General protoplasmic poison

Quinine is one of several alkaloids derived from the bark of the cinchona tree. The mechanism by which it exerts its antimalarial activity is not known. It does not bind to DNA at antimalarial dosages. It may poison the parasite s feeding mechanism, and it has been termed a general protoplasmic poison, since many organisms are affected by it. 

It denatures proteins, general protoplasmic poison (but acts slowly). Broad spectrum germicide. 

Phenol is a general protoplasmic poison. It can be oxidized to a reactive electrophile that combines with protein and DNA. The binding to hepatic or renal proteins leads to centrilobular and medullar damage, respectively. 

Some inorganic arsenic compounds are also used as herbicides. These inorganic arsenicals are general protoplasmic poisons and are therefore hazardous to both plant and animal life. Affected dogs almost always vomit, have severe abdominal pain, and develop bloody diarrhea. The vomitus may contain mucous shreds and blood from erosion of the gastric and intestinal epithelium. 

High concentrations of disinfectants, e.g. chlorhex-idine, phenol or mercury salts, will coagulate the cytoplasm and in fact it was this kind of reaction which gave rise to the epithet general protoplasmic poison , already referred to, providing an uncritical and dismissive definition of the mode of action of disinfectants. There is little doubt, however, that the disinfectants in use in the 1930s had just this effect when applied at high concentrations. 

Human Toxicity Orally 8 g Or more produces rapid circulatory collapse, death. Chronic poisoning from oral or percutaneous absorption may produce digestive disturbances, nervous disorders with faintness, vertigo, mental changes, skin eruptions, jaundice, oliguria, uremia. Caution General protoplasmic poison. See also Phenol. 

Dixon and De (35) studied the same compounds, and arrived at the conclusion that quinine and its derivatives are general protoplasmic poisons, and in proportion as they exert this action they act as local anesthetics. 

This group of drugs has often been classified as non-specific protoplasmic poisons and indeed such views are still expressed today. Such a broad generalization is, however, very far from the true position. 

Schackell, L. F. (1923). Studies in protoplasm poisoning. I. Phenols. The Journal of General Physiology, 5, 783-805. 

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