Adenia

Adenia is a genus in the passionflower family Passifloraceae.

Species
Adenia aculeata
Adenia cissampeloides
Adenia keramanthus
Adenia lanceolata
Adenia lobata
Adenia ellenbeckii
Adenia fruticosa
Adenia stenodactyla
Adenia glauca
Adenia cladosepala
Adenia digitata
Adenia racemosa
Adenia spinosa
Adenia globosa
Adenia venenata
Adenia goetzii
Adenia firingalavense
Adenia olaboensis
Adenia pechuelii
Adenia volkensii


This unobtrusive genus should be better known for the extreme toxicity of the sap, especially in those forming a perennial swollen base (a caudex, hence the caudiciform species). In addition to cyanogenic compounds, these contain lectins which destroy ribosomes, hence prevent protein synthesis. This is the same mode of action as ricin, and the toxicities are comparable. A. volkensii was shown to be intensely toxic by Barbieri (1984). Pelosi et al (2005) compared ten species, and found 3 (A. stenodactyla, A. goezii and A. lanceolata) which were inhibitory at <0.1 ng/ml and lethal to mice at <2ug/kg, making them among the most potent plant toxins known.

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