QUINOTOXIN Meaning and
Definition
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Quinotoxin is a noun that refers to a naturally occurring toxic compound found in certain organisms, particularly in marine and freshwater shellfish. It is a type of phycotoxin, which are toxins produced by certain types of algae.
Quinotoxin is primarily known for its potential to cause various adverse health effects in humans and animals when ingested. It acts as a neurotoxin, affecting the nervous system and can lead to symptoms ranging from mild gastrointestinal discomfort to severe neurological disorders.
Exposure to quinotoxin typically occurs when individuals consume contaminated seafood, such as clams, mussels, or scallops, which have accumulated the toxin through filter feeding on algae containing it. The toxin cannot be detected by smell or taste, and cooking the contaminated shellfish does not eliminate its toxicity.
Quinotoxin poisoning, also known as Quinotoxism or Neogenenic Shellfish Poisoning (NSP), manifests within a few minutes to several hours after ingestion. Symptoms include tingling or numbness in the mouth and extremities, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, respiratory muscle paralysis and even death.
To prevent quinotoxin poisoning, it is crucial to follow consumption advisories issued by regulatory agencies, which monitor shellfish beds for toxin levels. Additionally, it is recommended to purchase shellfish from approved sources and discard any that show signs of contamination.
Overall, quinotoxin is an important term to understand to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals who regularly consume shellfish or work in industries related to seafood.
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A poisonous isomer of quinine.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for QUINOTOXIN
- 1uinotoxin
- 2uinotoxin
- wuinotoxin
- auinotoxin
- qyinotoxin
- qhinotoxin
- qjinotoxin
- qiinotoxin
- q8inotoxin
- q7inotoxin
- quunotoxin
- qujnotoxin
- quknotoxin
- quonotoxin
- qu9notoxin
- qu8notoxin
- quibotoxin
- quimotoxin
- quijotoxin
- quihotoxin
Etymology of QUINOTOXIN
The word "quinotoxin" is a combination of two elements: "quinoline" and "toxin".
1. Quinoline:quinoline" originates from the chemical compound named quinine, which was first isolated from the bark of the South American cinchona tree in the early 19th century. Quinine was found to possess antimalarial properties and was widely used to treat the disease. It was derived from the Quechua word "quina-quina", meaning "bark of bark", referring to the cinchona tree's medicinal bark.quinoline" was later coined by German chemist von der Marck in 1834 to describe a class of aromatic heterocyclic compounds with similar structures to quinine.
2. Toxin: The word "toxin" belongs to the field of toxicology, which focuses on the study of poisons or harmful substances.
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