Question:
Which toxin is responsible for epidemic dropsy?
Which toxin is responsible for epidemic dropsy?
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It is the alkaloid of Argemone mexicana that adulterates mustard oil.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
- BOAA
- Aflatoxin
- Sanguinarine
- Pyrrolizidine
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Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Epidemic dropsy is caused by contamination of edible mustard oil with argemone oil from Argemone mexicana seeds. The toxic alkaloid responsible is sanguinarine, so option c is correct.
Step 2: Sanguinarine interferes with the oxidation of pyruvic acid, leading to its accumulation, and causes widespread capillary dilatation and increased permeability. This produces bilateral pitting oedema (dropsy), the hallmark of the disease.
Step 3: Other features include gastrointestinal upset, glaucoma and cardiac involvement. Detection of argemone oil contamination relies on tests such as the nitric acid test and paper chromatography.
Step 4: The distractors map to other diseases: BOAA causes lathyrism, aflatoxin causes hepatotoxicity and liver cancer, and pyrrolizidine alkaloids cause veno-occlusive disease. None of these causes epidemic dropsy.
Step 2: Sanguinarine interferes with the oxidation of pyruvic acid, leading to its accumulation, and causes widespread capillary dilatation and increased permeability. This produces bilateral pitting oedema (dropsy), the hallmark of the disease.
Step 3: Other features include gastrointestinal upset, glaucoma and cardiac involvement. Detection of argemone oil contamination relies on tests such as the nitric acid test and paper chromatography.
Step 4: The distractors map to other diseases: BOAA causes lathyrism, aflatoxin causes hepatotoxicity and liver cancer, and pyrrolizidine alkaloids cause veno-occlusive disease. None of these causes epidemic dropsy.
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