Plant poisons: their occurrence, biochemistry and physiological properties

Sci Prog. 2010;93(Pt 2):181-221. doi: 10.3184/003685010X12729948220326.

Abstract

Plants produce poisons as a defence against predators. Many of these substances are biosynthesised from non-protein amino acids by biosynthetic pathways which have been deduced from the results of isotopic tracer analysis. These secondary metabolites have been used by humans over thousands of years, both as drugs and as agents to kill animals and commit homicide.

MeSH terms

  • Alkaloids / chemistry
  • Alkaloids / metabolism
  • Alkaloids / toxicity
  • Amino Acids / chemistry
  • Amino Acids / metabolism
  • Amino Acids / toxicity
  • Animals
  • Glycosides / chemistry
  • Glycosides / metabolism
  • Glycosides / toxicity
  • Homicide
  • Humans
  • Molecular Structure
  • Plant Poisoning
  • Plants / chemistry*
  • Plants / metabolism*
  • Poisons / chemistry*
  • Poisons / metabolism*
  • Tropanes / chemistry
  • Tropanes / metabolism
  • Tropanes / toxicity

Substances

  • Alkaloids
  • Amino Acids
  • Glycosides
  • Poisons
  • Tropanes