Calotoxin
Agent Name
Calotoxin
CAS Number
20304-49-8
Formula
C29-H40-O10
Major Category
Biological Agents
Synonyms
5-alpha-Card-20(22)-enolide, 3-beta-((6-deoxy-beta-D-hexopyranos-2-ulos-1-yl)oxy)2-alpha,14-dihydroxy-19-oxo-; Card-20(22)-enolide, 3-((6-deoxy-beta-D-hexopyranos-2-ulos-1-yl)oxy)-2,14-dihydroxy-19-oxo-,(2alpha,3beta,5alpha)-; [ChemIDplus]
Category
Plant Toxins
Sources/Uses
A toxin found in Calotropis procera (milkweed); Toxic to cattle and other animals that feed on milkweed; Sequestered by monarch butterflies and used in defense against predators; [HSDB]
Comments
Emergency treatment: "Plants- cardiac glycosides"; [HSDB] Intravenous LD50 (cat) = 112 ug/kg; [RTECS] In animals poisoned by milkweed, causes muscular weakness, respiratory paralysis, intestinal stasis, and coma; Pathological evidence that it damages the liver, heart, kidneys, lungs, brain, and intestines; [HSDB] Milkweed (Asclepias spp) contains cardiac glycosides; [Olson, p. 385] Milkweed (Asclepias spp) contains cardenolides that are cardiac toxins; [Goldfrank, p. 1538] See "Calotropin."
Biomedical References
Adverse Effects
Hepatotoxin
Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion
Diseases, Processes, and Activities Linked to This Agent
Other Information
No other related information on this agent was found.