A Small Dose of Toxin

(Animal and Plant Toxins)

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References / Additional Information

ANIMAL and PLANT TOXIN DOSSIER
Name: Animal Venoms and Poisons
Use: medicinal uses
Source: spiders, insects, snakes, lizards, fish, and frogs
Recommended daily intake: none (not essential)
Absorption: varies but can be very fast, e.g. bites
Sensitive individuals: children (small size), previously sensitized
Toxicity/symptoms: varies
Regulatory facts: none
General facts: long history of use and desire to avoid
Environmental: global distribution, concern about expanding distribution to new areas
Recommendations: avoid

Name: Plant
Use: medicinal uses
Source: wide variety of plants
Recommended daily intake: none (not essential)
Absorption: intestine, skin
Sensitive individuals: children (small size), previously sensitized
Toxicity/symptoms: varies
Regulatory facts: none
General facts: long history of use and desire to avoid
Environmental: global distribution, concern about expanding distribution to new areas
Recommendations: generally avoid

REFERENCES / ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

European, Asian, and International Agencies

• Society For The Study Of Amphibians And Reptiles (SSAR). Online. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  SSAR, a not-for-profit organization established to advance research, conservation, and education concerning amphibians and reptiles.
  

North American Agencies

• Health Canada - Natural Health Products Directorate. Online. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  Natural Health Products Directorate works to "ensure that all Canadians have ready access to natural Health products that are safe, effective, and of high quality, while respecting freedom of choice and philosophical and cultural diversity".
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Online. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  Site has information on seafood health and safety issues.
• Northwest Fisheries Science Center's (NWFSC) Marine Biotoxin Program. Online. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  NWFSC Marine Biotoxin Program, part of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, "provides information and services to the public, state agencies, tribes, university, and others in the Eastern Pacific region".
• U.S. Food & Drug Administration Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition Foodborne Pathogenic Microorganisms and Natural Toxins Handbook - The "Bad Bug Book". Online. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  The "Bad Bug Book" contains extensive information on natural toxins either on the web or book can be downloaded.
  

Non-Government Organizations

• Natural Toxins Research Center (NTRC) - Texas A&M University System. Online. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  NTRC provides global research, training, and resources that will lead to the discovery of medically important toxins found in snake venoms.
• Cornell University Poisonous Plants Informational Database. Online. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  This is "includes plant images, pictures of affected animals and presentations concerning the botany, chemistry, toxicology, diagnosis and prevention of poisoning of animals by plants and other natural flora (fungi, etc.)".
• Alternative Medicine Foundation, Inc, HerbMed®. Online. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  "HerbMed® - an interactive, electronic herbal database - provides hyperlinked access to the scientific data underlying the use of herbs for health. It is an evidence-based information resource for professionals, researchers, and general public."
• American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC). Online. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  The AAPCC is a United States based organization of poison centers and interested individuals that coordinates information on common poisons.
• The Vaults of Erowid. Online. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  The Vaults of Erowid web site contains information on wide variety of natural plants and chemicals.

References

• Handbook of Clinical Toxicology of Animal Venoms and Poisons
  by J. Meier (Editor), Julian White (Editor), Boca Raton, CRC Press, 752 pages, 1995.
  
• MMWR (1997)., Amanita phalloides Mushroom Poisoning – Northern California, June 6, 1997, Vol 46(22), p 489-491. Online. (accessed: 5 July 2003).
  
• MMWR (2002)., Neurologic Illness Associated with Eating Florida Pufferfish, 2002., April 19, 2002, Vol 51(15), p 321-323. Online. (accessed: 5 July 2003).
  
• MMWR (1995),. Epidemiologic Notes and Reports Jimson Weed Poisoning -- Texas, New York, and California, 1994 January 27, 1995, Vol 44(3), p 41-44. Online. (accessed: 5 July 2003).