A toxin is a naturally occurring organic poison produced by metabolic activities of living cells or organisms. They occur especially as proteins, often conjugated. The term was first used by organic chemist Ludwig Brieger (1849–1919) and is derived from the word "toxic".
The Amanita muscaria mushroom, an iconic toxic mushroom.
A natural product is a natural compound or substance produced by a living organism—that is, found in nature. In the broadest sense, natural products include any substance produced by life. Natural products can also be prepared by chemical synthesis and have played a central role in the development of the field of organic chemistry by providing challenging synthetic targets. The term natural product has also been extended for commercial purposes to refer to cosmetics, dietary supplements, and foods produced from natural sources without added artificial ingredients.
The opioid analgesic drug morphine is a natural product derived from the plant Papaver somniferum
The analgesic drug ω-conotoxin (ziconotide) is a natural product derived from the sea snail Conus magus.
Antoine Lavoisier (1743–1794)
Friedrich Wöhler (1800–1882)