Choline esters, toxicity

Detoxifica.tlon. Detoxification systems in the human body often involve reactions that utilize sulfur-containing compounds. For example, reactions in which sulfate esters of potentially toxic compounds are formed, rendering these less toxic or nontoxic, are common as are acetylation reactions involving acetyl—SCoA (45). Another important compound is. Vadenosylmethionine [29908-03-0] (SAM), the active form of methionine. SAM acts as a methylating agent, eg, in detoxification reactions such as the methylation of pyridine derivatives, and in the formation of choline (qv), creatine [60-27-5] carnitine [461-06-3] and epinephrine [329-65-7] (50). 

SAFETY PROFILE Poison by subcutaneous, intravenous, and parenteral routes. Moderately toxic by ingestion. When heated to decomposition it emits very toxic fumes of NOx and CF. A cholinergic agent. See also CHOLINE ACETATE (ESTER). 

Choline nitrite, or pseudo-muscarine, was at one time thought to be identical with natural muscarine, the highly poisonous alkaloid of the mushroom Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric), and to be the aldehyde corresponding to choline. Both suppositions are wrong. The natural alkaloid is much more toxic than choline nitrite, and its effects are antagonised by atropine, which has little protective effect against the synthetic ester. 

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