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Planta Medica Mar 2012At the moment, no recent study about plant exposures in Germany and in the federal states the Poisons Information Centre (PIC) Erfurt is serving is available. To get new...
At the moment, no recent study about plant exposures in Germany and in the federal states the Poisons Information Centre (PIC) Erfurt is serving is available. To get new information about important characteristics of plant exposures like the development of frequency, plants, age groups involved, circumstances of exposure, and symptom severity, we conducted a retrospective study including all human plant exposures reported to the PIC Erfurt over a 10-year period from the beginning of 2001 to the end of 2010. In total, 13 001 plant exposures were registered. While the absolute number of plant exposures discontinuously increased from 1110 in 2001 to 1467 in 2009, and decreased to 1157 in 2010, their relative frequency to all human exposures fell from 9.2 % in 2001 to 5.9 % in 2010. Age groups: children 87.5 % (toddler 60.0 %); adults 11.3 % (middle-aged adults 5.2 %). Gender: female 39.0 % and male 41.2 %. Circumstances: accidental 91.6 %, unknown 4.6 %, abuse 2.9 %, suicide 0.9 %. Severity of symptoms: none to slight 85.5 %, moderate 1.7 %, unknown 12.7 %, severe 0.1 % (in total 9, one 4-year-old girl, involved plant genera: Aconitum, Arum, Chelidonium, Datura, brugmansia, Dieffenbachia, Ricinus, 2 Taxus), fatal 0.03 % (in total 4, involved plant genera: 2 Aconitum, 2 Taxus). In comparison to all human exposures, the relative frequency of severe symptoms in accidental and intentional plant exposures by abuse was significantly lower but as high by suicide. The significant higher involvement of children resulted mainly in none or mild symptoms. Severe symptoms could mostly be observed in adults in intentional plant exposures or when poisonous plants were mistaken for eatable. Because some plant exposures resulted in severe symptoms and even death, their dangerousness should not be trivialised.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Environmental Exposure; Female; Germany; Humans; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Plant Poisoning; Plants, Toxic; Poison Control Centers; Retrospective Studies; Young Adult
PubMed: 22322395
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1298253 -
The Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary... Oct 2017Geigeria poisoning in sheep, locally known as 'vermeersiekte', is an economically important plant poisoning in southern Africa. The toxic principles contained by the...
Geigeria poisoning in sheep, locally known as 'vermeersiekte', is an economically important plant poisoning in southern Africa. The toxic principles contained by the toxic plants are believed to be several sesquiterpene lactones, such as geigerin, vermeeric acid and vermeerin, which cause striated muscle lesions in small stock. Because of ethical issues surrounding the use of live animals in toxicity studies, there is currently a dire need to establish an in vitro model that can be used to replace traditional animal experimentation. The objective of this study was to determine the cytotoxicity of geigerin in a murine myoblast cell line (C2C12) using methyl-thiazol-tetrazolium (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays, annexin V and propidium iodide (PI) flow cytometry and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Mouse myoblasts were exposed to 2.0 mM, 2.5 mM and 5.0 mM geigerin for 24, 48 and 72 h. A concentration-dependent cytotoxic response was observed. Apoptosis was detected by means of annexin V flow cytometry during the first 24 h and apoptotic bodies were also visible on TEM. According to the LDH and PI flow cytometry results, myoblast cell membranes were not injured. We concluded that the murine myoblast cell line (C2C12) is a suitable model for future studies planned to evaluate the cytotoxicity of other and combinations of sesquiterpene lactones, with and without metabolic activation, implicated in 'vermeersiekte' and to elucidate the subcellular effects of these myotoxins on cultured myoblasts.
Topics: Africa; Animals; Cell Line; Cell Survival; Disease Models, Animal; Flow Cytometry; Mice; Myoblasts; Plant Poisoning; Sesquiterpenes; Sheep; Sheep Diseases
PubMed: 29113440
DOI: 10.4102/ojvr.v84i1.1465 -
Archives of Disease in Childhood May 1980Accidental ingestion of eucalyptus oil by a 3-year-old boy caused profound central nervous system depression within 30 minutes, but he recovered rapidly after gastric...
Accidental ingestion of eucalyptus oil by a 3-year-old boy caused profound central nervous system depression within 30 minutes, but he recovered rapidly after gastric lavage. The extreme toxicity of eucalyptus oil is emphasised.
Topics: Child, Preschool; Eucalyptus; Humans; Male; Oils; Plant Poisoning; Plants, Medicinal
PubMed: 7436478
DOI: 10.1136/adc.55.5.405 -
Clinical Toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.) Sep 2018Steroidal alkaloids are found in plants of the genus Veratrum. Their toxicity manifests as gastrointestinal symptoms followed by a Bezold-Jarisch reflex: hypopnea,...
INTRODUCTION
Steroidal alkaloids are found in plants of the genus Veratrum. Their toxicity manifests as gastrointestinal symptoms followed by a Bezold-Jarisch reflex: hypopnea, hypotension, and bradycardia. Some Veratrum steroidal alkaloids are also teratogens interfering with the hedgehog-2 signaling pathway, which causes cyclopsia and holoprosencephaly. We present a case of accidental poisoning from Veratrum parviflorum mistaken for the edible Allium tricoccum (ramps, wild leek).
CASE HISTORY
A 27-year-old man and his 25-year-old wife presented to the emergency department with nausea, vomiting, hypotension, and bradycardia after foraging and ingesting plants that they believed to be a local native species of wild leek.
METHODS
We collected and analyzed the implicated fresh plant material and both patients' serum/plasma. We used liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy and high-resolution electrospray ionization time of flight tandem mass spectrometry to extract and characterize steroidal alkaloids from the foraged plant and patients' serum.
RESULTS
Our V. parviflorum samples contained verazine, veratramine, veratridine, and cyclopamine.
DISCUSSION
Steroidal alkaloids have been previously isolated from Veratrum viride and Veratrum album and toxicity has been reported mainly from V. album species.
CONCLUSION
V. parviflorum toxicity manifests with gastrointestinal and cardiac symptoms. Treatment is symptomatic and supportive as with previous case reports of toxicity with other Veratrum species.
Topics: Adult; Antiemetics; Female; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Georgia; Humans; Male; Plant Poisoning; Treatment Outcome; Veratrum; Veratrum Alkaloids; Vomiting
PubMed: 29490507
DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2018.1442007 -
Toxins Feb 2016Different group of alkaloids are produced during the symbiotic development of fungal endophytes of the genus Epichloë in grass. The structure and toxicity of the... (Review)
Review
Different group of alkaloids are produced during the symbiotic development of fungal endophytes of the genus Epichloë in grass. The structure and toxicity of the compounds vary considerably in mammalian herbivores and in crop pests. Alkaloids of the indole-diterpene group, of which lolitrem B is the most toxic, were first characterized in endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass, and are responsible for "ryegrass staggers." Ergot alkaloids, of which ergovaline is the most abundant ergopeptide alkaloid produced, are also found in ryegrass, but generally at a lower rate than lolitrem B. Other alkaloids such as lolines and peramine are toxic for crop pests but have weak toxicological properties in mammals. The purpose of this review is to present indole-diterpene alkaloids produced in endophyte infected ryegrass from the first characterization of ryegrass staggers to the determination of the toxicokinetics of lolitrem B and of their mechanism of action in mammals, focusing on the different factors that could explain the worldwide distribution of the disease. Other indole diterpene alkaloids than lolitrem B that can be found in Epichloë infected ryegrass, and their tremorgenic properties, are presented in the last section of this review.
Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Dyskinesias; Epichloe; Ergot Alkaloids; Food Contamination; Indole Alkaloids; Livestock; Lolium; Mycotoxins; Neurotoxins; Plant Poisoning
PubMed: 26891327
DOI: 10.3390/toxins8020047 -
Postgraduate Medical Journal May 1987Severe plant poisoning is relatively uncommon in adults. We report two adults who ingested hemlock water dropwort roots, having mistaken them for wild parsnip. One...
Severe plant poisoning is relatively uncommon in adults. We report two adults who ingested hemlock water dropwort roots, having mistaken them for wild parsnip. One developed prolonged convulsions, severe metabolic acidosis and respiratory distress requiring mechanical ventilation. The toxin--oenanthotoxin--was detected in the gastric aspirate and measured by high performance liquid chromatography.
Topics: Adult; Alkynes; Enediynes; Fatty Alcohols; Female; Humans; Male; Plant Poisoning; Toxins, Biological
PubMed: 3671269
DOI: 10.1136/pgmj.63.739.363 -
Turkish Journal of Emergency Medicine Mar 2015Datura stramonium, which is also known as Thorn Apple or Jimson Weed, is an alkaloid containing plant that is entirely toxic. The active toxic constituents of the plant...
Datura stramonium, which is also known as Thorn Apple or Jimson Weed, is an alkaloid containing plant that is entirely toxic. The active toxic constituents of the plant are atropine, scopolamine and hyoscyamine. It has been abused worldwide for hundreds of years because of its hallucinogenic properties. Previous reports have shown that herbal medication overdose and accidental food contamination are ways it can cause poisoning. Herein we present a family that had three of its members poisoned after eating a traditional meal "dolma" made of datura flowers. None had fatal complications and all were discharged healthy. Datura stromonium may be used accidentally as a food ingredient. Since its poisonous effects are not known, people should be informed and warned about the effects of this plant.
PubMed: 27437523
DOI: 10.5505/1304.7361.2015.70894 -
Indian Journal of Critical Care... Jun 2018is a tree native to South Asia. It belongs to the poisonous Apocynaceae family. Deliberate self-harm with fruit of this plant is a major clinical problem in the...
CONTEXT
is a tree native to South Asia. It belongs to the poisonous Apocynaceae family. Deliberate self-harm with fruit of this plant is a major clinical problem in the developing world. Ingestion of kernels is the cause of deaths in more than half of Kerala's plant poisoning deaths. The data on clinical features and complications of C. odollam poisoning are sparse, apart from a few case reports and limited studies.
AIMS
The present study was done to find the mode of presentation, complications, need for cardiac pacing, inhospital mortality, and the predictors of mortality in patients with poisoning.
SETTINGS AND DESIGN
This was a retrospective study conducted in the department of general medicine in a tertiary care center in Alappuzha district, Kerala. The study period was for 1 year from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2016.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
All the patients admitted with a history of ingestion of odollam during the study period were included in the study. Data were collected from case records. The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee and research committee (IEC/TDMCA/EC3.dated29/11/201).
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED
The data were analyzed using SPSS 16 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).
RESULTS
In this study, 102 patients were identified with poisoning, and the mortality rate was 16.7%. Electrocardiogram (ECG) changes were common in our patients, and we observed different types of heart block in the same ECG itself. Ingestion of more than two kernels of odollam, late presentation to hospital, vomiting, bradycardia, hypotension, hyperkalemia, and more severe ECG changes were associated with significantly higher mortality in this study.
CONCLUSIONS
poisoning is a common method of deliberate self-harm in Kerala. It carries a high mortality rate, and the predictors of mortality include vomiting, bradycardia, hypotension, hyperkalemia, and the presence of severe ECG changes.
PubMed: 29962744
DOI: 10.4103/ijccm.IJCCM_469_17 -
Journal of Chromatography. B,... Sep 2018Hypoglycin A (HGA) and methylenecyclopropylglycine (MCPG) are naturally-occurring amino acids known to cause hypoglycemia and encephalopathy. Exposure to one or both...
Hypoglycin A (HGA) and methylenecyclopropylglycine (MCPG) are naturally-occurring amino acids known to cause hypoglycemia and encephalopathy. Exposure to one or both toxins through the ingestion of common soapberry (Sapindaceae) fruits are documented in illness outbreaks throughout the world. Jamaican Vomiting Sickness (JVS) and seasonal pasture myopathy (SPM, horses) are linked to HGA exposure from unripe ackee fruit and box elder seeds, respectively. Acute toxic encephalopathy is linked to HGA and MCPG exposures from litchi fruit. HGA and MCPG are found in several fruits within the soapberry family and are known to cause severe hypoglycemia, seizures, and death. HGA has been directly quantified in horse blood in SPM cases and in human gastric juice in JVS cases. This work presents a new diagnostic assay capable of simultaneous quantification of HGA and MCPG in human plasma, and it can be used to detect patients with toxicity from soapberry fruits. The assay presented herein is the first quantitative method for MCPG in blood matrices.
Topics: Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cyclopropanes; Glycine; Humans; Hypoglycins; Limit of Detection; Linear Models; Plant Poisoning; Reproducibility of Results; Sapindaceae; Tandem Mass Spectrometry
PubMed: 30056267
DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2018.07.017 -
Archives of Disease in Childhood Nov 2002
Review
Topics: Beauty Culture; Child; Detergents; Ethanol; Household Products; Humans; Mouthwashes; Mushroom Poisoning; Oils, Volatile; Perfume; Petroleum; Plant Poisoning; Rodenticides; Turpentine
PubMed: 12390911
DOI: 10.1136/adc.87.5.403