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**Ricin**. In the plant castor oil in its fruits contains the most dangerous in nature poison - ricin, it is 12,000 times stronger than the poison of the rattlesnake! Only 70 micrograms of ricin is enough to kill a person. Symptomatic lesions ricinum diverse. There are disorders of the liver and kidneys, bloody diarrhea, destruction of erythrocyte membranes, as well as lesions of the nervous system, manifested in neuro-convulsive effects. Ricin is characterized by the presence of a latent period (several hours) and a "wavy" development of intoxication with episodic. states of imaginary well-being of the affected.
Digitalis and digitoxin (glucosides of digitalis) are the strongest cardiovascular poisons, which, in addition, have a local irritant effect. Poisoning them manifests itself in the fall of the pulse, dizziness, dyspnea, cyanosis and in severe cases - in cardiac arrest. The minimum lethal dose of digitalis is a dose of 2.25 g.
Diafotoxin is a single-chain polypeptide isolated from larvae and pupae of leaf beetles of several species of the genus dyamphidia that live in South Africa. The strongest poison of animal origin. The toxin stimulates the release of potassium ions from the cells, the entry of sodium and calcium ions into it, as a result of which the cell dies, in particular, due to a violation of the intracellular electrolyte balance. In this case, the toxin does not affect the ion channels of the cell, but increases the permeability of the membrane for all small ions, probably acting as an ionophore. According to early studies, it has neurotoxic and cardiotoxic effects; in later works, neurotoxic properties were not detected. Especially expressed hemolytic effects, the toxin is able in a short period of time to reduce the hemoglobin content in the blood by 75% due to massive destruction of erythrocytes. As a result, massive hemoglobinuria occurs and the functioning of the kidneys is disrupted.
Bushmen even now use chopped larvae of diaphidia for cooking poison for arrows: a greased boom that can lubricate a five hundred-kilogram giraffe from the feet.
There is no specific antidote. Carry out detoxification and symptomatic therapy.
**Amanita**: Poisoning with fly agaric is much less common than poisoning with pale toadstool. This is due to the fact that it is very different from other fungi, and people are very well aware of its toxic properties. Amanita also contains a sufficiently strong poison called muscarine, which has the property of exciting the endings of the vagus nerve. Because of this, the victims noted increased activity of secretory glands - sweat, salivary, lacrimal, etc. Then there are spasms that cause vomiting and narrowing of the pupils. After that, the pulse becomes weak, breathing accelerated and difficult, confusion, dizziness, often delirium and hallucinations.
The toxicity of the fly agaric depends on many factors: conditions of growth, weather, etc. The lethal dose of muscarin is extremely small - only about 0.01 g.
Lines: Among the fungi that appear in early spring, the cause of poisoning can serve as lines, similar to edible morels. Their main difference can be seen on the section of the fungus: in the former, the cellular structure of the flesh is visible, while in the latter it is homogeneous. The pulp lines contain helvellic acid - a poison that causes hemolysis. In mild cases of poisoning, 1-8 hours after ingestion of the fungus, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting with bile, and general weakness appear in the digestive tract. In severe cases, jaundice, seizures, headache, delirium and loss of consciousness are associated with these symptoms, indicating a poor prognosis. Helvellic acid can be decontaminated by boiling the mushrooms in boiling water for 10 minutes. After that they become practically harmless.
Hydrocyanic acid.
Poisoning by stone kernels - peaches, cherries, apricots and bitter almonds - meets less often than poisoning with mushrooms. The nuclei contain glucoside amygdalin, digestive enzymes decompose into benzoic aldehyde, glucose and hydrocyanic acid. The latter also causes such poisonings. Often the disease state does not depend on the amount of grain eaten.
A lethal outcome can occur even from 40 pieces of apricot kernels, although the lethal dose is the amount of peeled grains that fit in half a faceted glass.
In severe cases, the clinical picture of stone dribbling, in addition to vomiting, nausea and diarrhea, includes the rapid development of cyanosis of the mucous membranes and facial skin, dyspnea, and tonic and clonic convulsions. Death occurs as a result of paralysis of the respiratory center. Lethal outcome can occur not only after eating fresh kernels of stone fruit, but also with the use of cooked and preserved for a long time compotes and liqueurs.