Skip to main content

Table 1 Examples of natural phyto- and phycotoxins, properties and toxicity

From: Natural toxins: environmental contaminants calling for attention

Toxin

Toxin class

Organism (example)

Max tissue conc.a mg/g DW

Log Kowb L/L

Mode of toxicity

LD50c mg/kg

Amanitin

Cyclo-peptide

Amanita phylloides

3

< 0

Hepatotoxin

0.3

Ricin

Protein (lectin)

Ricinus communis

32

–

Cytotoxin

0.02

Senecionine

Alkaloid

Jacobaea vulgaris

7

1.90

Hepatotoxic, potential carcinogen

50

Coniin

Alkaloid

Conium maculatum

4

2.6est

Neurotoxin

8

Solanine

Glycoalkaloid

Solanum tuberosum

1

2.0est

Cell membrane disruption

30

Formononetin

Isoflavone

Trifolium pratense

15

2.8est

Estrogenic activity

–

Linamarin

Cyanogenic glycoside

Manihot esculenta

30

− 1.4est

Cyanide poisoning

1 (HCN)

Ptaquiloside

Terpenoide glycoside

Pteridium aquilinum

15

− 0.6

Carcinogen

–

Microcystin LR

Cyclo-peptide

Microcystis aeruginosa

13

− 1.2 (pH 7)

Hepatotoxin

0.06

Saxitoxin

Alkaloid

Dolichospermum circinale

4.5

− 2.4est

Neurotoxin

0.01

  1. aMax tissue concentration in the producing species: amanitin [73], ricin [74], senecionine [6], coniin [75], solanin [76], formononetin [77], linamarin [78], ptaquiloside [79], microcystin LR [80], and saxitoxin equivalent [81]
  2. bEstimated by EpiWin (est) or literature data; senecionine [9], ptaquiloside [82], and microcystin LR [83]
  3. cAcute toxicity, intraperitoneal (mice); from inchem.org if not otherwise stated or literature; ricin [84], coniin [85], not acute toxic; formononetin EC50 in μM range [86], ptaquiloside estimated threshold conc. for 1:106 cancer incidence of arund 20 ng/L [82], saxitoxin [87], microcystin LR [88]; other microcystins [89]