Bufotoxins are a family of toxic steroid lactones or substituted tryptamines of which some are toxic. They occur in the , skin, and poison of many (True toad family) and other amphibians, and in some plants and mushrooms.
Composition
Bufotoxins can contain 5-MeO-DMT,
,
bufalin,
bufotalin,
bufotenin,
bufothionine, dehydrobufotenine,
epinephrine,
norepinephrine, and
serotonin. Some authors have also used the term
bufotoxin to describe the conjugate of a bufagin with
suberylarginine.
The toxic substances found in toads can be divided by chemical structure in two groups:
-
, which are cardiac glycosides (e.g., bufotalin, bufogenin), are compounds that may be fatal if consumed.
-
tryptamine-related substances (e.g., bufotenin), are sought after for and/or recreational purposes by some individuals. However, the practice of using these substances derived from animals for spiritual experiences or responsible drug use may raise ethics concerns about the potential suffering inflicted on the animal.
Species
Toads known to secrete bufotoxins.
Toads frequently "milked"
Despite being a frequent target for milking, these toads still carry cardiotoxic bufotoxins which have been linked to deaths.
-
5-HO-DMT (bufotenin)
-
Incilius alvarius (formerly Bufo alvarius)
-
Rhinella arenarum
-
Rhinella diptycha
-
Nannophryne variegata
-
Melanophryniscus moreirae
-
Agile frog
-
5-MeO-DMT
-
Incilius alvarius (formerly Bufo alvarius)
Other toads
The effects of the bufotoxins in these toads are not well understood.
Extraction
Extract from the skin of certain Asian toads, such as
Bufo bufo gargarizans and
Bufo melanostictus, is often found in certain Chinese folk remedies. The Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (ChP) considers the two species valid sources of toad poison (p=Chánsū; ), and requires the dry product to contain at least 6% of
cinobufagin and
resibufogenin combined by weight. The extract is obtained by squeezing the
of caught, washed toads for a white venom and drying; the final dried poison is usually brown, with a chunk or flake form.
[ entries: 蟾酥 bufonis venenum]
Human poisoning
Poisoning from toad toxin is rare but can kill. It can occur when someone drinks toad soup, eats toad meat or toad eggs, or swallows live toads. It can also happen when someone deliberately takes commercial substances made with toad toxins. These go under names including "Kyushin", "Chan Su" (marketed as a painkiller, topical anesthetic, or cardiac treatment), "Rockhard", and "Love Stone" (marketed as aphrodisiacs).
"Chan Su" (literally "toad venom") is often adulterated with standard painkillers, such as paracetamol, promethazine, and diclofenac. It may be ingested or injected.
Symptoms of intoxication
Symptoms may vary depending on certain factors such as the size and age of the victim. Other than the first, more benign symptoms (such as a tingling or burning sensation in the eyes, mucous membranes, or in exposed wounds), the most frequently described symptoms in the medical literature are:
One epileptic episode caused by bufotoxins was observed in a five-year-old child, minutes after they had placed a Bufo alvarius in their mouth. The child was successfully treated with diazepam and phenobarbital.[Hitt M, Ettinger DD (5 June 1986). "Toad toxicity" . N Engl J Med; 314(23). 1517. .]
In extreme cases following ingestion of mucus or skin of the toad, death generally occurs within 6 and 24 hours. Victims surviving past 24 hours generally will recover.
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