Toxicity of Natural Substances - GF353
Title: Toxicita přírodních látek
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: unlimited
4EU+: no
Virtual mobility / capacity: no
Key competences:  
State of the course: taught
Language: Czech
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 : GF340
In complex pre-requisite: GF1004
Examination dates   SS schedule   
Annotation -
The subject presents the real and potential toxicity of natural substances occurring in plants, fungi, cyanobacteria, algae and terrestrial and marine animals, primarily towards humans, but also for some species of domestic animals. In the mentioned biological systems, it defines toxic compounds, their biological (toxic) effect, the possibility of entry into the organism and their symptoms of intoxication. The subject deals with possible manifestations of toxicity in medicinal plants, toxic plants, but also 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 subject also introduces to toxicity of fungi, algae and marine animals, which are used as food, or in food supplements. In the case of intake of these medicinal plants, fungi, food algae and animals, the subject also explains possible undesirable interactions with other substances. The aim of the course is to provide knowledge about toxic substances of natural origin, because the Central European population is increasingly coming into contact with these organisms.
Last update: Chlebek Jakub, doc. PharmDr., Ph.D. (08.05.2025)
Course completion requirements -

Written exam – 25 questions (10 multiple choice, 15 quiz questions). 50% attendance at lectures.
The exam test consists of 15 quiz questions, each question has 4 possible answers and only one is always correct. The test also contains 10 multiple choice questions, which are answered in a few words. The test is evaluated as follows: 1 point for each correctly answered quiz question, 3 points for each correctly answered multiple choice question. The minimum number of points to pass the exam is 27 points (60% of points), the maximum number of points that can be obtained is 45. Exact test grade:
27-35 points: good
36-40 points: very good
41-45 points: excellent

Last update: Chlebek Jakub, doc. PharmDr., Ph.D. (08.05.2025)
Literature - Czech

Povinná:

  • Hrdina, Vratislav, Jahodář, Luděk, Hrdina, Radomír, Martinec, Zdeněk, Měrka, Vladimír. Přírodní toxiny a jedy. Praha: Galén : Karolinum, 2004, 302 s. ISBN .

Doporučená:

  • Plačková, Silvia Kresánek, Jaroslav, Cagáňová, Blažena. Intoxikácie hubami, rastlinami a živočíšnymi toxínmi. Bratislava: Herba, 2013, 176 s. ISBN 978-80-89631-10-0.

  • Novák, Jan. Jedovaté rostliny kolem nás. Praha: Grada, 2007, 176 s. ISBN 978-80-247-1549-0.

  • Valenta, Jiří. Jedovatí hadi : intoxikace, terapie. Praha: Galén, 2008, 401 s. ISBN 978-80-7262-473-7.

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

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

  • 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., Larsson, S.. Smrtící rostliny: přírodní historie jedovatých rostlin světa.. : Volvox Globator, 2019, 224 str. s. ISBN 978-80-7511-463-1.

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

Přednášky.

Last update: Chlebek Jakub, doc. PharmDr., Ph.D. (08.05.2025)
Syllabus -

General characteristics of toxic substances
Toxins, their occurrence in vegetable (plant), fungal and animal (higher animals) material, routes of entry of toxins and their manifestation in the organism, absorption, distribution, biotransformation, excretion (with examples), opportunity for intoxication when using medicinal drugs, food.
Toxicity of secondary plant metabolites I
Monoterpenes (toxic components of essential oils), sesquiterpenes, sesquiterpene lactones, diterpenes, triterpenes: occurrence, biological effects and symptoms of intoxication.
Toxicity of secondary plant metabolites II
Triterpene and steroidal saponins, steroids, cardenolides and bufadienolides: occurrence, biological effects and symptoms of intoxication.
Toxicity of secondary plant metabolites III
Glycosylated metabolites – cyanogenic glycosides, glucosinolates; acetogenins – aliphatic (unusual aliphatic acids including fatty acids, polyynes, aliphatic nitro compounds), cyclic (polyketides, phloroglucinol derivatives, compound acetogenins, e.g. cannabinoids): occurrence, biological effects and symptoms of intoxication.
Toxicity of secondary plant metabolites IV
Quinolizidine, pyridine, piperidine, tropane, isoquinoline alkaloids: occurrence, biological effects and symptoms of intoxication.
Toxicity of secondary plant metabolites V
Indole, quinoline, diterpene, steroid alkaloids, alkaloids of other structures, toxic proteins (hemagglutinins): occurrence, biological effects and symptoms of intoxication.
Toxicity of secondary plant metabolites VI
Phenolic compounds (cinnamates, simple phenols, phenylpropanes, quinones, tannins, anthranoids, other phenolic substances), aromatic nitro compounds (aristolochic acids): occurrence, biological effects and symptoms of intoxication.
Cyanobacterial and algal toxins
Purine derivatives, macrolides, cyclic compounds, other toxic substances): occurrence, biological effects and symptoms of intoxication.
Fungal toxins I
Toxins of micromycetes (microscopic fungi): occurrence, biological effects and symptoms of intoxication.
Fungal toxins II
Toxins of macromycetes (mushrooms): occurrence, biological effects and symptoms of intoxication.
Toxins of marine animals
Toxins in flagellates, fireflies and shellfish.
Toxins of terrestrial animals I
Spiders, scorpions, mites, insects.
Toxins of terrestrial animals II
Reptiles of the European and non-European regions.
Unexpected manifestations of toxic substances
Occurrence of toxic substances in some herbal drugs of the non-European region, interaction of toxic substances with food components or with each other, sensitivity of domestic animals to some toxins.

Last update: Chlebek Jakub, doc. PharmDr., Ph.D. (08.05.2025)
Learning outcomes -

The course Toxicity of Natural Substances builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in the courses: Chemistry of Natural Substances I., Chemistry of Natural Substances II. and Pharmacology of Natural and Biological Drugs (Master's degree in Phytochemistry). For students of the Pharmacy field, this course builds on the courses Pharmacognosy I, II (GF035, GF304), Pharmacology I, II (GF339, GF340) and Toxicology for Pharmacists (GF158).
A graduate of the course is familiar with knowledge of the potential toxicity of natural substances occurring in plants, cyanobacteria, algae and terrestrial and marine animals to the human organism, as well as to some species of domestic animals. In the mentioned biological systems, the student knows significant toxic compounds, their biological (toxic) effect, the possibility of entry into the organism and 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 perspective, the graduate of the subject is able to describe the potential toxicity of substances found in mushrooms, 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, mushrooms, food algae and animals.

Learning outcomes:

  • knows the possibilities of entry of nox from natural sources into the human/animal organism, their elimination and the picture of intoxication
  • is able to search for relevant information about natural toxins from the professional literature and assess the risk of possible intoxication of the human organism/domestic animals with these toxins
  • suggest 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
  • explains the manifestations of unexpected toxicity of medicinal plants, food supplements due to contamination by fungi, heavy metals, bacteria, pesticides, or the interaction of toxins with food components
  • is familiar with the potential toxicity of natural substances occurring in plants, cyanobacteria, algae and terrestrial and marine animals to the human organism, but also to some species of domestic animals
Last update: Chlebek Jakub, doc. PharmDr., Ph.D. (08.05.2025)