Organic irritant poisons are the sub-group category of irritant poisons. The poisons included in this group are based on plant and animal origin. There are a lot of plant and animal species present in the vicinity of human beings, that cause harmful effects to them even causing death.
Organic irritant poisons are free of cost and easily available in the environment, which is usually detected in accidental, and suicidal poisoning cases. Some of them also predominate homicidal poisoning.
There is a wide variety of poisonous plants and animals present on this earth, out of which a few are known and others still remain unknown. The most commonly encountered organic irritant poisons have been discussed in this article.
Plant Poisons
The study of toxic plants and their effects on the human body is known as phytotoxicology. The maximum toxic plants are irritants in nature, whereas there are some organ-specific poisons such as Strchynous nux vomica (spinal poison), Aconitum (cardiac poison), Paperver somniferum (Neurotoxic poison), etc.
Irritant plant poisons generally produce external irritations, such as inflammation, pustulation, vesication, callous sores, etc. On ingestion of these poisons, they generally produce gastrointestinal irritations.
Poisonous Parts of a Plant
The constituent of plants responsible for toxicity is called alkaloids (which can be toxalbumin (phytotoxin), glycosides, resins, irritant juices, acrid oils, amino acids, and plant acids), which may be present in the whole plant or at some specific part of the plant. For example:
- Whole plant- Nerium odorum (nerin), Cerbera thevetia (thevetin), Calatropis (calotropin), etc.
- Leaves- Nicotiana tobacum (nicotine), Conium maculatum (coniine), Strychnos curare (curare), Digitalis purpurea (digitalin)
- Fruits- Capsicum annum (capsaicin), Citrullus coloynthis (colocynth)
- Seeds- Abrus precatorius (abrin), Croton tiglium (crotin), Ricinus communis (ricin), Datura alba (hyoscine)
- Stem/Bark- Cinchona officinalis (quinine), Plumbago rosea (plumbagin)
- Root- Aconitum napellus (aconine), Plumbago rosea (plumbagin), Citrullus coloynthis (colocynth)
Examples of Irritant Plant Poisons
The most common plant irritant poisons are- Abrus precatorius, Calotropis sp., Capsicum annum, Colocynth, Croton tiglium, Ergot, Ricinus communis, and Semicarpus Anacardium.
1. Abrus Precatorius
- Common Name– Jequirity bean, Ratti
- Active Principle– Abrin
- Poisonous Part– Seeds
- Effects– Gastrointestinal irritation
- Medicolegal Aspects– Used as an arrow poison to kill cattle usually, but homicidal poisoning of humans is also common.
2. Calotropis sp.
- Common Name– Madar, Akdo
- Active Principle– Calactin, Calotoxin, Calotropin, Gigantin, Uscharin
- Poisonous Part- The serum or the acrid milky juice yielded from the crushed leaves and stems.
- Effects– Dermal and Gastrointestinal irritation
- Medicolegal Aspects– the whole plant is used in Indian medicine to cure various ailments. It can be used as infanticide, arrow poison, etc.
3. Claviceps Purpurea
- Common Name– Ergot
- Active Principle– Ergotoxine, Ergotamine, Ergometrine
- Effects– Gastrointestinal irritation
- Medicolegal Aspect– Accidental poisoning is the most common
4. Citrullium Colocynthis
- Common Name- Bitter apple, Indrayani
- Active Principle– Colocynthin
- Poisonous Part– Pulp of the fruit which is freed from seeds
- Effects– Gastrointestinal irritation
- Medicolegal Aspects– Can be used as an abortifacient. Suicidal and accidental deaths are common.
5. Croton Tiglium
- Common Name– Jamalgota, Nepala
- Active Principle– Crotin
- Poisonous Part– Seeds and oil obtained from seeds.
- Effects – Dermal and gastrointestinal irritation
- Medicolegal Aspect– Used as an arrow poison by the tribes. Homicidal and accidental poisoning is common.
6. Ricinus Communis
- Common Name– Arandi, Castor oil plant
- Active Principle– Ricin
- Poisonous Part– Whole plant especially the seeds
- Effects– Gastrointestinal irritation
- Medicolegal Aspect– Homicidal and accidental poisoning is common.
7. Semicarpus anacardium
- Common Name– Marking nut, Bhilawan
- Active Principle– Bhilawanol, Semecarpol
- Poisonous Part– Seeds and the oily acrid juice.
- Effects– Dermal and gastrointestinal irritation
- Medicolegal Aspect– Juice is used as an abortifacient and can be used to cause artificial bruises. Homicidal and accidental poisoning is common.
Animal Poison
Animals are closely cohabiting organisms with human beings and the toxic substances possessed by them are called zootoxins. There are a number of animals belonging to various classes of the animal kingdom that are poisonous in nature. However, the commonly encountered poisonous animal species belong to arthropods and reptiles.
The most common poisonous animals causing toxicity to human beings are Cantharides, Scorpions, and Snakes. All these animals possess poisonous substances secreted by their special glands, that cause toxicity in the human body.
1. Cantharides
- Phylum– Arthropoda
- Scientific name– Cantharis vesicatoria
- Common name– Spanish fly, blister beetle
- Toxin– Cantharidin
- Effects– Dermal, gastrointestinal, nephrotoxic, and urinogenital irritation
- Medicolegal Aspect– It is used as an abortifacient and aphrodisiac. It is commonly encountered in accidental poisoning.
2. Scorpions
- Phylum– Arthropoda
- Order- Scorpiones
- Scientific name- Hottentotta tamulus
- Common name- Indian red scorpion
- Toxin- Toxalbuminous venom
- Effects- Neurotoxic and Haematotoxic irritations
- Medicolegal Aspect- Usually encountered in accidental poisoning
3. Snakes
- Phylum– Chordata
- Class– Reptilia
- Snakes belonging to the family Elapids, vipers, and sea snakes are included.
- Common name- Indian King cobra, kraits, vipers, sea snakes, etc.
- Toxin- Toxalbuminous venom
- Effects- Neurotoxic, vasculotoxic, and myotoxic irritations
- Medicolegal Aspect- Usually encountered in accidental poisoning and in some cases homicidal poisoning can be seen.
Conclusion
Organic irritant poisons are the toxins produced by plants and animals. Toxins produced by these organisms can be toxalbumin (phytotoxin), glycosides, resins, irritant juices, acrid oils, amino acids, and plant acids, which have deleterious effects on the human body.
There are a number of poisonous plant and animal species available in nature, describing which is beyond this article. therefore, a few most commonly encountered plants and animals have been discussed briefly here.
Organic poisons are considered the major cause of accidental poisoning. However, suicidal and homicidal poisoning is also common.
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