Grayanotoxin: the pharmacology of mad honey

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Grayanotoxin: the pharmacology of mad honey

Grayanotoxins are a family of diterpenoid compounds found in Rhododendron and related Ericaceae plants. They bind to voltage-gated sodium channels in nerve and muscle tissue, preventing inactivation and producing sustained depolarization. This is the mechanism behind both the therapeutic and toxic effects of mad honey.