Hemlock (Conium maculatum L.)
[CENTER]Hemlock (Conium maculatum L. ) [/CENTER]
B ecause of its association with the death of Socrates, hemlock Conium maculatum L. is one of the most recognized botanicals in ancient medicine. Ancient populations were very aware of hemlock and its poisonous nature. Every school child seems to know about Socrates and hemlock. There is even an old joke that "Socrates was a wise man, a kind man who gave people advice and then they poisoned him." This third essay in the series will describe hemlock not in terms of its historical importance but will discuss its active components, mode of action and medicinal uses in ancient medicine.
H emlock is a member of the order Umbelliferae that also includes carrots, parsnips and fennel, as well as the now extinct silphium. The plant is a biennial and is tall, highly branched with excellent foliage and white flowers but has a bitter taste and unpleasant odor when bruised. This has likely prevented accidental overdoses. Hemlock produces a large number of seeds, which then allow it to form large stands in a variety of soil types. In addition to the obvious issue with human consumption, there are substantial concerns about the consumption and toxicity or teratogenicity observed when animals, especially horses, cattle and other domestic animals, consume the plant.
E ight piperidine alkaloids have been identified in hemlock. The alkaloids are a group of mildly alkaline compounds, usually of botanical origin, that can produce strong physiological effects. As a class over 3000 alkaloids have been recorded. Of the eight alkaloids identified in hemlock, two are in highest concentrations and account for the toxicity of the plant. These two compounds are g-coniceine and coniine with coniine being about 8 times more toxic than coniceine. Coniine, also called 2-propyl piperidine, is also one of the simplest alkaloids and one of the most toxic, with a dose of less than 0.2 grams being toxic. Pure coniine is a colorless, oily liquid with a bitter taste and unpleasant odor. Other alkaloids that have been identified in hemlock are methyl coniine, ethyl piperidine and pseudoconhydrine.
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