Secondary compounds plant poisons

For thousands of years, people have used some of these compounds as fiavors, dyes, fragrances, insecticides, hallucinogens, nutritional supplements, animal or human poisons, and therapeutic or pharmaceutical agents. While secondary compounds are an evolutionary adaptation in plants, they serve multiple functions for mankind. 

Abstract Alkaloids are a special group of secondary compounds and are part of an organism s adaptation mechanism to its living environment. They are not toxic when stored, but become toxic as a result of cell pH change. The defensive function of alkaloids is only secondary, and connected to internal immune and regulation processes. Animal responses to alkaloids are very diverse. Some animals can tolerate alkaloids relatively well, while others are harmed or even poisoned by them. Animal behaviour in relation to alkaloids depends on evolutionary and co-evolutionary factors. Sequestration of alkaloids is connected with these processes. Alkaloids are a part of plant-derived nutrition. A selective toxicity of these compounds in vertebrates is clearly observed. Vertebrates have the capacity to recognize alkaloids. 

Plant secondary compounds play an important role in industry and medicine. Many industries are based on flavoring agents and perfumes, rubber, and naval stores. Several secondary compounds are physiologically active, which results in their use as insecticides, medicinal agents, or biological probes or tools. Plant compounds that are toxic to man and domestic livestock are widespread and may be responsible not only for accidental but also for chronic poisoning by common foods such as cassava, sago, lima, and fava beans. 

A considerable number of mycotoxins that show high toxicity to vertebrates and/ or invertebrates are produced by organisms associated with crop plants (Flannigan 1991). There are many known cases of human poisoning caused by such compounds. There are three broad categories of mycotoxins represented here, based on the structures of the intermediates from which these secondary metabolites are derived. They are (1) compounds derived from polyketides, (2) terpenes derived from mevalonic acid, and (3) cyclic peptides and derivatives thereof. 

While poisonous plants on grazing lands have a significant impact on livestock production throughout the world, the natural toxins (secondary metabolites) in the plant may have multiple and diverse functions, not only for the plant world but also for the benefit of mankind. Many current pharmaceuticals have been chemically optimized from natural toxins of plant origin. New plant compounds and familiar compounds with renewed interest, e.g., nutraceuticals, herbal preparations, nutritional supplements, etc, are increasingly finding their value in human nutrition and health. 

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