Nature plays a significant role in toxicology by providing both natural toxins and mechanisms for detoxification. Natural toxins are produced by various organisms, including plants, animals, and microbes. For example, certain plants produce alkaloids and glycosides as defense mechanisms, while some animals, like snakes and insects, produce venom for predation or protection.
Furthermore, natural processes such as biodegradation and bioaccumulation are central to the study of toxicology. Biodegradation, facilitated by microbes, breaks down toxic substances into less harmful forms, while bioaccumulation refers to the buildup of substances in organisms over time, which can lead to toxic effects, particularly in higher trophic levels of the food chain.
