OBSCURIN
Flammability | 1 | |
Toxicity | 0 | |
Body Contact | 0 | |
Reactivity | 1 | |
Chronic | 2 | |
SCALE: Min/Nil=0 Low=1 Moderate=2 High=3 Extreme=4 |
Alkaloid from herb of Lycopodium complanatum L. Lycopodiacea.
C17-H26-N2-O, obscurine, alpha-obscurine, "lycodin-1(2H)-one, 3, 18-dihydro-17-methyl-",
"lycodin-1(2H)-one, 3, 18-dihydro-17-methyl-", "for beta-obscurine", "lycodin-1(18H)-one,
17-methyl-", "lycodin-1(18H)-one, 17-methyl-", "alkaloid from Lycopodium complanatum"
The material has NOT been classified as "harmful by ingestion". This is because of the lack of corroborating animal or human evidence. The material may still be damaging to the health of the individual, following ingestion, especially where pre-existing organ (e.g. liver, kidney) damage is evident. Present definitions of harmful or toxic substances are generally based on doses producing mortality (death) rather than those producing morbidity (disease, ill-health). Gastrointestinal tract discomfort may produce nausea and vomiting. In an occupational setting however, unintentional ingestion is not thought to be cause for concern.
Although the material is not thought to be an irritant, direct contact with the eye may cause transient discomfort characterized by tearing or conjunctival redness (as with windburn). Slight abrasive damage may also result. The material may produce foreign body irritation in certain individuals.
The material is not thought to produce adverse health effects or skin irritation following contact (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting. Open cuts, abraded or irritated skin should not be exposed to this material. Entry into the blood-stream, through, for example, cuts, abrasions or lesions, may produce systemic injury with harmful effects. Examine the skin prior to the use of the material and ensure that any external damage is suitably protected.
The material is not thought to produce adverse health effects or irritation of the respiratory tract (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable control measures be used in an occupational setting.
Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems. Long term exposure to high dust concentrations may cause changes in lung function i.e. pneumoconiosis; caused by particles less than 0.5 micron penetrating and remaining in the lung. Prime symptom is breathlessness; lung shadows show on X-ray. Exposure to small quantities may induce hypersensitivity reactions characterized by acute bronchospasm, hives (urticaria), deep dermal wheals (angioneurotic edema), running nose (rhinitis) and blurred vision . Anaphylactic shock and skin rash (non-thrombocytopenic purpura) may occur. An individual may be predisposed to such anti-body mediated reaction if other chemical agents have caused prior sensitization (cross-sensitivity). The lycopodium alkaloids, lycopodine, complanatine, obscurine, annotinine, L8 and L9 produce a range of pharmacological actions. Appropriate doses of the alkaloids injected intravenously in cats raised arterial blood pressure. Obscurine has the most pronounced pressor effect. These alkaloids had no effect on the respiration of anaesthetised cats following injection. Lycopodine and L8 augment peristaltic movements of isolated rabbit's small intestines. Lycopodine, complanatine, obscurine and L9 stimulate the isolated rabbit's uterus. Lycopodine, L8 and L9 contract isolated guinea pigs uterus. Lycopodine (a quinoline derivative), complanatine, annotinine and L9 produce muscular incoordination and paralysis following injection in the lymph sacs of frogs.