Plant toxin

Plant toxins, or phytotoxins, are a diverse group of secondary metabolites and proteins produced by plants as defense mechanisms against herbivores and pathogens [15, 16]. This category encompasses a wide range of molecules, including small molecule alkaloids and glycosides, as well as complex proteins such as ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) like ricin and saporin [2, 12]. In modern medicine, plant toxins are primarily utilized as potent cytotoxic payloads in targeted therapies, such as immunotoxins and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), designed to selectively eliminate malignant cells [7, 11]. Additionally, certain plant toxins like albicidin are being researched as potential antibiotics due to their ability to inhibit bacterial enzymes like DNA gyrase [1]. However, "Plant toxin" is not a specific therapeutic target itself; rather, it is a class of agents that act upon various host targets [5, 15]. Clinical use of these toxins is often limited by their extreme potency, which can lead to severe systemic toxicity, immunogenicity, and off-target effects if not precisely delivered [6, 9].

Other names

PhytotoxinPlant-derived toxinRibosome-inactivating proteinRIPSecondary plant metabolite

Plant toxins typically function as inhibitors of essential cellular processes, such as protein synthesis (via ribosome inactivation) or DNA replication (via DNA gyrase inhibition). When considered as targets for therapeutic intervention (e.g., in poisoning), they are neutralized by specific antibodies or functional antagonists.