So we talked a little on Thursday about Brugmansia suaveolens (Angel's Trumpet) and how it's crazy hallucinogenic and effects humans similar to Atropa belladonna (Nightshade). This comes from a group of tropane alkaloids that reside in the plant's leaves and petals, mainly composed of scopolamine. This was evolved to discourage predators (and pollinators) from eating and damaging any of the plant's leaves and petals, as it has been found to increase mortality and prolong larval development in moths and butterflies (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10886-006-9214-9). However, the butterfly Placidula euryanassa has beat Brugmansia at its own game. Not only does this species use the leaves of Brugmansia as its main source of larval food and feels none of the toxic effects that other organisms do, but it uses the toxic alkaloids to its advantage. It harnesses these alkaloids and integrates them into its body structure, through pupal development, into adulthood (https://slideheaven.com/tropane-and-pyrrolizidine-alkaloids-in-the-ithomiinesplacidula-euryanassa-andmir.html). This way, any predators attempting to consume the butterfly must also suffer the toxic effects of Brugmansia's tropane alkaloids. The butterflies effectively hijack that plant's defense mechanism and make it their own!As a side note, these tropane alkaloids in Brugmansia suaveolens have also been found to inhibit the corrosion of carbon steel in 1M HCl (https://www.thefreelibrary.com/An+investigation+of+mild+carbon+steel+corrosion+inhibition+in...-a0281113569).
Have a good weekend!
