is not provided.
Active toxic substances: diterpenoids: dafnetoxin, meserein; coumarins - dafnin, dafnetin.
In the photo there is a wild rosemary
Marsh rosemary
The active toxic substances are ledol, cymol, palustrol, arbutin.
Negatively affects the central nervous system.
“Symptoms: dry mouth, numbness of the tongue, speech impairment, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, general weakness, lack of coordination of movements, clouding of consciousness, increased or decreased heart rate, convulsions, agitation; after 30–120 minutes, central nervous system paralysis is possible.”
In small doses it is used as a medicine for lung diseases.
In the photo, autumn crocus
Autumn colchicum
Parts of the flower contain a deadly poison - colchicine, which acts like arsenic. The process of damage to the body can take up to several days and weeks. Even if it comes into contact with the skin, the poison causes severe burns.
In the photo there is an oleander
Oleander
In Russia, the plant is found mainly growing decoratively in offices and apartments. A beautiful, but very poisonous shrub.
“Oleander juice, taken orally, causes severe colic in humans and animals, vomiting and diarrhea, and then leads to serious problems in the functioning of the heart and central nervous system. The cardiac glycosides it contains can cause cardiac arrest. Due to the toxicity of the plant, it is not recommended to place it in children's institutions."
Dieffenbachia in the photo
Dieffenbachia
A widespread indoor plant in Russia. Mainly causes dermatitis. However, there are also known deaths from ingesting the plant juice.
Plants such as sweet clover, tansy, lily of the valley, wormwood, and sage are less toxic than, for example, aconite, but in large doses and with constant use they can cause irreversible damage to the body.
For example, lily of the valley juice affects the heart muscle, sage and wormwood contain substances that can cause psychosis, tansy is very toxic when taken in large doses. Sweet clover contains the poison coumarin, dicoumarin, which when taken in large doses prevents blood clotting and causes bleeding.
Cerberus is also grown in Russia - one of the most beautiful flowers with a jasmine aroma. True, only in a decorative form, on window sills. In hot countries, this plant is called the “suicide tree”: parts of the flower contain an extremely dangerous poison, cerberin, a glycoside that blocks the conduction of electrical impulses and disrupts the heart rhythm. Even the smoke from burning plant leaves is dangerous.
In ancient times, when there were no pistols and modern technologies, natural poisons were used with might and main to eliminate enemies. They lubricated the tips of bow arrows with the juice of poisonous plants, which guaranteed the death of the enemy, and they actively used the same aconite.
Poisonous plants actually grow everywhere in Russia. Their danger lies mainly not in the fact that they grow everywhere - after all, people don’t eat them en masse, but in the fact that they are similar to others, edible, and in the fact that many are beautiful: so, they are simply confused with useful plants, which fraught.
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