Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Two plant fish-poisons in Lebanon.

F Nigel Hepper1

  • 1The Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond TW9 3AE, United Kingdom.

Veterinary and Human Toxicology
|December 14, 2004
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same journal

V&HT's future--like all futures--remains 'uncertain'.

Veterinary and human toxicology·2004
Same journal

Preparing for an era of weapons of mass destruction (WMD)--are we there yet? Why we should all be concerned. Part II.

Veterinary and human toxicology·2004
Same journal

Melatonin exposures reported to Texas poison centers in 1998-2003.

Veterinary and human toxicology·2004
Same journal

Acute pesticide poisoning related deaths in Turkey.

Veterinary and human toxicology·2004
Same journal

Atypical poisonings with botanicals raise suspicion of malicious activity.

Veterinary and human toxicology·2004
Same journal

Regulation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the European Union: principles of risk assessment.

Veterinary and human toxicology·2004
See all related articles

A novel powder made from wild Lebanese storax seeds and cyclamen tubers is being used to poison sea fish. This method of marine wildlife poisoning is documented here for the first time.

Area of Science:

  • Marine Biology
  • Ethnobotany
  • Environmental Science

Background:

  • The practice of using plant-derived substances for fishing is historically documented in various cultures.
  • Lebanon's unique flora includes species with traditional medicinal and potentially toxic properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report the first documented instance of a specific plant-based powder used for poisoning sea fish in Lebanese waters.
  • To identify the botanical sources of this toxic powder and provide references to their known properties.

Main Methods:

  • Field observation and sample collection of the toxic powder used by local fishermen.
  • Botanical identification of the plant species used in the powder: Storax (Styrax officinalis L.) seeds and Common Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum Mill.) tubers.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Literature review on the properties of Styrax officinalis and Cyclamen persicum.

    • Main Results:

    • The powder is confirmed to be a mixture derived from the seeds of Styrax officinalis and the tubers of Cyclamen persicum.
    • Both species are indigenous and grow wild in Lebanon, making them accessible for local use.
    • This represents the first reported case of this specific powder formulation being used for marine fish poisoning.

    Conclusions:

    • The use of Styrax officinalis and Cyclamen persicum seeds and tubers, respectively, constitutes a novel method for marine fish poisoning in the region.
    • Understanding the ethnobotanical origins and application of such substances is crucial for monitoring and managing potential ecological impacts on marine ecosystems.