User:PhilipPalermo/sandbox/chem275-3

Hypoglycin B is a naturally occurring organic compound in the species Blighia sapida. It is particularly concentrated in the fruit of the plant especially in the seeds. Hypoglycin B is toxic if ingested and is one of the causative agents of Jamaican vomiting sickness. It is a dipeptide of glutamic acid and hypoglycin A.

Toxicity
Hypoglycin B is a protoxin and thus is non toxic in this form. The initial amino acid undergoes a deamination and is metabolized in the body to form Methylene cyclopropyl acetic acid-Coenzyme A. In this form, the complex can block certain enzymes responsible for gluconeogenesis.

Studies on adult rats, kittens, and guinea pigs have determined that Hypoglycin B is about half as toxic as its more common analogue Hypoglycin A. The LD50 was determined to be approximately 180 mg/kg although in animals who were fasting, the toxicity doubled. In all animals that were tested, blood glucose levels dropped significantly