Toxicity of plant species

ABSTRACT

Plants produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites, which are frequently related to a plant’s protective mechanism against predators and pathogens. Toxic species are those capable of producing compounds that can cause metabolic changes harmful to humans and animals. The toxicity of plant species can be associated with aspects related to the individual, the plant, the manner of exposure, and to environmental issues. Acute or chronic intoxication caused by plants is difficult to diagnose and the association between the symptoms and the consumption of and/or contact with plants is hard to establish. In the public health sector, intoxications caused by plants have a wide impact. In Brazil, 1,026 cases were registered in 2012, most of which occurred with children between the ages of 0 to 4 years, according to data reported by SINITOX. The purpose of this study was to perform a bibliographic survey of Brazilian or acclimatized exotic plant species, which have been reported as toxic even though they are used for ornamental or medicinal purposes.

Keywords
toxic plant; biological activities; medicinal plants; ornamental plants