Toxicity of Natural Substances - GAF353
Title: Toxicity of Natural Substances
Guaranteed by: Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany (16-16230)
Faculty: Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové
Actual: from 2024
Semester: summer
Points: 0
E-Credits: 3
Examination process: summer s.:written
Hours per week, examination: summer s.:42/0, Ex [HS]
Capacity: unlimited / unknown (unknown)
Min. number of students: 5
4EU+: no
Virtual mobility / capacity: no
Key competences:  
State of the course: taught
Language: English
Teaching methods: full-time
Level:  
Note: deregister from the exam date if a requisite was not fulfilled
Guarantor: doc. PharmDr. Jakub Chlebek, Ph.D.
Co-requisite : GAF340
In complex pre-requisite: GAF1004
Examination dates   SS schedule   
Annotation -
The course is designed for students of the Master's program of Pharmacy. It identifies both the real and potential toxicity of natural substances occurring in plants, fungi, cyanobacteria, algae and terrestrial and marine animals, especially for humans, but also for some species of domestic animals. In these biological systems it defines toxic compounds, their biological (toxic) effect, the possibility of entering the organism and the image of intoxication. It deals with possible toxic effects both for medicinal plants and for plants that are generally considered to be toxic, as well as for plants found to be toxic compounds based on recent studies. From this point of view, it also describes the toxicity of mushrooms, algae and animals. It also discusses possible undesirable interactions with other substances in the case of ingestion of medicinal plants, fungi, food algae and animals. Learning outcomes of the course unit The aim of the subject is to provide knowledge about toxic substances originating not only from vegetative material, but also from terrestrial and marine animals, because these organisms are coming closer to the Central European population.
Last update: Chlebek Jakub, doc. PharmDr., Ph.D. (14.02.2025)
Course completion requirements -

Exam test - 25 questions, 50% attendance in lectures.

The exam is written and consists of: 10 questions with short answers and 15 quiz questions (only one correct answer). The evaluation ofthe exam testis performed asfollows:for each correct answerto the quiz question students get 1 point, each correct answer in short answer questions 3 points. To pass the exam, a minimum number of point is 27 (60%), a maximum number of points is 45. The exact exam scoring will be evaluated according to obtained points:

27-35 points: good

36-40 points: very well

41-45 points: excellent

Last update: Chlebek Jakub, doc. PharmDr., Ph.D. (14.02.2025)
Literature -

Recommended:

  • Foster Steven, Caras Roger. Venomous Animals and Poisonous Plants. : Houghton Mifflin, , s. ISBN 978-0-395_93508-5.

  • Turner, Nancy J., Aderkas, P. von. The North American guide to common poisonous plants and mushrooms. Portland: Timber Press, 2009, 375 s. ISBN 978-0-88192-929-4.

  • Dauncey, Elizabeth A.. Poisonous plants : a guide for parents & childcare providers. Richmond: Kew Publishing, 2010, 180 s. ISBN 978-1-84246-406-9.

  • Bruneton, Jean. Toxic Plants : dangerous to humans and animals. Hampshire: Intercept Publ., 1999, 545 s. ISBN 1-898298-62-9.

Last update: prepocet_literatura.php (19.09.2024)
Teaching methods -

Lectures.

Last update: Chlebek Jakub, doc. PharmDr., Ph.D. (18.02.2024)
Syllabus -
General characteristics of toxic substances
Toxins, their occurrence in vegetative (plant), fungi and animal (higher animal) material, toxin entry pathways and their manifestations in the body, absorption, distribution, biotransformation, excretion (by example) food.

Toxicity of secondary metabolites of plants I
Monoterpenes (sesquiterpene, sesquiterpene lactone, diterpene, triterpene: occurrence, biological effects and toxicity development).

Toxicity of secondary metabolites of plants II
Triterpenic and steroid saponins, steroids, cardenolids and bufadienolides.

Toxicity of secondary metabolites of plants III
Glycosylated metabolites - cyanogenic glycosides, glucosinolates; acetogenins - aliphatic (unusual aliphatic acids including fatty acids, polyols, aliphatic nitroso compounds), cyclic (polyketides, floroglucin derivatives, compound acetogenins, eg cannabinoids).

Toxicity of secondary metabolites of plants IV
Quinolizidine, pyridine, piperidine, tropane, isoquinoline alkaloids.

Toxicity of secondary metabolites of plants
Indole alkaloids, quinoline, diterpene, steroid, alkaloids of other structures, toxic proteins (haemagglutinins).

Toxicity of secondary metabolites of plants VI
Phenol compounds (cinnamates, simple phenols, phenylpropanes, quinones, tannins, anthranoids, other phenolic compounds), aromatic nitro compounds (aristolochic acids).

Toxins of cyanobacteria and algae
Purine Derivatives, Macrolides, Cyclic Compounds, Other Toxic Substances).

Fungal Toxins I
Secondary metabolites of micromycetes (microscopic fungi).

Fungal Toxins II
Secondary metabolites of (hat fungus).

Toxins of marine animals
Toxic substances contained in flagelles, aubergines and molluscs.

Terrestrial animal toxins I
Ghosts (spiders, scorpions, mites, insects).

Terrestrial animal toxins II
Reptiles of the European and non-European regions.

Unexpected manifestations of toxic substances
Occurrence of toxic substances in some non-European vegetative drugs, interaction of toxic substances with food components or with each other, sensitivity of domestic animals to certain toxins.
Last update: Chlebek Jakub, doc. PharmDr., Ph.D. (14.02.2025)
Learning outcomes

The subject Toxicity of Natural Substances uses knowledge and skills acquired in the subjects: Chemistry of Natural Substances I., Chemistry of Natural Substances II. and Pharmacology of Natural and Biological Drugs (Master's degree  Phytochemistry). For students of the programme Pharmacy, this subject builds on the subjects Pharmacognosy I, II (GF035, GF304), Pharmacology I, II (GF339, GF340) and Toxicology for Pharmacists (GF158).

The student of the course is familiar with the potential toxicity of natural substances occurring in plants, cyanobacteria, algae and terrestrial and marine animals towards humans, as well as to some species of domestic animals. In the mentioned biological systems, the student knows important toxic compounds, their biological (toxic) effect, the possibility of entry into the organism and their symptoms of intoxication. The student is familiar with the manifestations of toxicity in medicinal plants, both in plants that are generally considered poisonous, but also in plants in which toxic compounds have been found based on recent studies and may pose a certain danger due to incomplete information. From this point of view, the student of this course is able to describe the potential toxicity of substances occurring in fungi, algae and marine animals used in food (dietary supplements) and also possible possible undesirable interactions with other substances in the case of intake of these medicinal plants, fungi, food algae and animals.

Learning outcomes:

Student:

  • knows possibilities of entry of natural toxins into the human/animal organism, their elimination and symptoms of intoxication;
  • is able to find relevant information about natural toxins from literature and assess the risk of possible intoxication of the human organism/domestic animals with these toxins;
  •  proposes an appropriate procedure for providing first aid in the event of exposure of the human organism/domestic animal to natural toxins by oral/contact application;
  • is able to describe/explain symptoms of manifestation caused of unexpected toxicity caused by  medicinal plants, food supplements due to contamination by fungi, heavy metals, bacteria, pesticides, or with interaction of toxins from foods;
  • is familiar with the potential toxicity of natural substances found in plants, cyanobacteria, algae, and terrestrial and marine animals to the human organism, as well as to some species of domestic animals.
Last update: Chlebek Jakub, doc. PharmDr., Ph.D. (31.03.2025)