| Adenia | |
|---|---|
| Adenia pechuelii | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Passifloraceae |
| Genus: | Adenia Forssk. |
| Species | |
|
See text. |
|
| Synonyms | |
Adenia is a genus in the passionflower family Passifloraceae. It is named after Aden, a city in Yemen.[1]
The genus includes a number of tropical and subtropical xerophytes; many of which form substantially thickened bases or lianas. It is also a Caudiciform. Many species are characterised by the extreme toxicity of the sap. In addition to cyanogenic compounds, these contain lectins which destroy ribosomes, hence prevent protein synthesis. This is the same mode of action as ricin, and the toxicities are comparable. A. volkensii was shown to be intensely toxic by Barbieri (1984). Pelosi et al. (2005) compared ten species, and found 3 (A. stenodactyla, A. goezii and A. lanceolata) which were inhibitory at <0.1 ng/ml and lethal to mice at <2 ug/kg, making them among the most potent plant toxins known.
Luigi Barbieri, Anna Ida Falasca and Fiorenzo Stirpe (1984) Volkensin, the toxin of Adenia volkensii (kilyambiti plant) • FEBS Letters, Volume 171, Issue 2, 11 June 1984, Pages 277-279
Emanuele Pelosi, Chiara Lubelli, Letizia Polito, Luigi Barbieri, Andrea Bolognesi and Fiorenzo Stirpe (2005). Ribosome-inactivating proteins and other lectins from Adenia (Passifloraceae) • Toxicon, Volume 46, Issue 6, November 2005, Pages 658-663