Toxic plants and Crime

Abstract

Poison is a substance when administered by mouth, injection and inhalation, through skin, mucous membrane or contact to body can deteriote health even death. These poisons may be mineral salts, different natural and synthetic chemicals or obtained from animals or plants. Poison of plant origin and can be obtained from different parts of plant, seeds, latex, or plant extract. These silent weapons can destroy life of any human or animal secretly without any violence. The poisons of plant origin were used by criminals for burglary, rape and homicide or murders. These can be used by mixing in drinks or food, contact with body or injecting in the body of the victim. There is a long list of poisonous plants which are toxic and were used in India for lethal crimes. Most of these plants are also of medicinal importance and are used in ayurvedic, homeopathic and in allopathic medicine. A specific quantity of a specific plant product may act as a potential medicine and beyond that quantity may act as an intoxicant or poisons and may cause death. Now day’s viruses, bacteria, extract of micro algae and dianophysian organism are also used in crime, specially viruses and bacteria as bio-weapons.