-
Journal of Hazardous Materials Apr 2021Direct or indirect exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) in the forms of AsIII (arsenite) and AsV (arsenate) through consumption of As-contaminated food materials and... (Review)
Review
Direct or indirect exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) in the forms of AsIII (arsenite) and AsV (arsenate) through consumption of As-contaminated food materials and drinking water leads to arsenic poisoning. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) plant potentially accumulates a high amount of iAs from paddy fields than any other cereal crops. This makes it to be a major source of iAs especially among the population that uses it as their dominant source of diet. The accumulation of As in human bodies poses a serious global health risk to the human population. Various conventional methods have been applied to reduce the arsenic accumulation in rice plant. However, the success rate of these techniques is low. Therefore, the development of efficient and effective methods aimed at lowering iAs toxicity is a very crucial public concern. With the current advancement in technology, new strategies aimed at addressing this concern are being developed and utilized in various parts of the world. In this review, we discuss the recent advances in the management of iAs in rice plants emphasizing the use of nanotechnology and biotechnology approaches. Also, the prospects and challenges facing these approaches are described.
Topics: Arsenic; Arsenic Poisoning; Arsenicals; Drinking Water; Food Contamination; Humans; Oryza
PubMed: 33418521
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124751 -
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary... Jan 2022Deliberate self-poisoning and harm (DSPH) is an unabating problem with a wide variation in the methods used across the world. Hence, this study was conducted to...
BACKGROUND
Deliberate self-poisoning and harm (DSPH) is an unabating problem with a wide variation in the methods used across the world. Hence, this study was conducted to understand the current spectrum of methods used for DSPH by patients in our geographic locality and catchment area with special emphasis on newer compounds and drugs used.
METHODS
This retrospective study included patients presenting with DSPH to the emergency department (ED) between January 2017 and December 2018.
RESULTS
This study included 1802 patients, with a mean age of 32 ± 12.7 years. Of the patients, 85% were in the young to middle age group (16-45 years). Agrochemicals (n = 604, 33.5%), drugs (n = 498, 27.6%), plant toxins (n = 150, 8.3%) and rodenticides (n = 145, 8%) were the predominantly used compounds. The major emergency resuscitation procedures required in the ED were intubation (n = 321, 18%), vasopressor support (n = 73, 4%) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (n = 27, 1.4%). A quarter (23.2%) was discharged stable from the ED, whereas a further 56.5% were discharged stable after hospital admission. The in-hospital mortality rate was 3% (n = 47). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed rodenticides (odds ratio (OR): 22.32; 95% confidence interval (CI): 8.05-61.88; = 0.005) and plant poisons (OR: 23.92; 95% CI: 8.95-63.94; = 0.005) to be the independent predictors of mortality.
CONCLUSION
DSPH is prevalent in the highly productive young age group. Agrochemical ingestion and drug overdose are the most common methods used, whereas rodenticide and plant poisoning are associated with significant mortality.
PubMed: 35309643
DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1184_21 -
Toxins Sep 2017Tropane alkaloids occur mainly in plants. In the present review, the main objective is to describe the worldwide occurrence and investigations of anticholinergic... (Review)
Review
Tropane alkaloids occur mainly in plants. In the present review, the main objective is to describe the worldwide occurrence and investigations of anticholinergic poisoning due to the contamination of herbal teas and herbs by tropane alkaloids. Tropane alkaloid poisoning can occur after consumption of any medicinal plant if plants or plant parts are present as contaminants. Globally, almost all reports in 1978-2014 involve herbal teas and one of the prescribed herbs in composite formulae. Contamination most likely occurs during harvest or processing. As for prescribed herbs, on-site inspection is necessary to exclude cross-contamination and accidental mix-up at the retail level. The diagnosis is confirmed by screening for the presence of species and tropane alkaloids. Herbal teas and herbs contaminated by tropane alkaloids can pose a serious health hazard because these relatively heat-stable alkaloids may exist in large quantities. The WHO repeatedly emphasises the importance of good agricultural and collection practices for medicinal plants. DNA barcoding is increasingly used to exclude the presence of contaminants (particularly toxic species) and product substitution. All suspected cases should be reported to health authorities so that investigations along the supply chain and early intervention measures to protect the public can be initiated.
Topics: Alkaloids; Drug Contamination; Humans; Plants, Medicinal; Tropanes
PubMed: 28914776
DOI: 10.3390/toxins9090284 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2021Harmful fungi in nature not only cause diseases in plants, but also fungal infection and poisoning when people and animals eat food derived from crops contaminated with... (Review)
Review
Harmful fungi in nature not only cause diseases in plants, but also fungal infection and poisoning when people and animals eat food derived from crops contaminated with them. Unfortunately, such fungi are becoming increasingly more resistant to traditional synthetic antifungal drugs, which can make prevention and control work increasingly more difficult to achieve. This means they are potentially very harmful to human health and lifestyle. Antifungal peptides are natural substances produced by organisms to defend themselves against harmful fungi. As a result, they have become an important research object to help deal with harmful fungi and overcome their drug resistance. Moreover, they are expected to be developed into new therapeutic drugs against drug-resistant fungi in clinical application. This review focuses on antifungal peptides that have been isolated from bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms to date. Their antifungal activity and factors affecting it are outlined in terms of their antibacterial spectra and effects. The toxic effects of the antifungal peptides and their common solutions are mentioned. The mechanisms of action of the antifungal peptides are described according to their action pathways. The work provides a useful reference for further clinical research and the development of safe antifungal drugs that have high efficiencies and broad application spectra.
Topics: Animals; Antifungal Agents; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; Drug Development; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Fungal; Drug Stability; Humans; Mycoses; Plant Diseases
PubMed: 34198909
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26113438 -
Molecular Plant Jan 2016Brassinosteroids (BRs) are natural plant hormones critical for growth and development. BR deficient or signaling mutants show significantly shortened root phenotypes.... (Review)
Review
Brassinosteroids (BRs) are natural plant hormones critical for growth and development. BR deficient or signaling mutants show significantly shortened root phenotypes. However, for a long time, it was thought that these phenotypes were solely caused by reduced cell elongation in the mutant roots. Functions of BRs in regulating root development have been largely neglected. Nonetheless, recent detailed analyses, revealed that BRs are not only involved in root cell elongation but are also involved in many aspects of root development, such as maintenance of meristem size, root hair formation, lateral root initiation, gravitropic response, mycorrhiza formation, and nodulation in legume species. In this review, current findings on the functions of BRs in mediating root growth, development, and symbiosis are discussed.
Topics: Brassinosteroids; Plant Roots; Symbiosis
PubMed: 26700030
DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2015.12.003 -
Human & Experimental Toxicology 2023Corynetoxins, members of the tunicamycin group of antibiotics, are produced by the bacterium, . They cause a severe neurologic disorder in domestic livestock, are...
Corynetoxins, members of the tunicamycin group of antibiotics, are produced by the bacterium, . They cause a severe neurologic disorder in domestic livestock, are hepatotoxins, and can damage retinal photoreceptors. For these toxins to be ingested by livestock, the bacterium must first be transported onto host plants by adhering to nematode larvae. In the infected seed heads, bacterial galls (gumma) then form. While corynetoxicity occurs most commonly in Australia, it has occurred sporadically in other countries and, due to the widespread global distribution of the bacterium, nematode, and host plants, there is great potential for further spread, particularly as the range of host plant species and nematode vectors identified for is increasing. Since many animal species are susceptible to corynetoxins poisoning, it is likely that humans would also be vulnerable if exposed to these potent, lethal toxins.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Actinomycetales; Actinobacteria; Glycolipids; Toxins, Biological
PubMed: 37133421
DOI: 10.1177/09603271231165672 -
Toxins Sep 2014Aconite roots (roots or root tubers of the Aconitum species) are eaten as root vegetables and used to prepare herbal soups and meals, mainly for their purported health... (Review)
Review
Aconite roots (roots or root tubers of the Aconitum species) are eaten as root vegetables and used to prepare herbal soups and meals, mainly for their purported health benefits. Aconite roots contain aconitine and other Aconitum alkaloids, which are well known cardiotoxins and neurotoxins. To better understand why Aconitum alkaloid poisoning related to the culinary uses of aconite roots can occur and characterize the risks posed by these "food supplements", relevant published reports were reviewed. From 1995 to 2013, there were eight reports of aconite poisoning after consumption of these herbal soups and meals, including two reports of large clusters of cases (n = 19-45) and two reports of cases (n = 15-156) managed by two hospitals over a period of 4.5 to 5 years. The herbal formulae used did not adhere to the suggested guidelines, with regarding to the doses (50-500 g instead of 3-30 g per person) and types (raw instead of processed) of aconite roots used. The quantities of Aconitum alkaloids involved were huge, taking into consideration the doses of aconite roots used to prepare herbal soups/meals and the amounts of aconite roots and herbal soups/meals consumed. In a large cluster of cases, despite simmering raw "caowu" (the root tuber of A. kusnezoffii) in pork broth for 24 h, all 19 family members who consumed this soup and boiled "caowu" developed poisoning. Severe or even fatal aconite poisoning can occur after consumption of herbal soups and foods prepared from aconite roots. Even prolonged boiling may not be protective if raw preparations and large quantities of aconite roots are used. The public should be warned of the risk of severe poisoning related to the culinary and traditional medicinal uses of aconite roots.
Topics: Aconitine; Aconitum; Cooking; Food; Humans; Plant Roots; Vegetables
PubMed: 25184557
DOI: 10.3390/toxins6092605 -
Toxicology Reports 2021Over the centuries, the development of knowledge about poisons and antidotes depended on their conceptualization, however, a range of poisons and the concept of antidote...
Over the centuries, the development of knowledge about poisons and antidotes depended on their conceptualization, however, a range of poisons and the concept of antidote evolved. With the passing of time, different substances of plant, animal, and mineral origin, moreover, man-made ones, were used deliberatively, accidentally, or unintentionally as poisons. The concept of antidote was changing in line with the progress of medicine and understanding of the mechanism of how poison works. From this perspective, the history of antidotes may be considered as the quintessence of changes within toxicology. Among the theories of antidote, the most interesting is the concept of a universal one, because it has never become obsolete. This review article focuses on the changing conceptualization of antidotes. It contains an analysis of historical toxicological treatises on antidotes and PubMed articles on the same topic.
PubMed: 34195019
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2021.06.019 -
International Journal of Pediatrics 2017Plant poisoning is a common presentation in paediatric practice and an important cause of preventable mortality and morbidity in Sri Lanka. The burden of plant poisoning...
Plant poisoning is a common presentation in paediatric practice and an important cause of preventable mortality and morbidity in Sri Lanka. The burden of plant poisoning is largely underexplored. The current multicenter study based in rural Sri Lanka assessed clinical profiles, poison related factors, clinical management, complications, outcomes, and risk factors associated with plant poisoning in the paediatric age group. Among 325 children, 57% were male with 64% being below five years of age. 99.4% had ingested the poison. Transfer rate was 66.4%. Most had unintentional poisoning. Commonest poison plant was and poisoning event happened mostly in home garden. 29% of parents practiced harmful first-aid practices. 32% of children had delayed presentations to which the commonest reason was lack of parental concern regarding urgency of seeking medical care. Presence of poisonous plants in home garden was the strongest risk factor for plant poisoning. Mortality rate was 1.2% and all cases had Oleander poisoning. The study revealed the value of community awareness regarding risk factors and awareness among healthcare workers regarding the mostly benign nature of plant poisoning in children in view of limiting incidence of plant poisoning and reducing expenditure on patient management.
PubMed: 28377789
DOI: 10.1155/2017/6187487 -
Microbial Biotechnology Jul 2017Almost one-third of crop yields are lost every year due to microbial alterations and diseases. The main control strategy to limit these losses is the use of an array of... (Review)
Review
Almost one-third of crop yields are lost every year due to microbial alterations and diseases. The main control strategy to limit these losses is the use of an array of chemicals active against spoilage and unwanted pathogenic microorganisms. Their massive use has led to extensive environmental pollution, human poisoning and a variety of diseases. An emerging alternative to this chemical approach is the use of microbial biocontrol agents. Biopesticides have been used with success in several fields, but a better understanding of their mode of action is necessary to better control their activity and increase their use. Very few studies have considered that biofilms are the preferred mode of life of microorganisms in the target agricultural biotopes. Increasing evidence shows that the spatial organization of microbial communities on crop surfaces may drive important bioprotection mechanisms. The aim of this review is to summarize the evidence of biofilm formation by biocontrol agents on crops and discuss how this surface-associated mode of life may influence their biology and interactions with other microorganisms and the host and, finally, their overall beneficial activity.
Topics: Biofilms; Biological Control Agents; Pest Control, Biological; Plant Diseases
PubMed: 28205337
DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.12693