Saxitoxins
From Ganfyd
Common Name:Saxitoxin
Other Names
Actually multiple substances including: 1H,10H-Pyrrolo(1,2-c)purine-10,10-diol, Gonyaulax catenella poison, Mytilus californianus poison, Saxidomus giganteus poison
Chemical Information
Molecular Structure
Relevant Clinical Literature
RCT with Saxitoxin from Pubmed
Saxitoxins are one of at least 21 different componds associated with Paralytic shellfish poisoning. They are neurotoxins that block sodium movement throuh the cell membrane channels. During metabolism in shellfish from the Dinoflagellate orginal toxic chemical their toxicity may be enhanced. There is no antidote and weight for weight they are about 1000 times more toxic than cyanide. To recover you need new sodium channels so it takes a while if you make it. They are quantified by a reliable mouse bioassay which tends to make in Western countries commercial shellfish relatively safe from this problem.
