Toxicology

The word toxicology is derived from Greek word ‘toxicos’ meaning poisonous and ‘logos’ meaning study. The branch of science that deals about chemistry, biology and medicine which concerns effect of chemicals in living organisms is referred as toxicology. It is more concerned about mechanisms, symptoms, detection and treatment of poison in an individual.  Dioscorides was a Greek physician classified plants based on the therapeutic and toxic effects and impacts. Ibn Wahshiya released a book on poisons somewhere in 9^th or 10^th century. Mathieu Orfila was considered as father of toxicology of modern days. His first treatment was in subject named ‘Traite des poisons’ and is also referred as Toxicologie generale. Jean Stas brought evidence of person killed by poison called nicotine in the year 1850. Paracelsus of 1493 – 1541 was also regarded as father of toxicology. His credits to the field of toxicology are tremendous. His word on poison is almost all things are poisonous and the thing without poison is only the dose made for removing poison.  His words are considered as the doses are responsible for poison. Toxicology concentrates more on poison and its induced effects in an exposed organism. The main component of chemical to be a poison is dose that is amount of exposure to the substance.

Some of the substances are toxic in nature in an indirect way. For instance, methanol and or wood alcohol is chemically converted in to formic acid and formaldehyde in the liver. The formic acid and formaldehyde are responsible for toxic effect of methanol and its exposure. Most of the substance shows their toxic effect in liver.  For instance, paracetamol or acetaminophen in the presence of chronic alcohol is toxic. The liver enzyme varies genetically from one individual to the other. At time liver enzymes may induce some other toxic compounds.

Questions:

• What is toxicology?
• Define toxicity of secondary metabolites.
• What is chemical toxicology?