Question

Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and other one labelled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): Argemone oil toxicity causes dropsy.
Reason (R): Cantharidine is the major toxic principle in Argemone oil that causes toxicity.
In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
• B. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A).
• C. (A) is true but (R) is false.
• D. (A) is false but (R) is true.

Hint:

Remember that Sanguinarine is the toxic alkaloid in Argemone mexicana (poppy seeds) that causes dropsy. Cantharidin is the blister beetle toxin that causes severe colic and hematuria in horses.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Argemone oil is extracted from the seeds of the prickly poppy, Argemone mexicana.
Accidental contamination of edible vegetable oils (most commonly mustard oil) with Argemone oil leads to severe toxicosis in humans and animals.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze both statements:
- Assertion (A): Consumption of mustard oil contaminated with Argemone oil causes a severe toxic syndrome known as "epidemic dropsy." This condition is characterized by bilateral, non-inflammatory, dependent edema of the limbs (dropsy), often accompanied by erythema, cardiac hypertrophy, and portal hypertension. Thus, Assertion (A) is true.
- Reason (R): The major toxic principles responsible for the clinical signs of Argemone oil toxicosis are the isoquinoline alkaloids, primarily sanguinarine and dihydrosanguinarine. Sanguinarine inhibits Na\textsuperscript{+}-K\textsuperscript{+}-ATPase, leading to cellular damage and capillary leakage. Cantharidin, on the other hand, is the highly toxic vesicant principle found in blister beetles (family Meloidae), which causes cantharidin toxicosis in horses when they ingest beetles in alfalfa hay. It is not found in Argemone oil. Thus, Reason (R) is false.
Therefore, Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false, which corresponds to option (C).