ABSTRACT
Toxic and poisonous effect of plants has been known since ages. Hemlock, sometimes referred as poison hemlock, is a nitrophilic plant of the Apiaceae (originally Umbelliferae) family. It is native to Europe, particularly the Mediterranean, and is well known for its severe toxicity to people and domestic animals. Poison had such a significant impact in ancient Greece that it was widely used to execute criminals and political opponents (Blooch, 2001). The existence of various piperidine alkaloids, including coniine, N-Methyl-coniine, conhydrine, pseudoconhydrine, and γ-Coniceine, which are precursors to several other hemlock alkaloids and are generated by the cyclization of an eight-carbon chain obtained from four acetate molecules, is responsible for its extremely toxic character. The toxic compounds have shown interference to signalling events and hence lethality. Despite the fact that this plant is extremely poisonous, its extraction has long been utilized as a natural treatment for a wide range of diseases. The ailments which have primarily been treated are prostate gland swelling, testis swelling, herpes treatment, erysipelas (a type of superficial cellulitis), breast tumours, antispasmodic, sedative, or analgesic. Homoeopathy and traditional medicine both utilize leaf extract to treat cervical cancer. This book chapter covers phytochemical elements; pharmacological research; toxic responses of Conium maculatum; clinical poisoning, such as neurotoxicosis, tremor, vomiting, and muscular paralysis; and various other impacts, such as toxicity, mechanistics, environmental, and human difficulties.
