Conium

Abstract: Introduction. A wide range of plants contain nicotinic and nicotinic-like alkaloids. Of this diverse group, those that have been reported to cause human poisoning appear to have similar mechanisms of toxicity and presenting patients therefore have comparable toxidromes. This review describes the taxonomy and principal alkaloids of plants that contain nicotinic and nicotinic-like alkaloids, with particular focus on those that are toxic to humans. The toxicokinetics and mechanisms of toxicity of these alkaloids are reviewed and the clinical features and management of poisoning due to these plants are described. Methods. This review was compiled by systematically searching OVID MEDLINE and ISI Web of Science. This identified 9,456 papers, excluding duplicates, all of which were screened. Reviewed plants and their principal alkaloids. Plants containing nicotine and nicotine-like alkaloids that have been reported to be poisonous to humans include Conium maculatum, Nicotiana glauca and Nicotiana tabacum, Laburn...

Abstract: The aim of the study is to evaluate the use of undervalued Conium maculatum plant fibersas a new potential for the reinforcement of composite materials. In this research, new natural cellulosic fibers were extracted from Conium maculatum plant using conventional water retting method. Mechanical strength, crystallography, thermal stability and chemical structure of Conium maculatumfibers were investigated by single fiber tensile testing, X-Ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), respectively. Additionally, surface topography and surface chemistry were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. SEM images revealed that the fiber has a porous structure which is very critical for the transportation industry. XPS results indicated that the fiber surface is hydrophobic which is very critical for the composites prepared with hydrophobic matrices like polyolefin materials. Chemical composition of the fibers was also determined. The main components of Conium maculatumfibers such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin were reported to be 49.5, 32.2 and 8.6%, respectively. The crystallinity index was stated as 46.4%. The fibers are thermally stable up to 260 °C. Tensile strength of Conium maculatum fibers were determined as 327.89 ± 67.41 MPa. This research paper suggests a novel sustainable ecological material for reinforcement in polymeric composites.

Abstract: The hemlocks, Conium maculatum (poison-hemlock) and Cicuta spp. (waterhemlock), are poisonous plants that cause sizeable losss to the livestock industry. Clinical signs of poisonhemlock toxicosis are similar in all species of livestock and include muscular weakness, incordination, trembling, initial central nervous system stimulation, depression and death from respiratory paralysis. Poison-hemlock also causes skeletal defects in the offspring of cattle, pigs and sheep and cleft palate in pigs when ingested during specific periods of gestation. The primary toxicants in poison-hemlock are coniine and gamma-coniceine. Coniine predominates in mature plants and seed, whereas gamma-coniceine predominates in early growth of the plant. Waterhemlock is the most violently toxic poisonous plant known. The toxicant is cicutoxin, which acts on the central nervous system, causing violent convulsions and death. Clinical signs of poisoning appear within 15 min after ingestion of a lethal dose and include excessive salivation, nervousness, tremors, muscular weakness and convulsive seizures interspersed by intermittent periods of relaxation and a final paralytic seizure resulting in anoxia and death. Elevated activities of lactic dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase in blood are observed, indicative of muscular damage. Toxicoses from poisonhemlock and waterhemlock generally occur in early spring when both plants emerge before other, more palatable plants begin to grow. All parts of the poison-hemlock plant are toxic. The root or tubers of waterhemlock are toxic; however, experimental evidence concerning the toxicity of other plant parts is inconclusive.

Abstract: Many compounds synthesized by plants are known to be teratogenic in laboratory animals, but only a few have been shown by feeding trials to produce terata in livestock. Studies of plant teratogens affecting livestock have not moved forward in a systematic nor rapid way because of the logistical problems connected with such experiments in large animals. Information that has accumulated can be conveniently separated into three categories: (1) known teratogens in known teratogenic plants, (2) known teratogenic plants with unidentified teratogens, and (3) suspected teratogenic plants. Included in the first group are the teratogens from Lupinus, Veratrum, Conium and Leucaena genera; in the second group are included the Astragalus , Nicotiana and Trachymene genera; and in the third group are included Datura, Prunus , Sorghum and Senecio genera. Total available information in each case varies, but in a few instances considerable fundamental as well as practical information is now known. Research has provided enough information in a few instances to enable elimination of the practical problem or significant reduction in incidence.