POISONOUS PLANTS REFERRING PAKISTAN

POISONOUS PLANT Any plant possessing a property injurious to

man or animal is a poisonous plant. Plant may be poisonous to touch. Example: Poison ivy, Poison Sumac Or orally toxic. Example: Poisonous Hemlock. Many poisonous plants have great medicinal

value. Example: Digitalis Bellaadonna and Aconite.

Some have been used for hunting poisons

Example: Strychinine For insecticides. Example: Pyrethrum.

GLORIOSA SUPERBA

•Scientific name: Gloriosa superba•Common name: Flame lily, tiger claw•Poisonous part: The entire plant•Poisonous content: Colchicine

Clinical features of poisoning :Initial symptoms develop within 6- 12 hours of ingestion•burning throat•numbness•itching•nausea •intense vomitting•diarrhoea with blood and mucous

These lead to ;• electrolyte imbalance• Dehydration• Tachycardia In severe cases there may be• Respiratory depression • Confusion• Coma• Death occurs due to respiratory

failure.

Treatment:•Hopitalize the patient immediately •Induce vomitting / gastric lavage•Give repeated activated charcoal

CONIUM MACULATUM

• Scientific name: Conium maculatum• Common name: Hemlock/ poison hemlock• Family: Apiaceae• Poisonous part: Leaves • Poisonous content: Piperidine alkaloid connine, N-methyl

connine, conhydrine, pseudoconhydrine

Description:It is a biennial herbaceous plant.Leaves are triangular.Flowers are small white and clustered.History:In ancient Greece hemlock was used to poison condemned prisoners.Fatal dose:Ingestion of 100mg (0.1g) of connine, about 6-8 fresh leaves can be fatal

Symptoms:•Disrupt the working of CNS•Bradycardia •Acute renal failure•Fatal neuromuscular blockage of respiratory musclesTreatment: Administration of active charcoal within one hr. of ingestionSympathomimetics may be needed (benzodiazipine, atropine etc)

STRYCHONUS NUX-VOMICA

• Scientific name: Strychnos nux-vomica• Common name: Poison nut, bitter nut• Family: Loganaceae• Poisonous part: seed (although all parts are toxic)• Poisonous content: Strychine, brucine • Lethal dose: The quantity of strychine in one seed can

be fatal

Toxicity:Symptoms appear within 15-30 mins of ingestion•Suffocation•Twitching of the muscles of neck, body & limbs•Extreme contractions of al muscles in the body•Renal failure•Death is caused by muscular paralysisTreatment:•Activated charcoal•Support respiratory and cardiovascular functions•When convulsions and hyperactivity are completely controlled, gastric lavage can be performed safely

HYACINTHUS ORIENTALIS

• Scientific name: Hyacinthus orientalis• Common name: hyacinth • Family: Liliaceae • Poisonous part: Bulb, flowers and leaves • Poisonous content: oxalic acid• Lethal dose: Bulb is most toxic and should not be

ingeated under any circumstances

Description:It is a herbaceous flowering plantIt bears purple flowers Flowers grow around the spike like stemToxicity:•Nausea•Colic•Vomiting•Diarrhoea•Depression•TremorsTreatment:Always seek professional medical advice

IRIS VERSICOLOR

• Scientific name: Iris versicolor • Common name: blue flag/ poison flag• Family: Iridaceae• Poisonous part: Rhizomes• Poisonous content: irisin, iridin

Description:It is perenial herb With blue or purple flowersIt may be 1-3 ft. tallToxicity:•Minor skin irritation when touchedIf ingested,•Nausea•Vomitting•Abdominal pain•diarrhoea•Fever

EUPHORBIA TIRUCALLI

• Scientific name: Euphorbia tirucalli• Common name: Fire stick plant, pencil tree• Family: Euphorbiaceae• Poisonous part: Latex• Poisonous content: Euphorbon

Description:Dioecious. Succulent cactus-like milky tree.Leaves are smallFlowers are yellow in colourThe plant grows in arid and mesophytic zonesToxicity:•Severe inflammation of walls of stomach and intestineson exposure to skin,•Skin irritation•Burning sensationContact with eyes,•Severe pain•In some cases temporary blindness for several days

Treatment:For eye exposure,•Flushing eyes with fresh and cool water for atleast 15 mins.For skin contact,Over the counter anti histamine drugs.if swallowed , must seek medicalattetion

CALADIUM

• Scientific name: caladium• Common name: elephant’s ears• Family: araceae• Poisonous part: entire plant• Poisonous content: Calcium oxalate crystals, asparagine

Description:It is a topical plantLeaves are arrow shapedNo flowers grow on this plantToxicity:•Nausea •Diarrhoea •Burning of eyes •Vomiting•Swelling of mouth or tongueTreatment:•Rinse the affected area with milk or water•Induce vomiting

DATURA METEL

• Scientific name: Datura metel• Common name: Devil’s trumpet, downy thorn-apple• Family: Solanaceae• Poisonous part: All parts• Poisonous content: Tropane alkaloids

Description:Its an annual shrub with large flowersFlower are white or yellowLeaves are simple an alternateLethal dose:Ingesting even a single leaf could lead to severe side effectsSymptoms:•Thirsty mouth•Blurred vision•Urinary retentionCardiovascular,•Tachycardia•Arrhythmia

Severe poisoning,•Disorientation•Hallucinations•Respiratory depression•ComaTreatment•Induce emesis or gastric lavage•Catheterization to empty bladder if necessary•Diazepam for hallucinations

CANNABIS SATIVA

• Scientific name: cannabis sativa• Common name: Marijuana• Family: cannabaceae• Poisonous part: All parts• Poisonous content: canabiol, canabinolic acid, canabinoids• Lethal dose: 0.035mg/kg

Description:Herbaceous plantThroughout source of seed oil, industrial fibre and medicineToxicity:•Tachycardia•Increased systolic pressure•Acute irritative effect•Cough•Hallucinations•Fear•Confusion

Treatment:Intoxication within 4-6 hrs.In case of overdose medical supervision is needed.

URTICA DIOICA

• Scientific name: Urtica dioica• Common name: Common Nettle• Family: Urticaceae• Poisonous part:• Hair like strucutures on leaves• Each stinging hair pierces the skin and

injects histamine, causing itching and burning for 12 hrs.

Description:Poisonous tiny hair present on the edges of leavesSoft green leaves, 3-15cm longThe hair of leaves cause a painful sting.Toxicity:•Skin reactionTreatment:•Anti-histaminics•Calamine lotion

THEVETIA PERUVIANA

• Scientific name: Thevetia peruviana• Common name: yellow oleander, lucky nut• Family: apocyanaceae • Poisonous part: seeds (although all parts are toxic)• Poisonous content: thevetin A , thevetin B

Toxicity:Early symptoms,•Burning sensation in mouth•Tingling of tongue•Dry throat•Nausea•Vomiting•Diarrhoea Cardiovascular,•Bradycardia•ArrythmiaOther,•Yellow vision•Anxiety•Convulsions•Coma

Treatment:•Induce emesis at home•Gastric lavage within 1 hr.•Atropine 0.5mg IV for bradycardia

RICINUS CUMINUS LINN

• Scientific name: Ricinus cuminus Linn• Common name: castor bean• Family: Euphorbiaceae• Poisonous part: seeds are most toxic, leaves are also

poisonous• Poisonous content: Ricin

Lethal dose:1mg/kg pure ricin in man•Ingestion of a single well chewed seed can cause death•1-3 seeds can be fatal to a child•2-4 seeds can cause severe poisoning in an adult•Poisoning is unlikely if the seeds are swallowed without chewingToxicity:Early on, •Burning sensation of the mouth and throatAfter 3-6 hrs.,•Nausea•Vomiting•Severe abdominal pain•Diarrhoea resulting in dehydration

Cardiovascular,•Hypotension•Tachycardia Other,•Prostration •Blur vision•Loss of conciousness•UremiaTreatment:•Induce emesis•Immediate gastric lavage•Correct fluid and electrolyte imbalance immediately

DIFFENBACHIA

• Scientific name: Diffenbachia• Common name: dumb cane, mother-in-law• Family: Araceae • Poisonous part: leaves• Poisonous content: calcium oxalate crystals

Description:It is a pernnial herbaceous plant.Simple and alternate leaves are present containing white spots and flecksToxicity:Mastication and ingestion result in ,•Intense numbing•Oral irritation•Excessive drooling•Localized swellingTreatment: •Analgesic agents•antihistamines

PLUMERIA RUBRA

• Scientific name: Plumeria rubra• Common name: Red jasmine, temple tree • Family: Apocynaceae • Poisonous part: All parts • Poisonous content: Alkaloids

Description:Large shrubsReach high 30 to 40 inchesFragrant and clustered flowersLeaves are prolong, thick and branchedToxicity:•Irritant to skin •Mild stomach acheTreatment:•Wash the effected area with soap•If accidently eaten, induce vomiting

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