Plant Toxins

Castor oil plant, Ricinus communis, is a plant species of the Euphorbiaceae (the evolution of this plant family is relatively unexplored) the sole member of the genus Ricinus and of the subtribe Ricininae. Its seed is the castor bean which, despite its name, is not a true bean.

Castor seed is the source of castor oil, which has a wide variety of uses. The seeds contain between 40% and 60% oil that is rich in triglycerides, mainly ricinolein. The seed coat contains Ricin, a poison, which is also present in lower concentrations throughout the plant.

Strychnine tree (Strychnos nux vomica L.) also known as Nux vomica is source of the highly poisonous alkaloids strychnine and brucine. These Chemicals List are derived from the seeds approximately 1.5% strychnine and the dried blossoms contain lesser amounts of strychnine, while the bark contains brucine.

Opium is a narcotic [analgesic] drug derived from the opium poppy. Opium derivitives, such as Morphine, were used for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years abut relatively recently, other opiate derivitives, such as Heroin, have been widely used as a [narcotic]. It has been used for centuries as a pain-releiver and, because of those properties; some opiates have developed large followings of addicts.