The Assassin's Favorite Plant
Real Science・12 minutes read
Georgi Markov was poisoned with a deadly toxin from an umbrella in 1978, as examples like the castor bean plant and deadly nightshade show the toxic properties of certain plants, often used historically by spies and assassins. While these plants have medicinal benefits, recognizing and avoiding toxic plants is crucial to prevent accidental poisoning, as Brilliant offers interactive lessons in math and computer science, providing a low-pressure learning environment to enhance skills.
Insights
- Ricin, derived from the castor bean plant, is one of the most lethal substances known, with a fatal dose ranging from 3 to 6 seeds for adults, highlighting the extreme toxicity of certain plants and the potential for malicious use in poisonings.
- Deadly plants like the castor bean plant and deadly nightshade, while having historical medicinal uses, contain deadly compounds like ricin and atropine, emphasizing the dual nature of these plants as both beneficial and hazardous, underscoring the importance of awareness to prevent accidental poisonings.
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Recent questions
What are some examples of deadly plants?
Manchineel tree, pong-pong tree, tobacco, castor bean, deadly nightshade.
What is ricin and its effects?
Toxic substance from castor bean, lethal in small doses.
How is atropine used in poisonings?
Derived from deadly nightshade, used historically in poisonings.
What are the medicinal uses of castor bean and deadly nightshade?
Castor oil for lubrication, biodiesel potential; atropine as nerve gas antidote.
What does Brilliant dot org offer?
Interactive lessons in math, computer science, AI, data science.
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Summary
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"Deadly Plants: Toxicity and Medicinal Uses"
- In September 1978, Georgi Markov, a Bulgarian writer and dissident living in London, was fatally poisoned with a deadly toxin administered through an umbrella jab.
- The manchineel tree in North and South America, the pong-pong tree in Southeast Asia, and tobacco are all examples of deadly plants with toxic properties.
- The castor bean plant and deadly nightshade are highly toxic plants used historically by spies and assassins, containing deadly compounds like ricin and atropine.
- Ricin, derived from the castor bean plant, is one of the most toxic substances known, with a lethal dose of 3 to 6 seeds for an adult.
- Ricin's effects on the body depend on the method of administration, with inhalation and injection being more dangerous than ingestion.
- Deadly nightshade, also known as Atropa belladonna, contains toxic alkaloids like atropine and scopolamine, causing various severe symptoms upon ingestion.
- Atropine, derived from deadly nightshade, has been historically used in poisonings and has even been involved in criminal activities like robberies and sexual assaults.
- Both the castor bean plant and deadly nightshade have medicinal uses, with castor oil being valuable for its lubricating properties and biodiesel potential.
- Atropine, derived from deadly nightshade, is used as an antidote to nerve gas poisoning by blocking acetylcholine receptors.
- While these plants have beneficial applications, they can still be dangerous if consumed unknowingly, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and avoiding toxic plants to prevent accidental poisoning.
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Interactive math and computer science lessons online.
- Brilliant dot org offers interactive lessons in math and computer science, including foundational and advanced topics like AI, data science, and neural networks, as well as practical courses such as Geometry Fundamentals, providing in-depth explanations and a low-pressure learning environment to improve skills.
