Hypoglycine A
Agent Name
Hypoglycine A
CAS Number
156-56-9
Formula
C7-H11-N-O2
Major Category
Biological Agents
Synonyms
2-Amino-4,5-methylenehex-5-enoic acid; 2-Methylenecyclopropanealanine; 2-Methylenecyclopropanylalanine; Cyclopropanealanine, 2-methylene, L-; Cyclopropanealanine, 2-methylene-; Cyclopropanepropanoic acid, alpha-amino-2-methylene-; Cyclopropanepropionic acid, alpha-amino-2-methylene-, L-(+)-; Hypoglycin; Hypoglycin A; Hypoglycine; L-alpha-Amino-beta-methylenecyclopropanepropionic acid; alpha-Amino-2-methylenecyclopropanepropanoic acid; alpha-Amino-2-methylenecyclopropanepropionic acid; alpha-Amino-beta-(2-methylenecyclopropyl)propionic acid; alpha-Aminomethylenecyclopropanepropionic acid; beta-(Methylenecyclopropyl)alanine; beta-(Methylenecyclopropyl)alanine (VAN); [ChemIDplus]
Category
Plant Toxins
Description
Yellow solid; [Merck Index]
Sources/Uses
Hypoglycemia-inducing component of the akee plant (Blighia sapida); [Merck Index] A water-soluble liver toxin found in the seeds, pods, and unripe fruit of the ackee plant; Ackee is the national fruit of Jamaica, where it is associated with Jamaican vomiting sickness or Toxic Hypoglycemic Syndrome (THS); [HSDB]
Comments
Most poisonings occurred before 1955 in Jamaica or the West Indies; There were fatal cases in preschool children. Severe hypoglycemia below 29 mg/dl is followed by depletion of liver glycogen. Hepatitis may develop. [HSDB] Hypoglycin A & B are hypoglycemic agents from the unripe fruit of the akee plant; Hypoglycemia and vomiting precede the CNS symptoms of seizures and coma; [Ford, p. 919]
Biomedical References
Adverse Effects
Neurotoxin
Other CNS neurotoxin
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.