科学｜北大発見の猛毒植物の正体 / Science | The True Nature of the Highly Toxic Plant Discovered by Hokkaido University

Summary

A plant discovered by Hokkaido University has been confirmed to have strong toxicity.

This plant contains furanocoumarins in its sap, which are known to be phototoxic substances that can cause intense pain when the skin comes into contact with it and is then exposed to sunlight. Additionally, it has been reported that this plant is an invasive species and has not been identified as Baikal hogweed. Due to the presence of phototoxic substances, caution is advised.

Dialogue

This dialogue is fictional and based on the article.

Chako: Hey Log, is this plant really dangerous?!
Log: Yeah, it seems that if you touch the sap and then expose yourself to sunlight, you can experience intense pain. It contains a light-sensitive substance called furanocoumarins, which makes it hazardous.
Chako: What’s a light-sensitive substance?
Log: Simply put, it’s a component that reacts to sunlight and can cause harmful effects. So, after you touch it, you should definitely avoid sunlight.
Navi: Light-sensitive substances can cause skin inflammation, so you need to be particularly careful. Proper handling of this plant is necessary.
Chako: It’s that dangerous! We need to be careful!

Admin’s Note

This news addresses a very important topic: the discovery of toxic plants. A deeper understanding of phototoxic substances will likely enhance safety in our living environments. The calm explanation in the log regarding Chako’s questions served as a great opportunity to expand our knowledge. As concerns about the rise of invasive species grow, this type of information becomes especially crucial. Moving forward, we should remain vigilant and stay well-informed about these plants.