Dangerous and poisonous plants: photos with names and descriptions. What to do if you eat a poisonous plant. The most dangerous and poisonous plants in Russia Which plant is not poisonous

Russia is a country with rich flora. A huge number of all kinds of herbs, trees, shrubs, and berries grow here. But not all of them are safe for humans. Meet and poisonous plants are those that contain toxic substances. Often people, unaware of the danger, eat berries or leaves of some plants. At best, this leads to poisoning with all its unpleasant symptoms. Sometimes such a defeat can lead to the death of a person. To avoid this, you need to remember the characteristics of such plants.

Poisonous field and forest plants

Most representatives of flora dangerous to humans grow in fields and forest edges. Therefore, when going on a picnic, you need to remember the list of plants that you need to avoid. Among them are the following most poisonous plants in Russia:

1. Spreading quinoa (white pigweed). Representative of the goosefoot family. Herbaceous annual plant up to 30 cm high. The branches have a light whitish coating. Small flowers are collected in a panicle-type inflorescence. Mari contains saponin alkaloids, which cause serious poisoning. The highest concentration of toxic substances is contained in the seeds. Goosefoot can be eaten by people who confuse it with edible quinoa. Among the first signs of poisoning are: pain in the abdomen, vomiting, nausea, signs of dehydration.
2. Hellebore lyubel (plants are also called zhimeritsa, puppeteer, hellebore). The height of this perennial plant can reach 1.5 meters. Its slightly tapered leaves are numerous. White or slightly yellowish flowers are collected in small spike-like racemes. After flowering, an egg-shaped fruit is formed. This is a dangerous plant in central Russia. It is distributed almost everywhere, as it easily adapts even to harsh climatic conditions. Hellebore roots contain alkaloids that affect the human nervous system and also negatively affect the functioning of the heart. The first signs of poisoning are severe lacrimation and sneezing.
3. Swamp wild rosemary. It is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 1 meter in height. It has a pungent aroma, the inhalation of which causes headaches. Ledum flowers form umbrella-type inflorescences. Poisoning is manifested by severe dryness of the oral mucosa, gagging, numbness of the tongue, changes in heart rate, and convulsions.
4. Vekh poisonous (hemlock). A distinctive feature of the plant is the attractive carrot-celery aroma that the leaves emit. Externally, the leaves resemble parsley. The height of the pole can reach 1.2 meters. Umbrella-type inflorescence. The stem has a pleasant color with a bluish tint. Poison is found in all parts of the hemlock. Some time after eating hemlock, severe vomiting, abdominal pain appears, foam comes out of the mouth, and it becomes difficult to breathe.
5. Black henbane. It attracts attention with its intoxicating aromas. The entire surface of the stem is covered with small hairs. The flowers are cream colored with bright purple veins. Henbane juice contains atropine, which affects nerve cells. The first signs of poisoning are overexcitation, dizziness, delirium, and dilated pupils.
6. Field Yakut woman (money man). This is the most poisonous plant of the cabbage family. It is distinguished by small fruits, round in shape with a small keel. Yakutka contains alkaloids and glycosides. Their highest concentration is observed in fruits and leaves. Symptoms of poisoning include changes in the color of urine, vomiting, and stomach cramps.
7. Spotted hemlock. The height of this biennial plant can reach 0.8 meters. The stem is empty inside, quite branched. The flowers are small, have five petals, painted white. Early signs of poisoning appear within an hour and a half after consuming hemlock. In this case, there is shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, a decrease in temperature, and bad breath appears.
8. Lily of the valley. It is listed in the Red Book, despite this, a huge number of bouquets are prepared from it every season. The leaves, berries and flowers of the plant are toxic. Even the water in which the bouquet stood becomes poisoned. Signs of intoxication include weakness, hallucinations, abnormal heart function, and frequent urge to urinate.

The most poisonous plants in Russia are distributed everywhere. Therefore, when going outdoors, do not forget about precautions.

Some plants can cause poisoning even upon contact with skin, so you should not pick and collect bouquets from unknown specimens.

Which garden plants are considered poisonous?

Deadly poisonous plants can also be found in many gardens. It is known that dangerous representatives of the flora have excellent decorative qualities. They are often used in the design of flower beds. The list of dangerous plants includes:

1. Delphinium (larkspur). This beautiful perennial plant is grown in private gardens, as well as in city flower beds. The delphinium stem can grow up to a meter in height. The flowers form large racemes. All parts of the plant contain alkaloids, which have a depressant effect on the nervous system. Seeds are especially dangerous. It is not recommended to make bouquets from delphinium, as it can cause allergic reactions upon contact with skin.
2. Hydrangea. This is an unpretentious shrub with spectacular spherical inflorescences. Eating flowers causes signs of serious poisoning, as they contain hydrocyanic acid. In case of serious poisoning, breathing stops.
3. Rhododendron (azalea). The sap of this colorful shrub contains large amounts of andromedotoskin. When it enters the human body, it causes overexcitation of the nervous system. After this, it begins to gradually fade away. If you do not see a doctor in time, death may occur.
4. Castor bean. Included in the top 10 most poisonous plants. Contains ricinin - an alkaloid that provokes the destruction of protein. The plant is tall, can reach 2.5 meters. It has an empty stem inside and large dissected leaves. The toxic poison is mostly concentrated in the seeds.
5. Datura. The most poisonous plants in the world have an attractive appearance. This fully applies to dope. It is distinguished by large funnel-shaped flowers of various colors. All parts of Datura are dangerous to humans. They contain many alkaloids that have a toxic effect on the heart muscle. Poisoning is accompanied by convulsions and hallucinations.
6. Buttercups. All representatives of this family are poisonous plants. Their aerial parts contain ranunculin and proteanemonin. When these substances get on the mucous membranes, they cause severe irritation. The consequence of this may be disruption of the functioning of the kidneys and heart muscle.
7. Poppy. It is distinguished by a tall, erect stem, at the end of which a large flower blooms during the flowering period. The color of the petals can be different: white, red, purple and other colors. The danger comes from the sap of the plant. It contains a dose of morphine, codeine, readitin and papaverine. It is especially dangerous if this juice enters a child’s body.. Poisoning is manifested by weakness, lack of coordination, depression, convulsions, and dilated pupils.
8. Colchicum (Colchicum). Its flowers look like harmless crocuses. The petals are colored lilac or pink. Blooms in autumn. In the spring, fruits appear on the plant. It is impossible to pick such flowers, since when their juice gets on the skin it leads to severe chemical burns. When replanting a plant, you must always use gloves. If colchicum leaves enter the human body, vomiting, stomach pain, and intestinal damage will develop. Symptoms of poisoning may subside after some time, but almost all internal organs will be affected. In the absence of proper medical care, a person dies.

All poisonous plants grown in gardens pose a danger to children and animals. Therefore they need to be protected. They look very impressive, but you shouldn’t tear them down and decorate your house with them.

Dangerous berries

It’s not just Russia’s poisonous herbs that pose a danger. Often the cause of serious poisoning is the consumption of unknown wild berries. Very often people mistake them for edible. It is important not only to remember the types of poisonous plants yourself, but also to teach your children this. Among the most dangerous berries are:

1. Red nightshade. The climbing stem of the plant can reach two meters in length. The leaves are slightly pointed and ovoid in shape. The fruits are attractive red. Their ripening period lasts from June to September. Prefers areas with high humidity. It can often be found on the shores of water bodies, between bushes, and in heaps of garbage. Poisoning is manifested by severe abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, and mental disturbances.
2. Belladonna. Other names: sleepy stupor, mad cherry, beauty. The height of the plant can reach two meters. The flowers are drooping and bell-shaped. The fruits are colored dirty purple, similar to cherries. These berries are quite rare. Widespread only in the Crimea, the Carpathians and the Caucasus. Alkaloids are present in all parts of the plant. Poisoning makes itself felt already 10 minutes after eating the berries. The mouth feels dry, the pupils dilate and stop responding to light, and swallowing becomes difficult. If help is not provided in a timely manner, hallucinations, convulsions appear, and coordination is lost.
3. Euonymus is a shrub up to four meters high. The flowers are small and inconspicuous, with a slight greenish tint. Euonymus attracts attention with its bright pink fruits. They contain black seeds surrounded by red pulp. Eating any part of the plant leads to severe diarrhea, vomiting, and in some cases, intestinal bleeding.
4. Crow's eye is a deadly poisonous plant. Toxic substances affect the nervous system and heart. The height of the raven's eye does not exceed 40 cm. The leaves are large, concentrated in the lower part. At the top a large berry is formed, covered with bloom. In case of poisoning, a sore throat, severe diarrhea, vomiting, convulsions, and dizziness are observed.
5. Wolfberry (privet). A tall shrub belonging to the olive family. The flowers vaguely resemble lilacs and are painted white. Toxic substances accumulate in berries and leaves. An hour after poisoning, diarrhea, lack of coordination of movements, convulsions, and colic appear. In especially severe cases, death occurs.
6. Elderberry herbal. Has an unpleasant odor. Inflorescences are in the shape of a panicle. After flowering, small berries are formed. Poisoning is accompanied by dizziness, tachycardia, shortness of breath, pain, mucous surfaces turn blue.

Attractive in appearance, the berries can be very dangerous to health and life. That's why When coming to the forest, it is better to refuse to collect suspicious fruits.

Children are more likely to suffer from berry poisoning. Therefore, it is extremely important to explain safety precautions to your child from an early age.

Poisonous indoor plants

Danger can await us not only in the forest or garden, but also in our own home. Many lovers of indoor floriculture do not even suspect that indoor plants can be fraught with mortal danger. They have excellent decorative properties, but eating them will lead to serious poisoning. Some poisonous plants around the world can release toxic substances into the air. Among the most dangerous representatives of the flora, the 10 most poisonous plants can be identified:

1. Ivy. This plant with a climbing stem often decorates living spaces and offices. All parts of this plant are dangerous to humans.. After eating just a few leaves, you can feel signs of poisoning: hallucinations, skin rashes, severe attacks of nausea, breathing problems. It's all about the saponins contained in ivy juice. If toxic substances come into contact with the eyes, they can cause conjunctivitis. The plant also poses a great danger to domestic animals, especially rodents.
2. Persian cyclomen. Few people know what other names the plant has. It is also called dryberry or alpine violet. It is distinguished by the incredible beauty of its unusually shaped flowers. Toxic substances - saponins - are present in abundance in tubers. If they enter the human body, nausea, vomiting, severe diarrhea, and dizziness appear. In this regard, when transplanting cyclomen and especially when dividing tubers, it is imperative to wear gloves on your hands. After completing all work, hands should be washed thoroughly in running water and use soap.
3. Dieffenbachia. This is a tall plant with large leaves. It blooms only in favorable conditions, which is rare. Dieffenbachia juice contains calcium oxalate and oxalic acid. If they get on the skin, severe irritation, itching occurs, and blisters may form. When juice gets into the eyes, the eyelids become swollen, increased lacrimation, and severe pain occurs. If you eat even a small fragment of a Dieffenbachia leaf, you will experience attacks of nausea, diarrhea, and heart rhythm disturbances. In severe cases, paralysis develops.
4. Spathiphyllum. A spectacular plant with dark green glossy leaves. It amazes with the unusualness of its flowers on a long stem. Spathiphyllum juice contains calcium oxalates, which have an irritating effect on human skin. Getting it inside leads to damage to the respiratory center and disruption of the gastrointestinal tract.
5. Monstera. Attracts flower growers with its large leaves with fancy slits. Monstera is often chosen to decorate offices and other public places. It contains a large concentration of toxic substances, which, when they come into contact with the human epithelium, lead to serious damage. If you eat a monstera leaf, there will be disruption of the digestive system, as well as inflammation of the intestines.
6. Ever-blooming begonia. The smooth leaves of the plant are located on a thick stem. Bright inflorescences are located on long peduncles. The petals can be white, red or pink. All parts of begonia are poisonous. Once inside the body, they cause attacks of nausea and severe vomiting.
7. Hippeastrum. It is a large plant that is grown from a bulb. Outwardly it looks like a lily. The color of the petals can be pink or red. There are also white varieties. The bulbs are especially poisonous. Eating them will lead to kidney damage, severe vomiting and diarrhea.
8. Spurge. There are several varieties of indoor milkweed, but they are all equally poisonous. The danger is represented by the juice, which contains toxic substances that affect the digestive and nervous systems of the body.
9. Oleander. A spectacular indoor flower that has long stems. Petals can be white or pink. The flowers have a captivating aroma. Inhaling it for a long time causes a headache. If any part of the plant enters the human body, nausea, convulsions, heart problems, and difficulty breathing appear. This plant can only be placed in well-ventilated areas. It is strictly forbidden to decorate a bedroom or children's room with it.
10. Calla. This plant is loved by gardeners for its elegant funnel-shaped flowers. Their color can be very diverse. Scientists have even managed to produce almost black flowers. If the plant juice comes into contact with the skin, serious irritation occurs. After ingestion, vomiting and nausea appear.

Poisonous indoor plants pose the greatest danger to children, who want to taste everything. Therefore, if you have a child, it is better to avoid growing dangerous plants.

Knowing the characteristics and characteristics of poisonous plants will help you avoid serious poisoning. Remember that when the first unpleasant symptoms appear, you must immediately seek help from a doctor. Delay, and especially self-medication, can be life-threatening.

There are about 300 thousand plant species on the globe. More than 700 of them can cause acute poisoning. A significant part of poisonous plants are found in our republic.

The toxicity of plant poisons varies. The possibility of using some of these poisons for military purposes cannot be ruled out, since their toxic properties are tens and hundreds of times greater than all known and most toxic toxic substances.

According to military experts in the United States and Great Britain, among the plant toxins, the greatest military value may be ricin, which in its toxic properties is significantly superior to nerve agents.

Poisoning with poisons of plant origin quite often occurs in everyday life as a result of eating plants as food. This usually happens during the warm season. When consuming unfamiliar plants or unknown mushrooms, especially by young children who are attracted by the beautiful appearance and bright color of inedible berries and plants. Poisoning by poisonous plants occurs in various ways. In most cases, when consuming individual parts of plants, fruits, seeds, leaves, the toxicity of which is not known. Most often, poisoning occurs when consuming poisonous plants that are similar in their morphological characteristics to non-poisonous ones (henbane seeds are similar to poppy seeds, crow's eye fruits are similar to blueberries, etc.). Contact with the bark or flowers of some plants (wolf's bast, caustic buttercup, hogweed) causes severe burns. A fairly common cause of acute poisoning with plant poisons can be the use of herbal tinctures and decoctions for the purpose of self-medication.

There are actually poisonous plants and cultivated plants, poisoning of which is possible due to changes in their chemical composition or damage by fungi if stored improperly. For example, grain and potatoes that have overwintered in the field become poisonous.

Poisonous plants are those whose contact with or ingestion, even in small quantities, causes health problems. There are actually poisonous plants, for which toxicity is a permanent or temporary sign of their normal development, characteristic of the species and genus. There are plants that have a toxic effect in the presence of specific conditions. All plants for which toxicity is a random sign and occurs due to various circumstances are classified as conditionally poisonous plants.

The active toxic principle of poisonous plants is various chemical compounds. which relate mainly to alkaloids, vegetable soaps (saponins), glycosides, acids (hydrocyanic, oxalic), resins, hydrocarbons, etc.

Alkaloids are complex organic compounds containing carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen. Their salts are soluble in water and are quickly absorbed in the stomach and intestines.

Glycosides easily break down into the carbohydrate (sugar) part and several other toxic substances.

Classification of poisonous plants according to the predominant damage to organs and systems

Poisonous plants, the most common in the Republic of Belarus, according to the primary damage to body systems, can be divided into the following groups:

I. Plants that primarily cause damage to the nervous system

1. Aconite (borea, blue buttercup, Issyk-Kul root) - neurotoxic (curare-like), cardiotoxic effect.

2. Henbane - cholinolytic syndrome.

3. Belladonna (belladonna) - anticholinergic syndrome.

4. Spotted headaches (spotted omega) - nicotine-like syndrome.

5. Hemlock (veh poisonous, water hemlock, water omeg) - nicotine-like syndrome.

6. Datura - cholinolytic syndrome (causes mental disorders in the form of intoxication psychosis with sharp psychomotor agitation, turning into a state of stunning or coma).

7. Indian hemp (hashish, plan, marijuana, anasha) - psychotropic effect.

8. Tobacco - neurotoxic effect.

9. Celandine - psychotropic effect.

10. Chilibukha (vomit nut).

11. China sowing - neurotoxic effect.

12. Horsetail - nicotine-like syndrome.

II Plants that cause predominant damage to the gastrointestinal tract.

13. Colchicum

14. Wolf's bast

15. Castor bean (Turkish hemp, castor oil)

16. Buckthorn

17. Euphorbia

18. Nightshade.

III. Plants that cause predominantly heart damage

19. Lily of the valley

20. Foxglove

21. Hellebore

22. Adonis.

IV. Plants that primarily cause liver damage

(cause jaundice, hemorrhagic skin rashes, liver enlargement)

23. Heliotrope

24. Pink mustard

25. Cross.

V. Plants that primarily cause skin lesions

26. Hogweed

27. Nettle.

Also causing skin lesions are wolfsbane, caustic buttercup, and spotted hemlock.

Many poisonous plants that have a toxic effect on several organs or systems of the body simultaneously:

A) on the central nervous system and heart - aconite;

b) heart and gastrointestinal tract - hellebore, foxglove;

V) liver and kidneys - heliotrope, cross;

G) on the gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system - bittersweet nightshade, wolf's bast, etc.

The most common poisonous plants growing in Belarus include: henbane, hemlock, wolf's bast, dope, nightshade, hemlock, hemlock, hellebore, poisonous buttercup.

As mentioned above, potatoes that have overwintered in the field or sprouted and turned green can become toxic, in which many corned beef alkaloids are formed, causing severe dyspeptic disorders. Similar phenomena develop when eating raw beans, mainly white, as well as raw beech nuts. Honey collected by bees from plants that have poisonous pollen, such as wild rosemary, can become toxic. This honey causes fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Depending on their toxicity, plant poisons are divided into:

1. Particularly toxic - aconite, ricin, phalloidin (lethal dose upon admission per os up to 0.001 g)

2. Highly toxic - anabasine, atropine, verotrin, nicotine, hydrocyanic acid, cicutotoxin (lethal dose upon admission per os 0.001 - 0.05 g).

3. Highly toxic - strychnine (lethal dose 0.05 -2 g upon admission per os).

4. Toxic - caffeine, ergot, quinine (lethal dose 2.0 - 20.0 g upon admission per os).

The toxicity of poisonous plants can change dramatically depending on the stage of their development, local environmental, climatic, soil and other conditions.

The sensitivity of humans and animals to the effects of poison is different. A horse and a dog tolerate 10 times, a pigeon 100 times, a frog 1000 times greater doses of opium alkaloids than a person (per 1 kg of body weight).

There was no people on Earth who did not use poisonous plants to treat various ailments. How did folk medicine manage to turn the evil of poisonous plants into good? How did you find out what diseases and in what dosages lethal poisons can help? These questions are difficult to answer. The knowledge of the healing power of plants is so amazing that legends have arisen about their origin.

The myths of Ancient Greece told not only about Hecate - the ancestor of all poisoners. If this goddess knew about the evil in plants, then the wise centaur Chiron knew, on the contrary, the healing powers of all herbs and conveyed this knowledge to Apollo.
According to myth, Apollo asked Chiron to raise his son Asclepius, the patron saint of doctors and the art of medicine. On Mount Pelion, Chiron taught Asclepius to recognize medicinal plants, and soon the capable student surpassed his teacher.
In memory of the first, albeit mythological, herbal healer, the centaur Chiron, two genera of plants belonging to different botanical families are called “centauraceae”. These are cornflower - Centaurea and centaury - Centaurium, and this. Lastovnevyh in Latin is named in honor of Asclepius - Asclepidaceae.
The American Indians had their own ideas about the origin of knowledge about medicinal plants. When the Dakota Indians were asked about this, they answered: of course, from the water god Unk-ta-ge. He and his retinue are healers in a dream. He is the head of all spirits and gives supernatural powers to knowledge.
Residents of the southern African country of Natal thought differently. There was a widespread opinion among the Likhs that you should try all the plants in a row, then you will recognize the medicinal ones among them. According to Chinese legend, Emperor Shen-Nun, who wrote the Treatise on Roots 4000 BC, did just that.
In Russia, folklore collectors of the last century recorded a legend composed by the peasants of the Vologda province about a gentleman who was an expert in medicinal herbs.

Perhaps such legends served to create a symbol - a bowl entwined with a snake looking into it from above, the emblem of Asclepius's studies, - the modern emblem of doctors.
This is a symbol of the highest humanity. The wise snake studies the contents of the cup in order to use it only for good.
Perhaps the animals actually had some clues. It is still unclear, however, what sense helps them correctly find the right plants when they get sick. Red deer in the Far Eastern taiga bite the sharp thorns of the Manchurian aralia (“thorn tree”), which can easily injure your hand, and the hard leaves of Eleutherococcus.
Both plants turned out to be medicinal and are used in medicine as tonics and stimulants. Hunters in Buryatia watched as wounded deer were treated with red cloves. Studies have shown that it is an excellent hemostatic medicine.

The medicinal properties of the “deer root” - Leuzea were also suggested by the deer that ate this kind of doping before the onset of mating fights.
In 1804, this opinion was refuted by the Belgian scientist Friedrich Wilhelm Serturner, who isolated morphine from opium, a substance similar in properties to alkalis. In 1819, the German scientist Meisner called alkalis of plant origin alkaloids (literally “alkali-like”), and soon morphine, so named by Serturner in honor of the Greek god of dreams Morpheus, began to be called morphine by analogy with other plant alkaloids - brucine, strychnine, atropine and etc. At the end of the last century, the famous Russian chemist E. A. Shatsky said about Serturner’s discovery that it has the same significance for medicine as the discovery of iron for world culture.

Avalanche of discoveries

Among doctors and pharmacists, the discovery of F.V. Serturner created a sensation.

The possibility of obtaining from plants their main substance, the “active principle”, “quintessence”, i.e., a therapeutically active medicine, was proven.
They began to look for more, and soon reports of new discoveries poured in as if from a cornucopia.
In 1818, Parisian pharmacists P. J. Pelletier and J. B. Caventou isolated strychnine and brucine from the seeds of the vomiting nut - chilibucha, and in 1820 the same researchers obtained quinine from the bark of the cinchona tree.

In 1819, caffeine was isolated from the bark of the coffee tree, later nicotine was isolated from tobacco, buxin from boxwood, atropine from belladonna, hyoscyamine from henbane, cocaine from coca leaves, ricinin from castor bean seeds, etc.
Over 2,500 alkaloids are now known. The monograph by T. A. Henry “Chemistry of Plant Alkaloids” (L., 1956) provides a list of compounds and synthetic drugs created on their basis. It contains more than 141,280 names, and it is difficult to say what the number of plant alkaloids, their derivatives and substitutes will be by the year 2000. Interest in these substances does not wane, despite the discovery of antibiotics and the creation of valuable chemical drugs. And this is because often each of the alkaloids has its own, individual, characteristic and irreplaceable effect. They are toxic in different ways, some of them are almost non-toxic (ricinin - an alkaloid of castor beans, trigonelline, found in many plants), and many, like physostigmine - an alkaloid of Calabar beans (poisonous physostigma) - can serve as both a poison and an antidote.

In West Africa, along the banks of the Old Calabra River, which flows into the Gulf of Biafra, there is a climbing vine with beautiful bright red flowers - the Calabar bean (Physostigma venenosum) from the family. Bobovykh. The natives of Guinea have long used the fruits of this vine, called “ezera,” in order to establish a person’s guilt in some crime. Symptoms of poisoning manifested themselves first in sudden agitation, then in gradually increasing paralysis.
The main alkaloid of Calabar beans, physostigmine, or eserine, blocks the action of a very important enzyme in the body - cholinesterase. If this enzyme is poisoned, acetylcholine will begin to accumulate in large quantities, transmitting excitation (nerve impulse) from the end of the nerve fiber to the muscle cell. Cholinesterase controls this process by breaking down excess acetylcholine. If it gets out of control, muscle excitation will reach a maximum until the appearance of cramps and muscle rupture. When acetylcholine accumulates in all synapses (places where muscles approach the endings of nerve fibers), it will first cause a sharp excitation, then paralysis.
Interestingly, the belladonna alkaloid, atropine, has the exact opposite effect: it deprives nerve endings of sensitivity to acetylcholine and thereby blocks the transmission of nerve impulses to muscles. As a result, the muscles relax.

Alkaloids interfere with the most important processes in the body: the transmission of nerve impulses, the ability of muscles to contract, the functioning of the cardiovascular system, and the process of breathing. In therapeutic doses they help with a wide variety of diseases. Atropine and hyoscyamine (alkaloids of henbane and dope) relieve spasms of blood vessels and smooth muscles of internal organs;
lobelia (lobelia puffy alkaloid) is a strong stimulant of the respiratory center and is used for poisoning with poisonous gases, loss of consciousness;
Ergotoxin (ergot alkaloid) combined with atropine calms the nervous system...
In 1887, ephedrine was discovered in the Chinese medicinal plant “ma-huang” (under the name “ma-huang” in Chinese folk medicine there were different types of ephedra).
Almost 40 years passed before the similarity (in action) of ephedrine with the adrenal hormone adrenaline was noticed. Like adrenaline, ephedrine constricts blood vessels, increases blood pressure, dilates the pupil, and causes increased secretion of the salivary and lacrimal glands. Later we noticed some differences. Ephedrine acts more slowly but more consistently (about 10 times longer than adrenaline), being more resistant to changes in metabolic conditions. Ephedrine began to be used as a hemostatic agent. In addition, it has been established that, by stimulating the nervous system, it stimulates brain activity and can therefore help with
drug-induced depression and narcolepsy (a disorder of wakefulness manifested by sudden falling asleep while walking, laughing, talking, etc.).
In the 30s of our century, the American biochemist D. Robinson proposed a theory explaining the formation of alkaloids. This theory provided the impetus for laboratory syntheses of alkaloids using reactions occurring in plants. Many alkaloids were synthesized exactly as suggested by D. Robinson, i.e. the theory found its experimental confirmation. In addition, it helped to penetrate the mystery of the complex course of alkaloid biosynthesis in living plant cells and made it possible to explain why different alkaloids can be formed in the same plant (for this, minor changes in the starting material or changes in metabolism are sufficient). At the same time, it became clear why different alkaloids are formed in two related plants.
It also became clear why plants that are systematically distant can form the same alkaloids.
Relatively small changes in metabolism (metabolism) or in the starting substances lead to the formation of different alkaloids in close relatives of the family. Paslenov. Mandrake and scopolia are very similar in their alkaloid composition, but there are still differences between them, as, for example, between datura and henbane.
Some botanical families are distinguished by the abundance of species containing alkaloids, others are not. Until relatively recently, there were no reports of the presence of alkaloids in representatives of the family. Asteraceae (Asteraceae).
This situation has changed since it became known that liver disease in domestic animals in South Africa is caused by alkaloids contained in ragworts (genus Senecio). From numerous ragworts, including widespread weeds and those found in forests, swampy areas and along river banks, alkaloids of the same type were isolated - hepatotoxic, i.e. poisonous to the liver. Similar alkaloids were found in plants of the genus Heliotrope and Trichodesma (the Burachnikov family) and in some species of Crotalaria (the Legume family). About 25 alkaloids have been isolated from different species of these plants. One of them, platiphylline, has a weaker effect on the liver and has an atropine-like effect on the eyes and intestines.
It is interesting that alkaloids of different types can “coexist” in the same plant. Thus, in aconite (A. napellus), along with typical aconite alkaloids, ephedrine and sparteine ​​were found. And, perhaps, no less interesting is that in the body of a number of animals there are the same alkaloids as in plants.

For example, trigonelline is found in dahlia, garden peas, hemp seeds, fenugreek, oats, potatoes, different types of strophanthus, and coffee. Vitamin PP (nicotinic acid) is excreted from the body of animals and humans, also in the form of trigonelline.
In what parts of plants are their amazing laboratories located?
This question is not idle, because it depends on which parts of plants to take to obtain alkaloids. When studying plants of the family. Solanova managed to establish that alkaloids are first formed in the meristem cells* of roots, when they reach only 3 millimeters, but can also be synthesized in leaf cells or move there from the roots. In belladonna, there was a significant movement of alkaloids from the roots to the leaves and a relatively insignificant movement in the opposite direction. Nicotine and anabasine are also first formed in the roots and then transported to above-ground organs.
There is much we still don’t know about these mysterious laboratories, in which amazing biosynthesis occurs unnoticed by outside observers.

Its original substances are extremely simple. These are carbon dioxide and water (a prerequisite is solar energy). The same reactions in laboratories require special equipment, high temperatures, much more time, and many reagents.

More than three centuries have passed since cinchona bark first appeared in Europe. No other herbal remedy has attracted as much attention as this one. Legends were told about the discovery of the miraculous quinine. It’s as if pumas sick with fever were once treated with cinchona bark in front of people. Or Indians suffering from malaria drank water from the swamps in which cinchona trees grew and were thus healed by the natural infusion of their bark. Or perhaps the belief that bitterness could drive out evil spirits (i.e., the cause of illness in many ancient peoples) contributed to the use of cinchona peel - after all, it is difficult to imagine anything more bitter than quinine.
In 1638, the wife of the Viceroy of Peru, Ana del Chin-Chon, was cured of malaria using Indian “red water”. Thanks to her, people learned about quinine in Europe. Therefore, the cinchona generic name Cinchona was given by Linnaeus in honor of this queen.

1. Cinchona tree. 2. Spotted hemlock

Many fascinating books have been written about the heated discussions about the therapeutic value of quinine, about how tree bark began to be sent in large quantities from Peru when its effectiveness in the fight against malaria was proven.
Trees were rapaciously cut down, and by the middle of the 19th century. There was a danger of their complete destruction in South America.
There are exciting novels and stories about the fate of botanical researchers who, at the risk of their lives (and sometimes sacrificing it), collected the seeds of the tree, extracting its seedlings for shipment from Peru (the Peruvian government, fearing competition, prohibited their export to other countries under penalty of death) . And yet, seeds and seedlings were transported from Peru to the island. Java, on. Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), to India. Gradually, cinchona plantations were developed, and Fr. Java advanced to. place of the largest supplier of cinchona bark on the world market.
In Congo, the Philippine Islands, Tanzania and the Soviet Union (on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus), where cinchona plantations also existed, their exploitation was intensified. US botanical expeditions during the Second World War searched for natural thickets of cinchona in areas of Central and South America.

Gradually, about 40 species of plants containing quinine were discovered, in addition to Cinchona ledgeriana, named after the English merchant Charles Ledger, who sent cinchona seeds to Europe in 1865, and Cinchona succi-rubra. On the western slopes of the Andes, large thickets of Remigia pedunculata were discovered, from the bark of which up to 3% quinine sulfate can be obtained.
In addition to quinine, it was possible to synthesize other antimalarial drugs.
But this was preceded by a long journey of discoveries in the field of chemical study of cinchona alkaloids.
To date, about 25 alkaloids have been isolated from plants containing quinine, the most important of which are quinine, quinidine, cinchonine and cinchonidine. In terms of decreasing antimalarial activity, quinine and quinidine (in this respect are equivalent) are in first place, followed by cinchonine and cinchonidine.
During the quinine crisis during the Second World War, work began on a large scale to synthesize quinine substitutes and test the activity of existing drugs (acriquine, sulfa drugs). As a result, thousands of new substances were obtained and tested, and the antimalarial activity of new types of compounds was discovered. Chloroquinine, plasmoquine, pentaquine, plasmocide (quinoline derivative), paludrin (guanidine derivative) have been used. Plazmokhin, akrikhin and plasmocide were discovered before the war. The discovery of paludrin was of particular interest, since this drug is a representative of a new group of antimalarial drugs with a different chemical structure than quinine and its derivatives.

Before the introduction of sulfa drugs and antibiotics into medical practice, quinine and its derivatives were the only therapeutic agents for the treatment of many bacterial infections. Some quinine preparations have been successfully used to treat pneumonia. Others turned out to be muscle relaxants (relaxing skeletal muscles) like curare, while others caused local anesthesia.

In 1881, from spotted hemlock (Conium maculaturn), a biennial plant from the family. Celery with a very unpleasant, strong odor of mouse urine, the German chemist August Wilhelm Hoffmann isolated the alkaloid coniine. Soon, in the laboratory of Viennese pharmacologist Professor Karl Shroff, they decided to test the effect of this poison. In addition to scientific interest, there was another: according to legend, hemlock juice was given by order of the Athenian authorities in 399 BC.
e. Socrates poisoned himself.
Historians of ancient Rome Pliny and Tacitus testified that it was hemlock in Greece that was used to execute criminals, and this type of punishment was very common. It is believed that execution with poisonous plants was introduced at the beginning of the reign of 30 tyrants (404 - 403 BC) during the collapse of the Athenian state. The Romans called the poisonous drink made from hemlock juice “sorbito cicutae.”
Some researchers have suggested that in addition to hemlock, the juice of another plant of the same family, the poisonous hemlock, or hemlock (Cicuta virosa), could have been mixed into the Socratic Cup.
If spotted hemlock is found in vegetable gardens and wastelands, near roads and in landfills, its leaves resemble parsley leaves and red spots are clearly visible on the stem, then hemlock grows along the banks of rivers or lakes, in swampy meadows, and sometimes in water.
Vekh poisonous is a perennial or biennial plant with a height of 60 - 120 centimeters;
The stems are thick, empty inside, reddish outside. The leaves are bi-tripinnate, dissected into narrow linear or lanceolate lobes.
The main poison of hemlock, as already mentioned, is coniine. Pharmacologists of the last century became interested in coniine because they thought that it had a great future as a medicine. After experiments on animals, they came to the conclusion that their death occurs from paralysis of the respiratory muscles. However, nothing was known at that time about the effects of different doses of coniine on humans.
In the laboratory of Professor K. Shroff, there were volunteers - medical students who decided to test the poison on themselves. Each of them (there were three of them) exposed himself to the danger of fatal poisoning nine times. They took hemlock infusion, after which they talked about their feelings.
Regardless of the dose of coniine, three minutes after the start of the experiment, a feeling of heaviness appeared in the head, the face became hot and red. Consciousness darkened, dizziness set in, it was impossible to think or concentrate on anything. Vision deteriorated, pupils dilated, hearing decreased, sense of touch became dulled, the skin became as if fluffy, it seemed as if goosebumps were running over it. Soon the subjects were so weak that they could barely hold up their heads.
When the experiment ended, they could hardly walk home, their gait was automatic, they seemed to push their body forward, and their muscles hardly worked. When climbing up the stairs and at home, when they needed to take off their shoes, they began to experience cramps in their calves and in all the other muscles that had to be strained. The poisoning was accompanied by nausea and indigestion, by the end of the experiment the faces turned pale, the cheeks were sunken, the pulse first quickened, then became less frequent and was weakened all the time.
Since this experience led to only a weak resemblance to the sensations that befell Socrates before his death, one can imagine how much harder he died than his student Plato described in his Phaedo.
The literature (Shvaikova, 1975) describes three forms of poisoning with this poison: paralytic (“Socrates’ form”), delusional and a form of dizziness with visual impairment.
Most often, all three of these forms appear simultaneously.
Hemlock poisoning still occurs today. Its leaves are mistakenly mistaken for parsley leaves, its roots for horseradish, its fruits for anise. Cases of hemlock poisoning of children have been described. When grazing livestock in areas where hemlock and hemlock grow, cases of poisoning of domestic animals have been observed.
Could Socrates be saved today with modern knowledge?
Cicutotoxin and coniine are bound by activated carbon (during gastric lavage with a suspension of activated carbon) and tannin. The antidote is a 5-10% solution of hydrochloric acid: coniine easily forms salts with acids. Anyone poisoned by omega poisons is prescribed cardiac medications.

Tannin is gallotannic acid obtained from “ink nuts” - growths on young shoots of Asia Minor oak, or sumac, and scum.

With alkaloids, it forms poorly soluble compounds that are almost not absorbed into the blood. It turns out that a 5% tannin solution would have been enough to save Socrates immediately after taking the poison. But all measures would help only if they were taken before resorption, i.e. before the poisons are absorbed into the blood. The fact is that for coniine and cicutotoxin there are no antidotes yet that can neutralize their effect in the blood.
The plant that mixed up time

Five students from Vienna in the same laboratory of Professor K. Shroff for four months experienced the effects of alkaloids from one of the most amazing plants - autumn colchicum (Colchicum autumnale) from the family. Liliaceae. G. Glyazer in “Dramatic Medicine” (Moscow, 1965) described in detail all their sensations, severe poisoning, leading to fainting, delirium, severe stomach pain, slow pulse, and a strong increase in body temperature.

The lethal dose for humans is about 0.02 g of colchicine; colchicine is 10 to 18 times less toxic. Six grams of colchicum seeds contain a lethal dose of its alkaloids. In case of poisoning, give enveloping agents, milk, tea, tannin solutions. Gastric lavage in case of colchicine poisoning is in most cases pointless.
This plant is found here in Crimea, in the southwestern part of Ukraine and in the Caucasus. In the Ciscaucasia, Western and Eastern Transcaucasia, you can find another species - the magnificent colchicum (C. speciosum).
Typically, the magnificent crocus grows on forest edges on the northern and southern mountain slopes, at an altitude of 1800 - 3000 meters. In autumn, when its flowers appear, covering the ground with a continuous pink carpet, the meadows produce a fabulous impression. Colchicums (all species) are included in the Red Book as plants that are threatened with complete extermination. Those species that grow in Moldova and the southwestern part of Ukraine are under threat. Flowering plants in the fall are destroyed for the purpose of sale, and the “Red Book” insists on a complete ban on the trade in Colchicum flowers and on establishing control over the state of its populations.
Colchicums are perennial bulbous plants, their bulbs are large (the magnificent one has up to 4 centimeters in diameter). In summer these plants are completely invisible. Only their bulbs sit underground, covered with light brown scales on the outside. At the end of August or September, their beautiful pink or light purple flowers with six petals appear from underground on a thin stem, without leaves. Interestingly, the ovary of the flower is hidden in the bulb, underground. A very long column of pistil goes to it through the entire stem.
The unusual features of the rhythm of development of colchicums are explained by their adaptation to the Mediterranean climate with dry and hot summers and relatively mild winters. They come from the Mediterranean, and later appeared in the Black Sea region, in that region that in ancient times was called Colchis (Dioscorides wrote in his writings that autumn crocus grew there).
Hence the Latin name of the plant. In the Middle Ages, it was also called “son before father,” because they thought that seeds appeared before flowers.
When studying the effect of the crocus alkaloid colchicine on living cells, it was noticed that it suppresses their division. In this case, the number of chromosomes doubles or becomes several times larger, i.e., so-called polyploidy occurs, in which the cells themselves become larger. With the help of colchicine, polyploid forms of plants with larger flowers, fruits, seeds, etc. were obtained.
Doctors decided to use the property of colchicine to suppress cell division to delay the growth of malignant tumors, but it turned out that to obtain the desired effect it was necessary to take a lethal dose. When they tested another, less toxic alkaloid colchamine, they settled on its use in the form of an ointment - for skin cancer or a solution - in the treatment of chronic leukemia.

Almost all the poisonous plants discussed above contained alkaloids.

It may seem that there are no other poisons in plants.
But this is not true. Plants also contain poisonous oils, resins, glycosides, glycoside resins, saponins, toxic nitrogen-free substances, glycoalcoloids and thousands of other substances - phytoncides and antibiotics that are destructive to microorganisms, insects, larger animals and humans.
Other plant poisons
The beautiful flowers of foxglove look like thimbles or caps. In Germany there was a belief that they served as hats for elves, in France the plant was called the glove of the Virgin Mary, in Ireland - a witch’s thimble.

A German legend told about the origin of foxgloves from thimbles taken by an evil stepmother from an orphan who inherited them from her mother. The stepmother secretly buried them in the garden, and the following spring, hitherto unprecedented flowers grew in this place, in which the orphan recognized her mother's thimbles. But as a reminder that they grew out of hatred, the evil genius poured terrible poison into them.

Nothing was known about the significance of digitalis poison until the English physician Whitering used this plant to treat heart disease in 1775. But he was so unsure of this remedy that, fearing to poison his wealthy patients, he initially used it only to treat the poor.
Gradually, digitalis was studied and entered into medicine as one of the most valuable medicines for severe heart diseases. Its poisons turned out to be glycosides, and currently 17 of them have been isolated from foxglove purpurea.
For the first time, the structure of these plant poisons was understood by the French scientist P. J. Robiquet (1780-1840) in 1830, when he managed to obtain the “active principle” of bitter almonds - amygdalin, which is completely different from the alkaloid.
Substances like amygdalin were called glycosides because their molecules contain a sugar residue - glycon and the remainder of some other organic substance of a non-sugar nature (usually called an aglycone or genin).
Amygdalin, discovered first in bitter almonds, and then in the seeds of cherries, peaches, apricots, cherry laurel, bean and other plants of this family. Rosaceae, in an acidic solution, breaks down into grape sugar, benzoaldehyde and hydrocyanic acid. Once this glycoside enters the stomach or intestines of humans and higher animals, it becomes poisonous. Other glycosides can also be a source of hydrocyanic acid poisoning - phaseolunatin, isolated from the red grain form of lima (moon-shaped) beans (Phaseolus lunatus).
The same glycoside is contained in fresh cassava roots. Its hydrolysis produces acetone and hydrocyanic acid.
Linamarin, a flax seed glycoside with a similar structure, is the cause of poisoning in livestock when eating flaxseed cake. Cases of poisoning of animals with water manna, which forms a glycoside that also splits off hydrocyanic acid, have been described.
The lethal dose of pure hydrocyanic acid for humans is 0.05 - 0.1 g, and death occurs almost instantly. The first symptoms of relatively mild poisoning appear after 4 - 5 hours. In mild cases, this is general weakness, nausea, dizziness, headache, in more severe cases - vomiting, loss of consciousness, blue face, shortness of breath, convulsions and death.
Among vegetable oils there are also poisonous ones. Dense vegetable oils include chaulmugra oil, obtained from plants belonging to the genera Hydnocarpus, Gynocardia, Oncoba and other families. Flacourtiaceae.
These are evergreen trees of tropical forests, growing in Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, and India.
Plants containing fatty oils with similar properties are also found in Africa and South America.
Chaulmugra oil has long been used in East Asian medicine, but it became known to Europeans only in our century. This oil is a wonderful, specifically effective remedy against acid-resistant bacteria, for example, the causative agents of leprosy. It also inhibits the growth of tubercle bacilli.
The oil is yellowish, has a dense consistency at room temperature, melts at 22 - 26°. Less toxic drugs used to treat leprosy, psoriasis and other skin diseases were obtained from the acids of this oil.
The well-known castor oil is obtained from castor bean seeds. They contain the toxic substance ricin, which remains in the cakes during oil production.
At the beginning of our century, croton oil, obtained from the seeds of croton (Croton tiglium), a small tree from the family, was used as a laxative. Euphorbiaceae, growing in India and Southeast Asia. This oil is poisonous; in large doses it causes vomiting, catarrh of the stomach and intestines, and sometimes death. If it accidentally gets on the skin, local inflammation and blisters appear.
Poisonous tung (Aleurites fordii) is also a tree from this family. Euphorbiaceae (five species of tung are known, growing in the tropics and subtropics). Tung trees have thin, gray, smooth bark, alternate, large, entire or three- to five-lobed leaves, racemose or paniculate inflorescences of white unisexual flowers with a five-petalled bell-shaped corolla.
In China and Japan, tung oil has long been used to impregnate wooden ships (the wood became waterproof and did not rot), ship hulls were puttied with oil, and fabrics for umbrellas and raincoats were impregnated with oil.
Large, up to 6 - 7 centimeters in diameter, dark brown tung fruits, similar to figs, are very sweet, but poisonous. Enclosed within their fleshy pulp are seeds with a white, oily core, yielding 52 to 70% tung oil based on the dry weight of the kernel.
The oil has an unpleasant odor, is highly toxic and causes burns if it comes into contact with the skin.
Tung oil is classified as air-drying oil: it quickly forms a hard film that adheres to the surface on which it is applied.
At the end of the last century, the famous botanist A. N. Krasnov brought tung seedlings to Russia from Japan. They were landed in the village of Chakva, near Batumi. The trees began to grow, and so the first tung plantation in Russia arose. The cultivation of Chinese tung (it produces the best quality oil) has been carried out since 1928 in Sukhumi. In the coming years, the area of ​​tung plantations in Georgia should be increased to 17 thousand hectares.

Dangerous fumes

Over the forests, fields, meadows, like invisible signals of a wireless telegraph, all kinds of smells spread. These are volatile essential oils of plants and thousands of other substances. They tell insects that there is nectar in a flower, birds and forest animals that their home is close, and people that nothing in the world can compare with the aroma of pine needles warmed in the sun or strawberries reddened in the sun.
Essential oils are volatile substances contained in flowers, leaves, fruits and, less commonly, in other parts of the plant.

1. Lobelia puffy. 2. Ginkgo. 3. Caucasian Yasenets

The fruits of many plants from this family are rich in essential oils. Celery (Umbrella) - anise, dill, etc., leaves of most species from the family. Lamiaceae (Lamiaceae) - mint, sage, flowers of Astroraceae (Asteraceae) - chamomile, feverfew cinerarifolia, or Dalmatian chamomile. These oils are toxic to microorganisms and higher plants. They protect the plant that produces them. Thymol, a component of many essential oils, has a particularly strong bactericidal property. A solution of turpentine containing thymol inhibits the development of mold fungi even in very low concentrations. Aldehydes are highly toxic;
hydrocarbons isolated in their pure form are weaker in this regard; alcohols and esters are even less toxic.
Poison sumac (Rhus toxicodendron), growing wild in the swampy forests of the eastern United States among bushes, is a creeping and rooting shrub that produces shoots up to half a meter in height. Its trifoliate leaves turn bright red in autumn, and its whitish clusters of berries resemble grapes.
Sumac is used to make hedges in gardens and decorate the walls of residential buildings.
Sumac can cause a lot of trouble. In the resin passages that penetrate all parts of the plant, there is poisonous juice - a whitish resinous emulsion. If sumac is cut, the emulsion flows out in the form of drops that quickly turn black in the air. The toxic principle - polyhydrophenol (toxicodendrol) of glycosidic nature was discovered in this plant back in 1914. Hundredths of a milligram of this substance causes blisters to appear on the skin. People who pick sumac branches develop severe dermatitis - rashes and blisters appear on the skin, and the temperature rises. Fatal cases of poisoning from this plant have also been recorded.
In our flora, maiden vine (Parthenocissus quinguefolia) and American maple (Acer negundo) are very similar in appearance to poison sumac when it grows as a low growth. Maiden grape differs from sumac in the shape of its leaves, tendrils and black fruits, and maple differs in its feathery leaves and dry winged fruits.
For sumac burns, it is recommended to immediately wash your hands with soap suds, and if several hours have passed, with a 5% solution of potassium permanganate. You can use bean leaves, impatiens leaves, and lanceolate plantain leaves as home remedies for sumac burns.
In 1712, botanists discovered this living fossil in China. Under natural conditions, it is not found anywhere else except this country. Ginkgo is the only tree that reproduces in the same way as spore-bearing plants - ferns and horsetails.
Currently, ginkgo grows in many botanical gardens around the world.
Some types of primroses (primroses) also produce skin irritants. Particularly distinguished by this feature are Matthioli cortus (Cortusa matthioli) and mealy primrose (Primula farinosa). Cortuza is found along the calcareous banks of rivers (for example, along the Moscow River in the Ruza region), in Siberia, and in the cities of Central Europe. Powdery primrose sometimes caused dermatitis in milkmaids who milked cows after they lay in meadows overgrown with this plant.

Primroses are distributed almost throughout the world. These are common plants in our forest edges and lawns. They also grow in the Swiss Alps, in South America, in the forests of the Himalayas, on the islands of the Strait of Magellan, in Japan and China.
In Ancient Greece, primrose was considered the medicinal flower of Olympus and they believed that it contained healing principles for all diseases. One of the Greek legends said that the spring primrose P. veris arose from the body of a sick young man Paralysos, whom the gods, out of compassion, turned into a flower. Therefore, in ancient times, primrose was used to treat paralysis and joint pain; it was called “medicinal” or “paralysis herb.”
The Gauls and Celts also believed in its miraculous power and collected this plant, observing a number of ridiculous rules: they picked it on an empty stomach, barefoot, when collecting they put their hand under the left hem of their clothes to immediately hide the primrose, otherwise the flower might lose its healing power.
Among the Druids, primrose juice was part of a love potion; in France and Italy (Piedmont), even at the beginning of our century, it was believed that its flower was able to ward off the devil's obsession, it drives away demons and makes the bones of the innocent dead protrude from the ground.

The universal love for primrose does not fade, despite the fact that it sometimes causes diseases. More toxic than others, the primrose is conical; it is often found in our country as a houseplant. The disease does not develop immediately: after a latent period (up to 16 days), blistering itchy eczema appears, which heals without causing damage to the skin, but has unpleasant consequences: itching and redness are observed for some time. Dermatitis affects unprotected parts of the body.
Toxic substances of primrose are secretions of glandular hairs, clearly visible under a magnifying glass, located on the stem and underside of the leaves.
If primrose juice comes into direct contact with the skin, limited inflammation develops, from where the “infection” can spread to other areas, for example, through a handshake, but not through the bloodstream. The active principle was isolated from this plant in its pure form - a vascular poison that causes inflammation without tissue destruction.
Sometimes susceptibility to primrose poison is so strong that touching even wilted and dried parts of the plant is enough to cause dermatitis. However, not only dermatitis can occur from substances spreading around plants.
The aromas of luxurious magnolias and white lilies, the smell of bird cherry and wild rosemary cause a headache. They can kill - it's all a matter of dosage, time and conditions.
Some poisonous plants have no odor and no volatile substances are found in them, but you should not stay near them for a long time. Such plants include, for example, puffy lobelia (Lobelia inflata) - “Indian tobacco”, growing wild in North America.
In the lakes of the European part of the USSR (in the western regions of Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic republics, Karelia, in the Pskov and Leningrad regions, less often in the Kalinin and Arkhangelsk regions) another rare plant is found - Dortmann's lobelia.
This species is of great scientific value as one of the characteristic species of the relict, late-glacial (in the South - interglacial) floristic complex.

Dortmann's lobelia is disappearing due to lake pollution. It is listed in the Red Book as a plant in need of protection.

Difficult relationships

All substances discussed in the previous sections are phytoncides.

Research in recent years has shown that plants produce physiologically active substances that are not only destructive of microbes, but also suppressive in large concentrations, and stimulating in small concentrations the growth and development of surrounding plants. This general position is made more specific when the influence of some plants on others is studied. It turns out that everything is much more complicated, and plants have their own mysterious likes and dislikes.
For example, tulips and roses influence each other very well. If instead of roses you put lilies of the valley in a vase with tulips, the tulips will quickly wither.
Near lilies of the valley, poppy, orchids and mignonette, many flowers will quickly wither, while thuja branches, on the contrary, will prolong the life of nasturtiums and tulips.
In pine and linden, larch and linden, oak and Norway maple, oak and linden, the roots come together, but in oak, white acacia, pine and aspen this rapprochement does not occur. This is explained by the positive (in the first case) and negative (in the second) influence of one species on another.
It has been noted that Tatarian maple, rugose rose and common lilac, planted close to spruce, are greatly oppressed by this proximity. But rowan, hazel and raspberries get along well with the same spruce, despite the fact that their roots are intertwined with the roots of spruce and here, it would seem, competition for moisture, nutrients, etc. may arise. Spruce has a negative effect on apple and pear trees .
Volatile phytoncides of variegated elm and bird cherry stimulate the growth and respiration rate of pedunculate oak at the beginning of summer, but by the end of July they begin to suppress these processes.
It has long been noticed that apples have a negative effect on the germination of seeds of many plants. It is still difficult to say what substance in apples has such an effect on them, since the gaseous secretions of apples that create their unique aroma contain alcohols, aldehydes, various esters of organic acids, fragrant substances (limonene and geraniol), and essential oils. It was possible to isolate 32 components from this mixture of substances.
In 1940, the glycoside absinthine was obtained from the root secretions of wormwood.
Flax, resistant to fungal attack, releases hydrocyanic acid into the soil through its roots. These substances cannot be indifferent to the plant itself that produces them.
It is known that dead peach roots release amygdalin into the soil, which is broken down by soil bacteria to glucose, benzoaldehyde and hydrocyanic acid. Hydrocyanic acid evaporates quickly from the soil, but benzoaldehyde suppresses the respiration of peaches and they "slowly deteriorate" through self-poisoning.
The composition of organic substances released into the soil by plant roots varies.
Organic acids were found among them: oxalic, citric, malic, fumaric, pyruvic, tartaric, succinic, salicylic, acetic, etc., as well as amino acids, nitrogenous compounds, sugars, vitamins, and enzymes.
It is interesting that sumac, which is so poisonous to humans, does not have a noticeable effect on surrounding plants. The phytoncides of its leaves have an incomparably weaker effect on protozoa than, for example, the phytoncides of the leaves of oak, birch, black currant and many other plants.
Essential oils of mustard, onion and garlic are detrimental to many microorganisms, but it is not known for sure whether they affect the growth and development of higher plants. Essential oils are sometimes poisonous to the plants from which they are isolated. Anise, rosemary and lavender are killed by their own vapors essential oils.

Alkaloids inhibit the growth of neighboring plants. The most active in this regard are berberine and veratrine (helebore alkaloid). Mint growing next to dope reduces the alkaloid content in it by almost half. Goat's rue (Galega officinalis), on the contrary, increases the alkaloid content of belladonna when it grows next to it.

Preface ..................................................... ........................................................ ........................................3
Every blade of grass is blessed ................................................... ........................................................ ..........7
There the invisible sting of the poison threatens with death...................................... ...............................................7
Poison is not scary for them................................................... ........................................................ .............................13
Harmony in nature........................................................ ........................................................ ...............................15
Secrets of plant poisons................................................................... ........................................................ ..................19
The mysterious language of herbs................................................................... ........................................................ .........................19
Avalanche of discoveries................................................... ........................................................ ................................22
Miracle quinine................................................... ........................................................ ....................27
Study of the “Socratic Cup” .................................................... ........................................................ .......thirty
A plant that has mixed up time................................................... ........................................................ ..........33
Other plant poisons........................................................ ........................................................ ............................36
Hazardous fumes......................................................... ........................................................ ...............................41
Difficult relationships........................................................ ........................................................ ...............47
In the shade under the trees .................................................... ........................................................ ........................53
And in the curls there was a thin fern in the forest...................................... ........................................53
Wolf berries................................................... ........................................................ ........................................57
Thunder Broom................................................ ........................................................ .....................................63
Quiet ringing of lilies of the valley................................................... ........................................................ ...............................66
Clefthoof and its poisonous relatives.................................................... ........................................................ 71
A flower with an envious character.................................................... ........................................................ ..........73
A plant dangerous to white sheep.................................................... ........................................................ ............75
The Mystery of Poisonous Honey......................................................... ........................................................ ...............................77
Swallow grass................................................... ........................................................ ........................................78
Where is your former glory, vervain? ........................................................ ........................................................ ..........80
Lamb grass................................................... ........................................................ ...........................................81
Growing from the poisonous saliva of Cerberus.................................................... ........................................................ ..83
Fierce buttercups................................................... ........................................................ ........................................89
Other poisonous representatives of Buttercups.................................................... ........................................96
Beautiful Adonis................................................... ........................................................ ...............................104
Demon's milk................................................... ........................................................ ........................................106
Poisonous hellebores................................................... ........................................................ ...............................111
Plants-comforters ................................................... ........................................................ ................................116
Herb of soothsayers and inquisitors.................................................... ........................................................ .....116
Beautiful lady................................................ ........................................................ ....................................119
Stupid grass......................................................... ........................................................ ...........................................120
Magic mandrake................................................... ........................................................ ...........................121
Damn potion................................................... ........................................................ ........................................124
Victory over pain................................................................... ........................................................ ....................................129
Unusual flower................................................... ........................................................ ................................133
Two-Faced Janus................................................... ........................................................ ........................................136
Poisonous Strangers ................................................... ........................................................ ........................140
Tree of Death................................................ ........................................................ ........................................140
Ugly nut................................................... ........................................................ ...........................................144
Mysterious curare................................................... ........................................................ ...............................146
African poisons “kombe” and “onaye” .................................................... ........................................................ ............151
Camphor................................................. ........................................................ ........................................................ .155
Strange children of the forest .................................................... ........................................................ ................................159
Death cap................................................ ........................................................ ........................................159
Fly agaric......................................................... ........................................................ ........................................................ .166
Stitches and morels......................................................... ........................................................ ....................................172
Bibliography................................................ ........................................................ ...................................175

It is difficult to imagine how many mysteries the Russian land is fraught with, and even more difficult to imagine how many dangers it is fraught with. We will talk about the most dangerous and poisonous plants growing in Russia.

In fact, plant poison, if collected on a mass scale, could partially replace chemical and biological weapons... and even simple weapons in some cases. There are stories when dedicated people used plant poisons for inhumane, selfish purposes, for example, eliminating an enemy.

In Ancient Greece, death sentences were carried out using the juice of hemlock (a plant that, by the way, is quite common in Russia). Socrates, according to available information, was sent to the Other World with the help of hemlock juice, according to other sources - spotted hemlock. Both plants live happily in Russia.

As legends say, earlier, when villages were captured by enemies, Russians fleeing to save their lives poured the juices of poisonous plants - belladonna, henbane, etc. - into barrels of wine stored in cellars.

Many herbs have healing properties, but there are those that can bring not only healing, but also death. The paradox is that almost all poisonous plants are used for the preparation of medicines along with useful ones, only the raw materials are carefully dosed.

As they say (the words of Paracelsus, the brilliant physician of all times): “Only the dose makes a substance a poison or a medicine.”

Very often, the juices and raw materials of poisonous plants are used to treat the heart, stop bleeding, and relieve pain.

Potato juice (and also juices of various vegetables, berries: sorrel, currants, beets, cucumber, cabbage, cranberries), beaten egg whites with raw milk, powder were used as antidotes (naturally for mild poisoning, and not when a person is convulsing). from dried orchis tubers, valerian root, elecampane root.

In total, about 10 thousand poisonous plants are known in the world, many of them grow in the tropics and subtropics, but on Russian soil, flowers and greens are almost always found that can, under certain conditions, cause harm to humans. It’s just that we don’t eat or pick up all the plants – this saves us from the consequences. However, when visiting the forest, especially with children, you should not forget how much danger can lurk among the grass, because it is children who often suffer from plant poisons.

Let's look at the most common poisonous plants in Russia.

In the photo the veh is poisonous

Vekh poisonous (or hemlock)

“Veh is poisonous (the spelling and pronunciation of vekh is allowed) (lat. Cicúta virósa) - a poisonous plant; species of the genus Veh of the Umbrella family, widespread in Europe.

Other names: hemlock, cat parsley, wood pig, omeg, omezhnik, water rabies, water hemlock, mutnik, dog angelica, gorigol, pig louse.”

The active toxic substance is cicutoxin. When taking hemlock juice in non-lethal doses (up to 100 grams of rhizome), symptoms of intestinal poisoning begin within a few minutes, then foam at the mouth, unsteady gait, and dizziness. When taking higher doses - convulsions leading to paralysis and death.

Hemlock can easily be confused with safer plants - this is its main danger. The taste is reminiscent of parsley, rutabaga, celery, it is sweet and cloying, which again makes hemlock harmless.

In Russia it is found in nature almost everywhere. The most common-looking plant, which is very easy to confuse with a harmless one.

Pictured is a hemlock

Hemlock spotted

“Spotted hemlock (lat. Conīum maculātum) is a biennial herbaceous plant, a species of the genus Hemlock (Conium) of the Umbrella family (Apiaceae).

In Russia it is found throughout almost the entire European part, the Caucasus, and Western Siberia.

Poisonous properties are determined by the alkaloids coniine (the most poisonous), methylkoniine, conhydrin, pseudoconhydrin, coniceine. Hemlock fruits contain up to 2% alkaloids, leaves - up to 0.1%, flowers - up to 0.24%, seeds - up to 2%.

Coniine is the most poisonous substance in hemlock; when taken in large doses, it first causes agitation and then stops breathing.

“The first symptoms of poisoning: nausea, drooling, dizziness, difficulty swallowing, speech, pale skin. Initial excitement is accompanied by convulsions and turns into depression of the central nervous system. Characteristic is ascending paralysis, starting from the lower extremities, accompanied by loss of skin sensitivity. The pupils are dilated and do not react to light. Increasing suffocation can lead to respiratory arrest. When in contact with skin, the sap causes dermatitis.”

The antidote is milk with a solution of potassium permanganate - pink. To “die” hemlock, you need to eat a lot - a couple of kilograms; there are known cases of the death of starved cattle. But poisons isolated from leaves and parts of the plant can be fatal in much smaller quantities.

However, hemlock is also used as a healing plant; it is considered almost sacred for traditional healers - they treat cancer, heart problems, etc.

Externally it looks like hemlock, there are spots on the stem, which is why it is named accordingly.

In the photo there is a poisonous buttercup

Poisonous buttercup

“Poisonous buttercup (lat. Ranunculus sceleratus) is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant; species of the genus Buttercup (Ranunculus) of the Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). Very poisonous."

There are many types of buttercup, the poisonous one is similar to the safer species.

Active toxic substances: gamma-lactones (ranunculin and protoanemonin), flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin, etc.).

There are known cases of animal poisoning, and the milk of cows that have eaten buttercups is also poisonous.

In people, when the pulp from parts of the plant gets on damaged skin, burns appear; when it gets on the mucous membranes, it causes sharp pain and spasms of the larynx. When taken orally in small doses, hemorrhagic damage to the gastric tract occurs. With more impressive doses and constant intoxication with poisons, cardiac dysfunction, kidney damage, and vasoconstriction occur.

In the photo henbane

Henbane

“Henbane (lat. Hyoscýamus) is a genus of herbaceous plants of the Solanaceae family.”

Active toxic substances: atropine, hyoscyamine, scopolamine.

“Symptoms of poisoning (confusion, fever, rapid heartbeat, dry mouth, blurred vision, etc.) appear within 15-20 minutes.”

All parts of the plant are poisonous.

Pictured is belladonna

Belladonna

This poisonous flower got its name from the formation of two Italian words for “beautiful woman” (bella donna), since Italian women dropped the juice of the plant into their eyes to dilate their pupils and give their eyes shine.

In case of mild poisoning (occurring within 10-20 minutes), tachycardia, delirium, agitation begin, pupils dilate, and photophobia. In case of severe poisoning - convulsions, high temperature, drop in blood pressure, paralysis of the respiratory center, vascular insufficiency.

In the photo there is a raven's eye

Crow's eye four-leaf

“Crow's eye four-leafed, or Crow's eye ordinary (lat. Pāris quadrifōlia) is a species of herbaceous plants from the genus Crow's eye of the Melanthiaceae family (previously this genus was classified in the Liliaceae family). Poisonous plant."

The plant is deadly poisonous. Children often suffer, since the berry is quite beautiful and attractive to look at.

“The leaves act on the central nervous system, the fruits on the heart, the rhizomes cause vomiting. Symptoms of poisoning: abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, attacks of dizziness, convulsions, disruption of the heart until it stops. The use of the plant for medicinal purposes is prohibited."

Pictured is castor bean

Castor bean

« Castor bean (Ricinus commúnis) is an oilseed, medicinal and ornamental garden plant.” Used to decorate parks. According to sources, deaths from eating parts of the plant are rare, but castor beans are considered a very poisonous species.

The active toxic substances are ricin, ricinin.

« All parts of the plant contain the protein ricin and the alkaloid ricinin, poisonous to humans and animals (LD50 about 500 mcg). Ingestion of plant seeds causes enteritis, vomiting and colic, bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, water-electrolyte imbalance and death after 5-7 days. The damage to health is irreparable; survivors cannot fully restore their health, which is explained by the ability of ricin to irreversibly destroy proteins in human tissue. Inhalation of ricin powder similarly affects the lungs.”

It is amazing that castor oil, which is so popular in medicine, is made from castor beans. To neutralize the poison, the raw materials are treated with hot steam.

Castor bean is considered one of the most poisonous plants in the world.

In the photo Lobel's hellebore

Lobel's hellebore

“Lobel's hellebore, or Lobeliev's hellebore (lat. Verátrum lobeliánum) is a species of plant of the genus Chemeritsa of the Melanthiaceae family. Medicinal, poisonous, insecticidal plant."

Contains toxic alkaloids: yervin, rubijervin, isorubijervin, germine, germidine, protoveratrine.

“Hereboil is a very poisonous plant, its roots contain 5-6 alkaloids, of which the most poisonous is protoveratrine, which can suppress the central nervous system and has a harmful effect on the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system.”

If the plant is consumed internally, the throat begins to burn, a severe runny nose appears, then psychomotor agitation, weakening of cardiac activity, hypotension, bradycardia, shock and death (when consuming high doses of root juice), usually consciousness remains until death - at high concentrations of poison, death can coming in a couple of hours.

In the photo there is dope

Datura common (smelly)

Toxic substances: atropine, hyoscyamine, scopolamine.

“Symptoms of poisoning: motor agitation, sharp dilation of the pupils, redness of the face and neck, hoarseness, thirst, headache. Subsequently, speech impairment, coma, hallucinations, paralysis.”

In the photo aconite

Wolfsbane, or fighter

One of the most poisonous plants. Extremely dangerous even when used externally.

The active toxic substances are aconitine, zongorin.

The taste is burning and immediately causes neurological disorders, including tachycardia, tremors of the limbs, dilated pupils, and headache. Then convulsions, clouding of consciousness, delirium, breathing problems, and if help is not provided - death.

In the photo there is a wolfberry

Wolf's bast, or wolf's berry

For a fatal outcome, according to information from medical sources, it is enough for an adult to consume 15 berries, for a child 5. Causes severe poisoning, and death if assistance is not provided.

Active toxic substances: diterpenoids: dafnetoxin, meserein; coumarins - dafnin, dafnetin.

In the photo there is a wild rosemary

Marsh rosemary

The active toxic substances are ledol, cymol, palustrol, arbutin.

Negatively affects the central nervous system.

“Symptoms: dry mouth, numbness of the tongue, speech impairment, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, general weakness, lack of coordination of movements, clouding of consciousness, increased or decreased heart rate, convulsions, agitation; after 30–120 minutes, central nervous system paralysis is possible.”

In small doses it is used as a medicine for lung diseases.

In the photo, autumn crocus

Autumn colchicum

Parts of the flower contain a deadly poison - colchicine, which acts like arsenic. The process of damage to the body can take up to several days and weeks. Even if it comes into contact with the skin, the poison causes severe burns.

In the photo there is an oleander

Oleander

In Russia, the plant is found mainly growing decoratively in offices and apartments. A beautiful, but very poisonous shrub.

“Oleander juice, taken orally, causes severe colic in humans and animals, vomiting and diarrhea, and then leads to serious problems in the functioning of the heart and central nervous system. The cardiac glycosides it contains can cause cardiac arrest. Due to the toxicity of the plant, it is not recommended to place it in children's institutions."

Dieffenbachia in the photo

Dieffenbachia

A widespread indoor plant in Russia. Mainly causes dermatitis. However, there are also known deaths from ingesting the plant juice.

Plants such as sweet clover, tansy, lily of the valley, wormwood, and sage are less toxic than, for example, aconite, but in large doses and with constant use they can cause irreversible damage to the body.

For example, lily of the valley juice affects the heart muscle, sage and wormwood contain substances that can cause psychosis, tansy is very toxic when taken in large doses. Sweet clover contains the poison coumarin, dicoumarin, which when taken in large doses prevents blood clotting and causes bleeding.

Cerberus is also grown in Russia - one of the most beautiful flowers with a jasmine aroma. True, only in a decorative form, on window sills. In hot countries, this plant is called the “suicide tree”: parts of the flower contain an extremely dangerous poison, cerberin, a glycoside that blocks the conduction of electrical impulses and disrupts the heart rhythm. Even the smoke from burning plant leaves is dangerous.

In ancient times, when there were no pistols and modern technologies, natural poisons were used with might and main to eliminate enemies. They lubricated the tips of bow arrows with the juice of poisonous plants, which guaranteed the death of the enemy, and they actively used the same aconite.

Poisonous plants actually grow everywhere in Russia. Their danger lies mainly not in the fact that they grow everywhere - after all, people don’t eat them en masse, but in the fact that they are similar to others, edible, and in the fact that many are beautiful: so, they are simply confused with useful plants, which fraught.

Garden strawberries, or strawberries, as we used to call them, are one of the early aromatic berries that summer generously gifts us with. How happy we are about this harvest! In order for the “berry boom” to repeat every year, we need to take care of the berry bushes in the summer (after the end of fruiting). The laying of flower buds, from which ovaries will form in the spring and berries in the summer, begins approximately 30 days after the end of fruiting.

Among the variety of species and hybrids of philodendrons, there are many plants, both gigantic and compact. But not a single species competes in unpretentiousness with the main modest one - the blushing philodendron. True, his modesty does not concern the appearance of the plant. Blushing stems and cuttings, huge leaves, long shoots, forming, although very large, but also a strikingly elegant silhouette, look very elegant. Philodendron blushing requires only one thing - at least minimal care.

Thick chickpea soup with vegetables and egg is a simple recipe for a hearty first course, inspired by oriental cuisine. Similar thick soups are prepared in India, Morocco, and Southeast Asian countries. The tone is set by spices and seasonings - garlic, chili, ginger and a bouquet of spicy spices, which can be assembled to your taste. It is better to fry vegetables and spices in clarified butter (ghee) or mix olive and butter in a pan; this, of course, is not the same, but it tastes similar.

Plum - well, who isn’t familiar with it?! She is loved by many gardeners. And all because it has an impressive list of varieties, surprises with excellent yields, pleases with its diversity in terms of ripening and a huge selection of color, shape and taste of fruits. Yes, in some places it feels better, in others it feels worse, but almost no summer resident gives up the pleasure of growing it on his plot. Today it can be found not only in the south, in the middle zone, but also in the Urals and Siberia.

Many ornamental and fruit crops, except drought-resistant ones, suffer from the scorching sun, and conifers in the winter-spring period suffer from sunlight, enhanced by reflection from the snow. In this article we will tell you about a unique product for protecting plants from sunburn and drought - Sunshet Agrosuccess. The problem is relevant for most regions of Russia. In February and early March, the sun's rays become more active, and the plants are not yet ready for new conditions.

“Every vegetable has its own time,” and every plant has its own optimal time for planting. Anyone who has dealt with planting is well aware that the hot season for planting is spring and autumn. This is due to several factors: in the spring the plants have not yet begun to grow rapidly, there is no sweltering heat and precipitation often falls. However, no matter how hard we try, circumstances often develop such that planting has to be carried out in the midst of summer.

Chili con carne translated from Spanish means chili with meat. This is a Texas and Mexican dish whose main ingredients are chili peppers and shredded beef. In addition to the main products there are onions, carrots, tomatoes, and beans. This red lentil chili recipe is delicious! The dish is fiery, scalding, very filling and amazingly tasty! You can make a big pot, put it in containers and freeze - you'll have a delicious dinner for a whole week.

Cucumber is one of the most favorite garden crops of our summer residents. However, not all and not always gardeners manage to get a really good harvest. And although growing cucumbers requires regular attention and care, there is a little secret that will significantly increase their yield. We are talking about pinching cucumbers. Why, how and when to pinch cucumbers, we will tell you in the article. An important point in the agricultural technology of cucumbers is their formation, or type of growth.

Now every gardener has the opportunity to grow absolutely environmentally friendly, healthy fruits and vegetables in their own garden. Atlant microbiological fertilizer will help with this. It contains helper bacteria that settle in the root system area and begin to work for the benefit of the plant, allowing it to actively grow, remain healthy and produce high yields. Typically, many microorganisms coexist around the root system of plants.

Summer is associated with beautiful flowers. Both in the garden and in the rooms you want to admire the luxurious inflorescences and touching flowers. And for this it is not at all necessary to use cut bouquets. The assortment of the best indoor plants includes many beautifully flowering species. In the summer, when they receive the brightest lighting and optimal daylight hours, they can outshine any bouquet. Short-lived or just annual crops also look like living bouquets.

Pie with sardines and potatoes - quick, tasty, simple! This pie can be baked both on weekends and on weekdays, and it will also decorate a modest holiday table. In principle, any canned fish - natural with the addition of oil - is suitable for the filling. With pink salmon or salmon the taste will be a little different, with saury, sardines or mackerel it’s so delicious! The potatoes are placed in the pie raw, so they need to be cut very thin so that they have time to bake. You can use a vegetable cutter.

Summer is in full swing. Planting in gardens and vegetable gardens is mostly completed, but worries have not diminished, because the hottest months of the year are on the calendar. The temperature scale of the thermometer often exceeds +30 °C, preventing our plants from growing and developing. How can we help them cope with the heat? The tips we will share in this article will be useful for both country and city residents. After all, indoor plants also have a hard time during this period. In hot weather, plants need watering.

For many gardeners, slugs are a nightmare. Although you might think, what’s wrong with these, at first glance, peaceful, sedentary creatures? But in fact, they can cause significant harm to your plants and crops. Not only do slugs persistently eat leaves, flowers and fruits in spring and summer, but with the onset of cold weather, these land mollusks move into the cellar and there they continue to destroy what you have so carefully grown and collected.

Spelled horns with beef - a quick dish for dinner or lunch. Recently, spelt (spelt wheat) has become popular among supporters of proper nutrition and not only. Porridges, soups, spelt and pasta are made from this tasty cereal. In this recipe for spelled cones, we will prepare healthy navy-style pasta with a sauce made from vegetables and lean ground beef. The recipe is suitable for those who watch their figure and like to cook healthy food at home.

Summer is a wonderful time of year! There is so much you can do at your dacha in a few warm months - work, relax, and invite friends to a barbecue. But as soon as the heat of the day subsides, our small but real enemies immediately appear - mosquitoes. In rainy summers or after heavy river floods, there are especially many of them and the attacks of small bloodsuckers become simply unbearable. Mosquitoes produce unpleasant squeaks and bites that cause severe itching.

The incredible blooms on your favorite cacti and succulents always seem even more delectable because of the amazing hardiness of the plants themselves. Luxurious bells and dazzling stars remind you that nature has many miracles in store. And although many indoor succulents require special wintering conditions to bloom, they still remain crops that require minimal care and are suitable for everyone. Let's take a closer look at the most spectacular of them.