Learning Objectives

1. Understand the relationship between ecology and the human food chain.
2. Define ecological biochemistry.
3. Explain biochemical adaptation and the roles of secondary compounds in plants.
4. Examine the impacts of plant toxicants in the human food chain.
5. Survey examples of plant toxicants.
6. Review a range of toxic plant-based supplements.
7. Review a range of poisonous mushrooms. 

Advance Reading

1. Shibamoto, pp. 86-96, pp. 113-116
2. Poisonous Plants Home Page: Toxic Agents in Plants (Surf and review)

Suggested Reading

• A Brief History of Poisoning, BBC

Keywords

1. Ecological biochemistry
2. Food ecology
3. Acclimatization
4. Biochemical adaptation
5. Ecological biochemical
   interaction
6. Secondary plant compounds
7. Terpenoids
8. Alkaloids
9. Phenolics
10. Allelopathy
11. Protoplasmic poisons
12. Disulfiram-like toxins