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Bufotoxin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bufotoxinsare a family of toxicsteroidlactonesor substitutedtryptaminesof which some are toxic. They occur in theparotoid glands,skin, and poison of manytoads(Bufonidaefamily) and other amphibians, and in some plants and mushrooms.[1][2][3]The exact composition varies greatly with the specific source of the toxin.

Composition

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Chemical structure of one of the main components of bufotoxin, a conjugate of bufagin with suberylarginine. This component is itself sometimes called bufotoxin.

Bufotoxins can contain5-MeO-DMT,bufagins,bufalin,bufotalin,bufotenin,bufothionine,dehydrobufotenine,epinephrine,norepinephrine,andserotonin.Some authors have also used the termbufotoxinto describe the conjugate of abufaginwithsuberylarginine.[4]

The toxic substances found in toads can be divided by chemical structure in two groups:

  1. bufadienolides,which arecardiac glycosides(e.g.,bufotalin,bufogenin), are undesirable compounds that may be fatal if consumed.
  2. tryptamine-related substances (e.g.,bufotenin), are sought after forentheogenicand/orrecreationalpurposes by some individuals. However, the practice of using these substances derived from animals for spiritual experiences orresponsible drug usemay raiseethicalconcerns about the potential suffering inflicted on the animal.

Species

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See also:List of poisonous animals

Toads known to secrete bufotoxins.[5]

Toads frequently "milked"

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Despite being a frequent target for milking, these toads still carry cardio toxic bufotoxins which have been linked to deaths.

Other toads

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The effects of the bufotoxins in these toads are not well understood.

Extraction

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Extract from the skin of certain Asian toads, such asBufo bufo gargarizansandBufo melanostictus,is often found in certain Chinese folk remedies. ThePharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China(ChP) considers the two species valid sources of toad poison (Chinese:Thiềm tô;pinyin:Chánsū;Latin:bufonis venenum), and requires the dry product to contain at least 6% ofcinobufaginandresibufogenincombined by weight. The extract is obtained by squeezing theparotoid glandsof caught, washed toads for a white venom and drying; the final dried poison is usually brown, with a chunk or flake form.[6]

Human poisoning

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Poisoning from toad toxin is rare but can kill.[7]It can occur when someone drinks toad soup, eats toad meat or toad eggs, or swallows live toads on a bet.[7][8]It can also happen when someone deliberately takes commercial substances made with toad toxins.[8]These go under names including "Kyushin", "Chan Su" (marketed as a painkiller,[8]topical anesthetic or cardiac treatment[9]), "Rockhard" and "Love Stone" (marketed as aphrodisiacs).[8]

"Chan Su" (literally "toad venom" ) is often adulterated with standard painkillers, such asparacetamol,promethazineanddiclofenac.It may be ingested or injected.[10]

Symptoms of Intoxication

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Symptoms may vary depending on certain factors such as the size and age of the victim. Other than the first, more benign symptoms (such as a tingling or burning sensation in the eyes, mucus membranes, or in exposed wounds), the most frequently described symptoms in the medical literature are:

One epileptic episode caused by Bufotoxins was observed in a 5-year old child, minutes after they had placed a Bufo alvarius in their mouth. The child was successfully treated with diazepam and phenobarbital.[11]

In extreme cases following ingestion of mucus or skin of the toad, death generally occurs within 6 and 24 hours. Victims surviving past 24 hours generally will recover.

References

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  1. ^Siperstein MD, Murray AW, Titus E (March 1957). "Biosynthesis of cardiotonic sterols from cholesterol in the toad, Bufo marinus".Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics.67(1): 154–60.doi:10.1016/0003-9861(57)90254-0.PMID13412129.
  2. ^Lincoff, Gary; Mitchel, Duane H. (1977).Toxic and Hallucinogenic Mushroom Poisoning: A Handbook for Physicians and Mushroom Hunters.New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.ISBN978-0-442-24580-1.[page needed]
  3. ^Kißmer, B.; Wichtl, M. (1986). "Bufadienolide aus Samen von Helleborus odorus" [Bufadienolides from the Seeds of Helleborus odorus].Planta Medica(in German).52(2): 152–3.doi:10.1055/s-2007-969103.S2CID84240708.
  4. ^Chen KK, Kovaríková A (December 1967). "Pharmacology and toxicology of toad venom".Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences.56(12): 1535–41.doi:10.1002/jps.2600561202.PMID4871915.
  5. ^Quốc gia dược điển ủy viên hội (2015).Trung hoa nhân dân cộng hòa quốc dược điển[Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China] (in Chinese). Vol. 1 (10 ed.). Trung quốc y dược khoa kỹ xuất bản xã. p. 333.ISBN9787506773379.entries:Thiềm tô bufonis venenum
  6. ^abKuo, HY; Hsu, CW; Chen, JH; Wu, YL; Shen, YS (March 2007)."Life-threatening episode after ingestion of toad eggs: a case report with literature review".Emergency Medicine Journal.24(3): 215–6.doi:10.1136/emj.2006.044602.PMC2660035.PMID17351232.
  7. ^abcdCartwright, Megan (29 June 2015)."These Men Died Trying to Achieve Epic Erections".Slate Magazine.Retrieved22 April2021.
  8. ^Kostakis, Chris; Byard, Roger W. (2009-07-01)."Sudden death associated with intravenous injection of toad extract".Forensic Science International.188(1): e1–e5.doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.02.006.ISSN0379-0738.PMID19303230.
  9. ^Trakulsrichai, S; Chumvanichaya, K; Sriapha, C; Tongpoo, A; Wananukul, W (2020)."Toad Poisoning: Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes".Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management.16:1235–1241.doi:10.2147/TCRM.S272863.PMC7752649.PMID33363378.
  10. ^Hitt M, Ettinger DD. Toad toxicity. N Engl J Med; 1986; 314:1517
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