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Journal of Research in Medical Sciences... 2018For many years, medicinal plants and herbal therapy have been widely used in different societies for the treatment of various diseases. Besides their therapeutic... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
For many years, medicinal plants and herbal therapy have been widely used in different societies for the treatment of various diseases. Besides their therapeutic potency, some of the medicinal plants have strong toxicity in human, especially in children and elderly. Despite common beliefs that natural products are safe, there have been few reports on their toxicities.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In the present study, we aimed to systematically review the literature wherein acute plant poisoning and herbal intoxication have been reported in pediatric patients. After literature search and selection of the appropriate documents, the desired data were extracted and described qualitatively.
RESULTS
A total of 127 articles with overall 1453 intoxicated cases were collected. The results of this study showed that some medicinal plants can cause acute poisoning and complications such as hepatic and renal failure in children.
CONCLUSION
The findings of this survey showed that acute plant poisoning can be life?threatening in children, and since a single?ingested dose of toxic plants can cause acute poisoning, parents should be aware of these toxic effects and compare the side effects of self?medication with its potential benefits.
PubMed: 29692823
DOI: 10.4103/jrms.JRMS_629_17 -
Toxicon : Official Journal of the... Oct 2021Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong (Fabaceae) is a plant widely distributed in several regions of Brazil, occurring in the phytogeographic domains of Atlantic... (Review)
Review
Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong (Fabaceae) is a plant widely distributed in several regions of Brazil, occurring in the phytogeographic domains of Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, and Caatinga. Cases of serious poisoning in cattle, goats, and sheep in the country caused by the ingestion of beans of this species have been reported by several studies. The present work aimed to carry out a systematic review of cases of poisoning by E. contortisiliquum in ruminants and list the main chemical compounds isolated from this plant. For this, searches were performed in the Google Academic, PubMed®, ScienceDirect®, and SciELO databases. A total of 26 articles published in the last 20 years (2001-2021) were included. Studies on cases of natural and experimental poisoning indicate that this species mainly causes photosensitization, abortions, digestive problems, and acute ruminal lactic acidosis in animals that ingest the pods of the plant. The main chemical compounds that occur in the species belong to the triterpene saponins, monoterpene, phenylpropene, and triterpene classes. It is likely that triterpene saponins isolated from E. contortisiliquum are associated with reported cases of photosensitization in cattle. New studies must be conducted to assess the mechanisms of action of chemical compounds isolated from this species in in vivo systems.
Topics: Animals; Brazil; Cattle; Fabaceae; Photosensitivity Disorders; Plant Poisoning; Ruminants; Sheep
PubMed: 34411592
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.08.008 -
Clinical Toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.) Nov 2022Silymarin is an herbal remedy, commonly called milk thistle, or St. Mary's Thistle, and has been used for over 2000 years. It has been available as a capsule of the...
Silymarin is an herbal remedy, commonly called milk thistle, or St. Mary's Thistle, and has been used for over 2000 years. It has been available as a capsule of the plant extract in Europe since 1974 to treat hepatic disorders. To date toxicologists have relied on animal studies, human case series, or retrospective reviews to decide on its use. In the U.S. the ability to use IV silibinin, its pharmacologically active purified flavonolignan, is hindered by its lack of availability as a Food and Drug Administration approved pharmaceutical preparation. This commentary reviews the studies, animal studies, and human retrospective analyses which form the basis for its clinical use. Despite the numerous publications, summarized in this issue in a systematic review, the mortality rate from Amanita mushroom ingestion remains stubbornly the same over four decades of use, and hovers around 10%. Although in the retrospective systematic review the use of silibinin, or penicillin, compared to routine care is statistically significantly superior when the primary outcome is fatality. Despite this there is no quality randomized trial to definitively demonstrate its utility. While, intravenous silibinin has a low toxicity, unanswered is whether it is useful in protecting the liver in cases of amanitin-containing mushrooms toxicity, and whether earlier administration would likely improve outcomes.
Topics: United States; Animals; Humans; Silybin; Mushroom Poisoning; Herbal Medicine; Retrospective Studies; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal
PubMed: 36222816
DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2022.2128815 -
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Apr 2015The objective of this review was to collect available data on the following: (i) adverse effects observed in humans from the intake of plant food supplements or... (Review)
Review
AIMS
The objective of this review was to collect available data on the following: (i) adverse effects observed in humans from the intake of plant food supplements or botanical preparations; (ii) the misidentification of poisonous plants; and (iii) interactions between plant food supplements/botanicals and conventional drugs or nutrients.
METHODS
PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase were searched from database inception to June 2014, using the terms 'adverse effect/s', 'poisoning/s', 'plant food supplement/s', 'misidentification/s' and 'interaction/s' in combination with the relevant plant name. All papers were critically evaluated according to the World Health Organization Guidelines for causality assessment.
RESULTS
Data were obtained for 66 plants that are common ingredients of plant food supplements; of the 492 papers selected, 402 (81.7%) dealt with adverse effects directly associated with the botanical and 89 (18.1%) concerned interactions with conventional drugs. Only one case was associated with misidentification. Adverse effects were reported for 39 of the 66 botanical substances searched. Of the total references, 86.6% were associated with 14 plants, including Glycine max/soybean (19.3%), Glycyrrhiza glabra/liquorice (12.2%), Camellia sinensis/green tea ( 8.7%) and Ginkgo biloba/gingko (8.5%).
CONCLUSIONS
Considering the length of time examined and the number of plants included in the review, it is remarkable that: (i) the adverse effects due to botanical ingredients were relatively infrequent, if assessed for causality; and (ii) the number of severe clinical reactions was very limited, but some fatal cases have been described. Data presented in this review were assessed for quality in order to make the results maximally useful for clinicians in identifying or excluding deleterious effects of botanicals.
Topics: Dietary Supplements; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Food-Drug Interactions; Humans; Plant Preparations; Plants, Medicinal
PubMed: 25251944
DOI: 10.1111/bcp.12519 -
Journal of Ethnopharmacology Mar 2021The different plant parts of Cassia occidentalis Linn, (CO) such as root, leaves, seeds and pods have traditionally been used in multifarious medicines for the treatment...
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
The different plant parts of Cassia occidentalis Linn, (CO) such as root, leaves, seeds and pods have traditionally been used in multifarious medicines for the treatment of dysentery, diarrhea, constipation, fever, eczema, cancer and venereal diseases.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A systematic search of literature has been done in books and scientific databases like Science Direct, Pubmed, Google Scholar and Scopus etc. These sources were used to compile, analyze and review the information regarding the phytochemistry, toxicology and mechanism of toxicity of CO. The various references on this subject are cited in our review ranging from 1956 to 2019.
RESULTS
Unintentional exposure of CO causes serious pathological condition in children, known as hepato-myo-encephalopathy (HME). The toxicity after CO consumption is associated with the presence of anthraquinones (AQs), a class of secondary plant metabolites. These AQs at high concentrations are known to cause detrimental effects on essential vital organs such as liver, kidney, spleen, brain, muscle and reproductive organs. The animal studies in rodent models as well as clinical investigations have clearly revealed that CO toxicity is associated with enhanced hepatotoxicity serum markers (ALT, AST, and LDH) and presence of necrotic lesions in liver. Furthermore, CO also causes vacuolization in muscle tissue and increases the level of CPK which is a prominent muscle damage marker. Apart from these target organs, CO consumption also causes neuronal damage via disturbing the levels of different proteins such as (GFAP and b-tubulin III). The mechanistic studies show that AQs present in CO have the potential to disturb the cellular homeostasis via binding to DNA, increasing the production ROS and showing inhibitory effects on essential enzymes etc. Therefore, AQs have been observed to be the primary culprit agents contributing to the toxicity of CO in children and animals.
CONCLUSION
Despite its therapeutic potential, CO consumption can be detrimental if consumed in high amounts. A thorough analysis of literature reveals that AQs are the primary factors contributing to toxicity of CO seeds. Exposure to CO seeds causes HME, which is a serious life threatening condition for the malnourished children from lower strata. Multiple mechanisms are involved in the CO induced HME in patients. Lack of appropriate diagnostic measures and a poor understanding of the CO toxicity mechanism in humans and animals complicate the clinical management of CO poisoning subjects. Therefore, development of point of care diagnostic kits shall help in early diagnosis & suitable management of CO poisoning.
Topics: Animals; Anthraquinones; Brain; Hepatic Encephalopathy; Humans; Liver; Muscle, Skeletal; Muscular Diseases; Plant Extracts; Prognosis; Seeds; Senna Plant
PubMed: 33011371
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113431 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2021Trichothecene mycotoxins are sesquiterpenoid compounds primarily produced by fungi in taxonomical genera such as , , , and others, under specific climatic conditions on... (Review)
Review
Trichothecene mycotoxins are sesquiterpenoid compounds primarily produced by fungi in taxonomical genera such as , , , and others, under specific climatic conditions on a worldwide basis. mold is a major plant pathogen and produces a number of trichothecene mycotoxins including deoxynivalenol (or vomitoxin), nivalenol, diacetoxyscirpenol, and T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin. Monogastrics are sensitive to vomitoxin, while poultry and ruminants appear to be less sensitive to some trichothecenes through microbial metabolism of trichothecenes in the gastrointestinal tract. Trichothecene mycotoxins occur worldwide however both total concentrations and the particular mix of toxins present vary with environmental conditions. Proper agricultural practices such as avoiding late harvests, removing overwintered stubble from fields, and avoiding a corn/wheat rotation that favors growth in residue can reduce trichothecene contamination of grains. Due to the vague nature of toxic effects attributed to low concentrations of trichothecenes, a solid link between low level exposure and a specific trichothecene is difficult to establish. Multiple factors, such as nutrition, management, and environmental conditions impact animal health and need to be evaluated with the knowledge of the mycotoxin and concentrations known to cause adverse health effects. Future research evaluating the impact of low-level exposure on livestock may clarify the potential impact on immunity. Trichothecenes are rapidly excreted from animals, and residues in edible tissues, milk, or eggs are likely negligible. In chronic exposures to trichothecenes, once the contaminated feed is removed and exposure stopped, animals generally have an excellent prognosis for recovery. This review shows the occurrence of trichothecenes in food and feed in 2011-2020 and their toxic effects and provides a summary of the discussions on the potential public health concerns specifically related to trichothecenes residues in foods associated with the exposure of farm animals to mycotoxin-contaminated feeds and impact to human health. Moreover, the article discusses the methods of their detection.
Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Food Analysis; Food Contamination; Food Microbiology; Foodborne Diseases; Humans; Mitosporic Fungi; Trichothecenes
PubMed: 33467103
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26020454 -
Toxins Jun 2023is a genus of about 140 plant species, some of which are well-known for causing animal poisoning resulting in significant economic losses to the Australian livestock... (Review)
Review
is a genus of about 140 plant species, some of which are well-known for causing animal poisoning resulting in significant economic losses to the Australian livestock industry. The main poisonous species/subspecies include (subsp. and subsp. ), and (generally referred to as ). These plants contain a diterpenoid orthoester toxin, called simplexin. poisoning is known to cause the death of cattle ( and ) or weaken surviving animals. species are well-adapted native plants, and their diaspores (single seeded fruits) possess variable degrees of dormancy. Hence, the diaspores do not generally germinate in the same recruitment event, which makes management difficult, necessitating the development of integrated management strategies based on infestation circumstances (e.g., size and density). For example, the integration of herbicides with physical control techniques, competitive pasture establishment and tactical grazing could be effective in some situations. However, such options have not been widely adopted at the field level to mitigate ongoing management challenges. This systematic review provides a valuable synthesis of the current knowledge on the biology, ecology, and management of poisonous species with a focus on the Australian livestock industry while identifying potential avenues for future research.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Plants, Toxic; Australia; Livestock; Diterpenes; Plant Poisoning; Thymelaeaceae
PubMed: 37368675
DOI: 10.3390/toxins15060374 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2022Oleandrin is a highly lipid-soluble cardiac glycoside isolated from the plant (Apocynaceae) and is used as a traditional herbal medicine due to its excellent... (Review)
Review
Oleandrin is a highly lipid-soluble cardiac glycoside isolated from the plant (Apocynaceae) and is used as a traditional herbal medicine due to its excellent pharmacological properties. It is widely applied for various disease treatments, such as congestive heart failure. Recently, oleandrin has attracted widespread attention due to its extensive anti-cancer and novel anti-viral effects. However, oleandrin has a narrow therapeutic window and exhibits various toxicities, especially typical cardiotoxicity, which is often fatal. This severe toxicity and low polarity have significantly hindered its application in the clinic. This review describes natural sources, structural properties, and detection methods of oleandrin. Based on reported poisoning cases and sporadic animal experiments, the pharmacokinetic characteristics of oleandrin are summarized, so as to infer some possible phenomena, such as enterohepatic circulation. Moreover, the relevant factors affecting the pharmacokinetics of oleandrin are analyzed, and some research approaches that may ameliorate the pharmacokinetic behavior of oleandrin are proposed. With the toxicology of oleandrin being thoroughly reviewed, the development of safe clinical applications of oleandrin may be possible given potential research strategies to decrease toxicity.
PubMed: 35273501
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.822726 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... Aug 2023The liver is a central target organ of heavy metals toxicity, and secondary metabolites of several plant species are suggested to attenuate lead (Pb)-induced... (Review)
Review
The liver is a central target organ of heavy metals toxicity, and secondary metabolites of several plant species are suggested to attenuate lead (Pb)-induced hepatotoxicity through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. We used a systematic review framework to map the impact of plant extracts and bioactive secondary metabolites on immunological markers and liver redox metabolism in preclinical models of Pb exposure. This is a systematic review performed according to PRISMA guidelines. The structured research of publications was done through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases, selecting and analyzing 41 original studies included via the eligibility criteria. Evidence indicates that Pb-exposure increases reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) production by δ-aminolevulinic acid auto-oxidation, xanthine dehydrogenase, and xanthine oxidase upregulation. Pb exposure also inhibits antioxidant enzymes, potentiating ROS/NOS levels and reactive cell damage. Plant extracts rich in flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, anthocyanins, and vitamins exerted hepatoprotective effects by chelating and decreasing Pb bioaccumulation. In addition, plant extracts reinforce exogenous and endogenous antioxidant defenses, attenuating liver oxidative stress and cell death. The lack of blinded evaluators and randomized experimental groups were the main sources of bias identified, which need to be controlled in toxicological studies aimed at identifying natural products applied to the prevention or treatment of Pb poisoning.
Topics: Antioxidants; Reactive Oxygen Species; Lead; Anthocyanins; Oxidative Stress; Oxidation-Reduction; Plants; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 37495800
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28620-8 -
Toxicon : Official Journal of the... Dec 2023Some plant species of the genus Cestrum L. (Solanaceae family) are known to cause poisoning in farming animals in Brazil, negatively affecting the livestock sector. In... (Review)
Review
Some plant species of the genus Cestrum L. (Solanaceae family) are known to cause poisoning in farming animals in Brazil, negatively affecting the livestock sector. In this context, this study aimed to carry out a systematic review of the Cestrum species that cause poisoning in ruminants in Brazil and to list the main phytochemicals involved in these toxic activities that have already been identified. Scientific documents were retrieved in Google Scholar, PubMed®, ScienceDirect®, and SciELO databases. After applying the inclusion criteria, a total of 38 articles published between 1920 and 2023 were included in the present study. Cestrum axillare Vell. [Syn. Cestrum laevigatum Schltdl.], Cestrum corymbosum Schltdl., Cestrum intermedium Sendtn., and Cestrum parqui L'Hér. were found to have reported cases of poisoning in the Northeast, Southeast, and South of Brazil. Natural poisonings in ruminants caused by these species have been recorded in ten Brazilian states, mostly in Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, and Pernambuco. In general, Cestrum species cause liver damage and a clinical-pathological state characterized by acute liver failure of the poisoned animals. Cattle are more susceptible to poisoning by these plants, but there are reports of poisoning by C. axillare in goats and buffaloes as well. Several chemical constituents were identified in C. axillare and C. parqui, including some saponins and terpenoids that may be associated with the cases of poisoning. However, only one chemical compound has been identified in C. intermedium, and no phytochemical investigation has been carried out regarding toxic compounds in C. corymbosum. It is expected that future studies fill the gap in determining the toxic principles present in these species.
Topics: Cattle; Animals; Solanaceae; Cestrum; Brazil; Liver Diseases; Goats
PubMed: 37981013
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107348