Pages 9, 10, And 11- Poisonous Fungi And Plants Flashcards
Name the poisonous fungis
Fungal mold (aspergillus sp.)
Fungal ergot (claviceps pupurea)
Death cap (Amanita phalloids )
Fungal molds (aspergillus sp.) are poisonous esp 2 types. Which are they
Aspergillus. Flavus
A.parasiticus
They produce aflatoxins
Why are aspergillus serious health hazards ?
Since agriculture products may be effected both before and following harvest.
These toxins remain in food long after the fungus dies and therefore products contaminated by fungal mold is not visibly moldy .
Most common crops effected by fungal molds?
Corn
Peanuts
Cottonseed
Rice
Nuts
Cereal grains
Fruits
Fungal mold from animal feeds are passed on to….
Eggs
Milk
Meat
And people who consume this
Aflatoxins
Potent Carcinogens, interact directly with DNA and effect the trancripstion of genetic matrperial
Aflatoxins are potent carcinogens and can cause ………… ……….. and ………… ……. ………….
Liver tumor
Liver cell degeneration
…………….. are particularly suspected to aflatoxin poisoning
Children
Name all the poisonous plants
Monkshood
Poison hemlock
Water hemlock
Caster bean
Rosary pea
Define fungal ergot
Fungal ergot is a parasite of some cereal grains (particularly rye ) and forage grasses specially those abundant in wet summers
What happens once the fungus attacks the cereal grains?
Once the fungal attacks the mature cereal grains it produces a sclerotia
Define a sclerotia
Purplish-black compact and hardened fungal mycelium structure
How can fungal ergot reach human
Humans can accidentally ingest fungal ergot in form of contaminated milled flour
Does baking destroy fungal ergot ?
No
Daily ingestion of small amounts of fungal ergot contaminated bread can cause
Chronic poisoning
What are the causes of fungal ergot / symptoms of ergotism
Chronic poisoning
Incalculable suffering
Death
Where was accidental poisoning by fungal ergot common ?
Common in Europa during middle ages specially where rye was found
Ergotism was known as ……………… during middle ages in Europe
St Anthonys fire
State the records of outbreaks of fungal ergots
857 in Rhine Valley of Germany
994 in France killed 40k people
1039 in France
What was the name of the first hospital establisher for treatment of ergotism? Why was it built and who was it dedicated to?
The serious outbreak in 1039
Gaston de la vAlloire established the school
Dedicated to St Anthony
How many hospitals were built for ergotism?
370 such hospitals (ass with the church) were build in next few 100yrs.
How did ergotism victims come to believe in healing powers of the church?
They were fed bread eaten by the clergy
This bread was lighter and make from wheat that isn’t infested with fungal ergot or uncontaminated rye.
Therefore their symptoms soon disappeared
Why are the symptoms pf ergot highly variable?
Symptoms depends on specific biochemical genetic makeup of contaminating ergot strain.
The type pf ergotism
The type of active alkaloids
What are the two types of horrific ergotism?
Gangrenous ergotism
Convulsive ergotism
What are the initial symtoms of gangerous ergotism?
1st stage tingling in the extremity, vomiting, diarrhea
2nd stage extrimities become gangerous , hallucinations
3rd stage entire limbs are effected, severe pain as blood flows to the extremities declines
4rth stage - limbs separate from the body
What are the symptoms of convulsive ergotism?
1,2,stages are same
3rd - painful uncontrollable spasms of limb muscles
4rth - death
What are the 2 main groups of active alkaloids in ergot?
1- Ergonovine
1- Ergotamine
2- lysergic acid derivatives
Whats the symptoms pf the 1st group of alkaloids
Contraction of smooth muscles esp digestive tract
Causes gangrenous and its symtoms
What the symptoms of the 2nd group?
Visual and auditory hallucination
Explain 2 situations of the past that woudl have been caused by fungal ergot
Ergot toxications and religious vissions
Ergot toxication and witchcraft/demonic possession
Ergot and folk medicine