In: Chemistry
What is the difference between a toxic principle of a toxin and the mode of action of a toxin? e.g. pyrrolizidine alkaloids
Toxic principle of a toxin is the way in which a toxin interacts and produces medical effect. However the mode of action of a toxin describes the anatomical and physiological changes at cellular level due to the exposure of the living organism to the substance.
Mode of action of pyrrolizidine alkaloids are;
Megalocytosis of liver cells( upto 20 fold increase)
Enlargement of liver nuclei with increase in the size of chromatin.
Irregular mitosis due to blocking of DNA.
Disturbances in liver cell metabolism etc.
Toxic principle of pyrrolizidine alkaloids is:
The toxic effects of pyrrolizidine alkaloids are due to the toxic metabolites like pyrrolic dehydro alkaloids formd after the metabolism of the alkaloid and not due to the alkaloid itself. After the formation of toxic metabolites, they are circulated to various parts of body to cause toxic effect.
Due to the antimitotic action of pyrrolic dehydro alkaloids the size of liver cell increases leading to Megalocytosis etc.