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Toxicological Reviews 2006Several species of the Veratrum genus are associated with toxicity in humans and animals. The principal toxins are steroid alkaloids; some have a modified steroid... (Review)
Review
Several species of the Veratrum genus are associated with toxicity in humans and animals. The principal toxins are steroid alkaloids; some have a modified steroid template, whereas others differ in their esterified acid moieties. These alkaloids act by increasing the permeability of the sodium channels of nerve cells, causing them to fire continuously. Increased stimulation, associated with the vagal nerve results in a reflex that causes the triad of responses known as the Bezold-Jarisch reflex: hypotension, bradycardia and apnoea. Clinically, various Veratrum extracts were marketed for clinical use as antihypertensive drugs, but because of their narrow therapeutic index were withdrawn from the market. Following the ingestion of Veratrum alkaloids, expected signs and symptoms include vomiting and abdominal pain, followed by cardiovascular effects such as bradycardia, hypotension and cardiac conduction abnormalities and death. Similar symptoms arise in other mammalian species ingesting these alkaloids; teratogenic effects may occur to the fetuses of animals that have grazed on Veratrum californicum. Treatment consists of supportive care, with an emphasis on haemodynamic stability with fluid replacement, atropine and vasopressors. The onset of symptoms occurs between 30 minutes and 4 hours, and the duration of the illness can range from 1 to 10 days; however, with prompt supportive care, patients typically make a full recovery within 24 hours.
Topics: Adult; Animals; Humans; Plant Poisoning; Plants, Medicinal; Plants, Toxic; Veratrum; Veratrum Alkaloids
PubMed: 16958554
DOI: 10.2165/00139709-200625020-00001 -
Clinical Toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.) 2005Juniper tar (cade oil) is distilled from the branches and wood of Juniperus oxycedrus. It contains etheric oils, triterpene and phenols, and is used for many purposes in...
Juniper tar (cade oil) is distilled from the branches and wood of Juniperus oxycedrus. It contains etheric oils, triterpene and phenols, and is used for many purposes in folk medicine. A case is reported of a previously healthy man who ingested a spoonful of home-made extract of Juniperus oxycedrus. The poisoning caused fever, severe hypotension, renal failure, hepatotoxicity, and severe cutaneous burns on the face. After supportive and symptomatic treatment, the patient improved and was discharged in a good condition on the eleventh day.
Topics: Adult; Diagnosis, Differential; Electrocardiography; Emergency Treatment; Humans; Juniperus; Male; Plant Extracts; Plant Poisoning; Plants, Toxic
PubMed: 15732446
DOI: 10.1081/clt-45072 -
EXS 2010A large number of plants can cause adverse effects when ingested by animals or people. Plant toxicity is due to a wide diversity of chemical toxins that include... (Review)
Review
A large number of plants can cause adverse effects when ingested by animals or people. Plant toxicity is due to a wide diversity of chemical toxins that include alkaloids, glycosides, proteins and amino acids. There are several notable toxic plants for which a specific chemical responsible for toxicity has not been determined. There are many examples of species differences in terms of their sensitivity to intoxication from plants. Pets, such as dogs and cats, and people, especially children, are frequently exposed to the same toxic plants due to their shared environments. On the other hand, livestock are exposed to toxic plants that are rarely involved in human intoxications due to the unique environments in which they are kept. Fortunately, adverse effects often do not occur or are generally mild following most toxic plant ingestions and no therapeutic intervention is necessary. However, some plants are extremely toxic and ingestion of small amounts can cause rapid death. The diagnosis of plant intoxication can be challenging, especially in veterinary medicine where a history of exposure to a toxic plant is often lacking. Analytical tests are available to detect some plant toxins, although their diagnostic utility is often limited by test availability and timeliness of results. With a few notable exceptions, antidotes for plant toxins are not available. However, general supportive and symptomatic care often is sufficient to successfully treat a symptomatic patient.
Topics: Animals; Antidotes; Humans; Plant Poisoning; Plant Preparations; Plants, Toxic; Risk Assessment; Species Specificity
PubMed: 20358683
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-7643-8338-1_4 -
Toxicon : Official Journal of the... Jun 2023An outbreak of poisoning by Lantana camara occurred in cattle when a herd sought refuge in a Eucalyptus forest heavily infested by this plant. The animals showed apathy,...
An outbreak of poisoning by Lantana camara occurred in cattle when a herd sought refuge in a Eucalyptus forest heavily infested by this plant. The animals showed apathy, elevated serum activities of hepatic enzymes, severe photosensitivity, jaundice, hepatomegaly and nephrosis. After a clinical manifestation period of 2-15 days, 74 out of 170 heifers died. The main histological changes were random hepatocellular necrosis, cholestasis, biliary proliferation and, in one animal, centrilobular necrosis. Immunostaining for Caspase 3 detected scattered apoptotic hepatocytes.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Female; Lantana; Plant Poisoning; Liver Diseases; Cattle Diseases; Necrosis; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 37054993
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107124 -
Human & Experimental Toxicology Mar 19961. Plant poisonings comprise 5% of all hospitalizations due to poisonings in children and plant inquiries to Poison Information Centre consist about 28% of calls...
1. Plant poisonings comprise 5% of all hospitalizations due to poisonings in children and plant inquiries to Poison Information Centre consist about 28% of calls concerning children. 2. A search of 71 cases of hospitalization due to plants in a 5 year period obtained from two children's hospitals in Helsinki were reviewed and 105 plant inquiries concerning poisonings among children to the Poison Information Centre in a 6 month period were studied. 3. The most frequent plant poisonings involved lily-of-the-valley, dumb cane and cotoneaster plant. Only 11% of the cases treated in hospital were evaluated to be unequivocal poisonings. 4. Mezereon, snowberry, cotoneaster plant, honeysuckle, and woody nightshade caused the most serious symptoms. Symptoms in mezereon poisoning were increased saliva excretion, haematuria and diarrhoea in a 1.2-year-old girl. Snowberries caused a semicomatose state and difficulty in urination, cotoneaster caused severe stomach ache, honeysuckle abudant gastrointestinal symptoms and muscle cramps, and nightshade led to prolonged high fever and sweating. 5. It appears that almost all plant poisonings could be treated with medical charcoal. Gastric evacuation is seldom required.
Topics: Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Patient Admission; Plant Poisoning; Poison Control Centers
PubMed: 8839213
DOI: 10.1177/096032719601500310 -
Pediatrics in Review Apr 2010
Topics: Child; Humans; Plant Poisoning; Plants, Toxic; Poison Control Centers
PubMed: 20360415
DOI: 10.1542/pir.31-4-174 -
Toxins May 2023Cases of ingestion of indoor poisonous plants are relatively common among animals and lead to both acute cases of poisoning and long-term exposure to harmful substances... (Review)
Review
Cases of ingestion of indoor poisonous plants are relatively common among animals and lead to both acute cases of poisoning and long-term exposure to harmful substances and chronic damage to the animal's health. Plants produce a large number of secondary metabolites, which serve to protect the plant from attacks by insects, parasitic plants, fungi or, for example, during reproduction. However, these metabolites can be toxic if ingested by animals or humans. Toxicologically effective components found in plants are mainly alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, terpenes and others. This review article describes in detail the most common and popular indoor poisonous plants grown in Europe, the mechanisms of action of their active substances and clinical signs of the respective poisonings. This manuscript is supplemented with rich photographic documentation of these plants not found in similar articles, and also includes a description of the treatment of individual types of poisoning.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Plant Poisoning; Plants, Toxic; Alkaloids; Glycosides; Saponins
PubMed: 37235380
DOI: 10.3390/toxins15050346 -
The Veterinary Clinics of North... Nov 1991Owing to the unique physiology of birds, most toxicities are life-threatening and require prompt, well-informed action. It is often hard to ascertain which specific... (Review)
Review
Owing to the unique physiology of birds, most toxicities are life-threatening and require prompt, well-informed action. It is often hard to ascertain which specific toxin or the amount of toxin to which the bird has been exposed. Therefore, the most important action is to treat the bird, not the poison. This article discusses the steps in diagnosing and treating toxicoses, from both natural and man-made toxins, that have been reported in avian species.
Topics: Animals; Bird Diseases; Birds; Metals; Pesticides; Plant Poisoning; Poisoning
PubMed: 1767478
DOI: 10.1016/s0195-5616(91)50142-x -
Journal of the South African Veterinary... Sep 2002Well-known plant poisonings such as 'dunsiekte' (seneciosis) and 'jaagsiekte' (crotalariosis) of horses in southern Africa are briefly reviewed. Relatively unfamiliar... (Review)
Review
Well-known plant poisonings such as 'dunsiekte' (seneciosis) and 'jaagsiekte' (crotalariosis) of horses in southern Africa are briefly reviewed. Relatively unfamiliar mycotoxicoses such as stachybotryotoxicosis and perennial rye grass staggers and potentially occurring exotic intoxications such as equine nigropallidal encephalomalacia and ergot alkaloid poisoning are also discussed. This article is aimed at informing the southern African equine practitioner about probable poisonings that might occur locally in horses.
Topics: Africa, Southern; Animals; Horse Diseases; Horses; Mycotoxicosis; Plant Poisoning
PubMed: 12515293
DOI: 10.4102/jsava.v73i3.567 -
Toxicon : Official Journal of the... Dec 2002Plant poisoning, together with rabies and botulism, are the main causes of death in adult cattle in Brazil. Estimates indicate that about one million head of cattle die... (Review)
Review
Plant poisoning, together with rabies and botulism, are the main causes of death in adult cattle in Brazil. Estimates indicate that about one million head of cattle die annually through plant poisoning in this country. There are approximately 75 plants of practical importance to animal husbandry that have had their toxicity confirmed by experiments with the animal species affected under natural conditions. The great majority of these plants only occur in Brazil and neighbouring countries. A few of them are forage plants that can become toxic under certain conditions. In this review the poisonous plants of interest to animal husbandry of Brazil are divided according to the clinical-pathological picture they cause in cattle; only cyanogenic plants, plants that cause nitrate/nitrite poisoning and the ones that cause oxalate poisoning, are grouped according to their toxic principles. Plants and their toxic principles, or of which possible toxic compounds have been isolated, are listed.
Topics: Animal Diseases; Animals; Animals, Domestic; Brazil; Plant Poisoning; Plants, Toxic
PubMed: 12457875
DOI: 10.1016/s0041-0101(02)00239-8