Betrachotoxin

1. Betrachotoxin 

Betrachoxin is most dangerous chemical in the world. It was named by scientists John W Daly and Burnhard Witkop. who separated the potent toxic alkaloids fraction and determined its chemical properties. 

Batrachotoxin is an extremely potent cardiotoxic and neurotoxic steroidal alkaloid found in certain species of frogs, melyrid beetles, and birds. Batrachotoxin was derived from the Greek word βάτραχος bátrachos "frog".

• Formula: C₃₁H₄₂N₂O₆
• LD₅₀ (median dose): 2 μg/kg; (mouse, sub-cutaneous)
• Molar mass:  538.68 g·mol⁻¹
• Main hazards: Highly toxic
• Chemspider: 10310314
• Pubchem CID: 31958
• Density: 1.304 gm/ml.

The "poison dart" (or "poison arrow") frog does not produce batrachotoxin itself. It is believed that the frogs get the poison from eating beetles or other insects in their native habitat. Frogs raised in captivity do not produce batrachotoxin, and thus may be handled without risk. However, this limits the amount of batrachotoxin available for research as 10,000 frogs yielded only 180 mg of batrachotoxin. As these frogs are endangered, their harvest is unethical. Biosynthetic studies are also challenged by the slow rate of synthesis of batrachotoxin.

The native habitat of poison dart frogs is the warm regions of Central America and South America, in which the humidity is around 80 percent.