I have a weed in my backyard. Every year, for the past 7 years, it has poked its head from the fertile soil in the border between the yard and the woods, looking oh-so cute and innocuous. Then I blink. Next thing I know, its nearly six feet tall with an equally wide canopy, covered … Continue reading
I find it cool when a poison has a literal killer history, yet finds use in hospitals around the world as a valuable medicine. That’s the story of physostigmine, an alkaloid found in Physostigma venenosum, the Calabar bean, and where we will start this tale. The Calabar bean is no doubt named for the area in which it was … Continue reading
Nature's Poisons 