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[WARNING: Spider Image] We've previously shared a list about poisons that we enjoy consuming, and now we present a follow-up. In this edition, we explore various substances (poisons and venoms) that are typically dangerous and deadly, yet are commonly found in the medical supplies of doctors and pharmacists across the globe. If you have additional substances to add, feel free to mention them in the comments.
10. Warfarin
Warfarin is an anticoagulant. Initially introduced as a rat and mouse pesticide, it remains in use for this purpose, although stronger alternatives like brodifacoum have been developed. A few years post-launch, warfarin was found to effectively and safely prevent thrombosis and embolism (abnormal blood clot formation and migration) in various conditions. Approved for medical use in the early 1950s, it continues to be widely prescribed, making it the most commonly used anticoagulant in North America. However, despite its effectiveness, warfarin treatment comes with certain limitations. Numerous common medications and some foods interact with warfarin, and its effects require regular blood testing for monitoring.
9. Venom of the Cone Snail
Cone snails are predatory marine creatures, ranging from medium to large in size, and are highly skilled hunters. They immobilize their prey by using a modified radular tooth, which is propelled from their mouth like a harpoon, along with a poison gland that contains potent neurotoxins. It is essential to handle these snails with caution or avoid touching them entirely, as their stings can cause serious discomfort. While the sting of smaller species is comparable to a bee sting, the sting from larger tropical cone snails can be deadly. Certain cone snails, such as the Magician cone (Conus magus), have venom that shows potential as a non-addictive painkiller, 1000 times stronger than morphine, and may even replace it in the future. Ziconotide, the first painkiller derived from cone snail venom, was approved by the U.S. FDA in December 2004 under the name “Prialt.” Other compounds derived from this venom are currently being researched to treat conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and epilepsy.
8. Wolfsbane
The roots of Aconitum ferox (Wolfsbane) provide the toxic Nepalese poison known as bikh, bish, or nabee. It contains a high concentration of the alkaloid pseudaconitine, which is extremely lethal. Aconitum palmatum also produces another variant of the bikh poison. The root of Aconitum luridum, native to the Himalayas, is believed to be just as deadly as A. ferox or A. napellus. Aconite was used in Western medicine up until the mid-20th century, but it has since been replaced by safer and more effective treatments. It was traditionally used internally to slow the pulse, as a sedative for pericarditis and heart palpitations, and in mild dilutions as a diaphoretic to reduce fever in colds, pneumonia, quinsy, laryngitis, croup, and asthma. Aconite notably affects the circulatory, respiratory, and nervous systems. High doses can significantly reduce the heart rate to as low as thirty to forty beats per minute. Interestingly, wolfsbane flowers were historically used to identify supposed werewolves. If the flower cast a yellow shadow on a suspected shape-shifter's chin, the test was considered positive for lycanthropy.
7. Digitalis
Depending on the species, the digitalis plant contains potent cardiac and steroidal glycosides, making it highly toxic. It has earned grim names such as Dead Man's Bells and Witches' Gloves. Every part of the plant is poisonous, including the roots and seeds, but the leaves, especially from the upper stem, are particularly dangerous. Even a small amount can be fatal. The medicinal compounds derived from foxgloves are known as “Digitalin.” This substance is used to increase the force of heart contractions (positive inotrope) and regulate heart rhythm, especially in cases of atrial fibrillation, often in patients with heart failure.
6. Copperhead Venom
The copperhead is a patient ambush predator, choosing a strategic position and waiting for prey to come within reach. Like most North American vipers, copperheads prefer to avoid humans and will typically leave the area if given a chance, without biting. However, unlike other vipers, they often “freeze” rather than slithering away, which results in people accidentally stepping on or near them. The venom of a copperhead has an estimated lethal dose of around 100 mg. Research on mice shows that its potency is one of the lowest among pit vipers, being slightly less potent than the cottonmouth’s venom. Copperheads are known to deliver a “warning bite” when threatened, injecting a relatively small amount of venom, or sometimes none at all. Interestingly, the venom of the Southern copperhead contains a protein called “Contortrostatin,” which inhibits cancer cell growth and prevents tumor migration. Though it will likely be another ten years or more before contortrostatin is used in practical medical treatments, it has shown potential as an anti-cancer drug in laboratory studies.
5. Hemlock
Hemlock is one of the most infamous poisons in history. The primary toxic compound in hemlock is coniine, an alkaloid with a chemical structure similar to nicotine. Coniine acts as a neurotoxin, interfering with the central nervous system, and is harmful to both humans and all types of livestock. It causes death by blocking the neuromuscular junction, which leads to an ascending paralysis of muscles, ultimately affecting the respiratory system and resulting in death due to lack of oxygen. However, if artificial ventilation is provided, death can be prevented and the effects will subside within 48-72 hours. Ingesting even small amounts of poison hemlock can lead to respiratory failure and death. For an adult, consuming more than 100 mg of coniine (about 6 to 8 fresh leaves or a smaller quantity of seeds or root) may be fatal. Despite its toxic nature, poison hemlock has been used for medicinal purposes as a sedative and antispasmodic. Ancient Greek and Persian physicians utilized it to treat various ailments, including arthritis.
4. Deadly Nightshade
Atropine is a tropane alkaloid derived from deadly nightshade, jimsonweed (Datura stramonium), mandrake, and other plants in the Solanaceae family. Atropine injections are used to treat bradycardia (a dangerously low heart rate), asystole, and pulseless electrical activity (PEA) during cardiac arrest. Atropine works by affecting the parasympathetic nervous system, inhibiting the activity of salivary, sweat, and mucus glands. This can be helpful in managing hyperhidrosis and can also alleviate the death rattle in dying patients. Due to its critical role in medical treatments, atropine is listed as a core medicine in the World Health Organization's “Essential Drugs List,” a compilation of essential medications for basic healthcare systems worldwide.
3. Ergot
Humanity has long been acquainted with ergot – a fungus that infects rye, which can then be passed on to humans who consume the contaminated grain. Ergotism causes hallucinations, erratic behavior, convulsions, and, in severe cases, death. Other symptoms include intense uterine contractions, nausea, seizures, and unconsciousness. Consumption of ergot can result in the amputation of limbs damaged by the fungus. Since the Middle Ages, controlled amounts of ergot have been used to induce abortions and stop maternal bleeding after childbirth. Ergot alkaloids are also used in medications like Cafergot, which combines caffeine and ergotamine, to treat migraines. Additionally, ergot is part of treatments for Parkinson's disease. Ergotism has even been historically linked (though it is likely not the true cause) to the strange dancing plague that swept across Europe in the 1500s.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. Text is derived from Wikipedia.
2. Chilean Rose Tarantula Venom
Researchers from the University at Buffalo are utilizing a protein derived from the venom of the Chilean Rose tarantula to help prevent death during heart attacks. Inside our cells are tiny channels that open when the cell stretches. These channels play a key role in various bodily functions, including the contraction of heart muscles. If these channels open too widely (a process that can occur when the heart muscles are stretched over time), they let a surge of positive ions into the cell. This influx of ions can disrupt the heart’s electrical signals, causing it to fibrillate – beating in a chaotic and irregular pattern. The protein from the Chilean Rose tarantula venom can bind to these channels, blocking the flow of positive ions, which might prevent fibrillation and, ideally, save lives when administered during a heart attack. [source]
1. Yellow Scorpion Venom
The venom of another dangerous arachnid is being harnessed for cancer treatment. Scientists at Transmolecular Corporation in Cambridge, Massachusetts, have isolated a protein found in the venom of the Israeli yellow scorpion. This protein has demonstrated the ability to specifically target and bind to cancerous cells, particularly in gliomas, a hard-to-treat type of brain cancer. The researchers created a synthetic version of this protein and attached radioactive iodine to it. Once introduced into the bloodstream, the protein homes in on the glioma cells, binds to them, and carries the radioactive iodine, which destroys the cancer cells. With repeated treatments, the cancer can be eradicated. [source]
