biotoxin /bī′ətoks″in/ , poison produced by and derived from plants and animals. Biotoxins can be absorbed by ingesting or inhaling the toxin. There are different types of toxins, depending upon the mode of toxicity or biological target, including hemotoxins, mycotoxins, necrotoxins, cytotoxins, and neurotoxins. Examples of biotoxins include abrin, from the jequirity bean or rosary pea (Abrus precatorius); ricin, from castor beans; and strychnine, from Strychnos nux-vomica. See also ricin, strychnine.
