The toxic effects of bufotoxins are largely due to their ability to inhibit the sodium-potassium pump (Naâº/Kâº-ATPase), an essential enzyme responsible for maintaining the electrochemical gradient across cell membranes. Inhibition of this pump leads to an increase in intracellular sodium levels, which disrupts cellular homeostasis and induces a cascade of toxic effects, such as cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, and potentially death.
