Most delicious poison : the story of nature's toxins--from spices to vices

Summary: Based on cutting-edge science in the fields of evolution, chemistry and neuroscience, an evolutionary biologist reveals the origins of natural toxins produced by plants, mushrooms, microbes and even some animals, discussing how and why they evolved and the biological basis for our attraction--and addiction--to them.

Record details

ISBN: 9780316386579 (hardcover)
Physical Description: 295 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm
print
Edition: First edition.
Publisher: New York : Little, Brown Spark, 2023.
Copyright: ©2023

Content descriptions

General Note:	Includes index.
Formatted Contents Note:	Deadly daisies -- Forests of phonolics and flavonoids -- Toxic, titillating, tumor-killing terpenoids -- Dogbane and digitalis -- Hijacked hormones -- Abiding alkaloids -- Caffeine and nicotine -- Devil's breath and silent death -- Opioid overlords -- The herbivore's dilemma -- The spice of life -- Nutbeg, tea, opium, and cinchona -- The future pharmacopoeia.