ABSTRACT
Experimental studies with Bracken and Dryopteris ferns @ 25% concentrate ration mixture were conducted in rabbits. Fern fed rabbits showed progressive anaemia, leukopaenia, lymphopaenia and relative heterophilia. Significant elevations in serum enzymes like serum glutamate oxaloactate transminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), urea and creatinine levels were seen. Histopathologically, rabbits showed mild to moderate vascular changes in most of visceral organs, vacuolar degenerative changes in hepatocytes, hypersecretory activity in intestine, presence of casts in renal tubules and degenerative changes in renal tubular lining epithelial cells. Dryopteris fed rabbits showed somewhat more severe degenerative and vascular changes in different intervals. A low level of toxic principle ptaquiloside was detected in Bracken and Dryopteris ferns by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods.
Subject(s)
Animals , Brain/pathology , Female , Indans , Kidney/pathology , Liver/pathology , Male , Myocardium/pathology , Plant Poisoning/blood , Plants, Toxic/chemistry , Rabbits , Sesquiterpenes , Terpenes/analysisABSTRACT
La ingestión del fruto maduro de la Karwinskia humboldtiana, arbusto comúnmente conocido como tullidora o coyotillo, provoca una intoxicación descrita en la bibliografía como una parálisis fláccida, simétrica de los miembros inferiores, progresiva y ascendente, que en casos graves puede causar parálisis bulbar y muerte. Se presenta el caso de una familia en la que diez de sus trece miembros ingirieron accidentalmente el fruto de la tullidora; tres fallecieron: el padre y dos hijas. Además, se describe por primera vez, la determinación de las toxinas en sangre por medio de cromatografía en capa fina. Este método resulta útil para el diagnóstico diferencial con otras polirradiculoneuritis, v.gr. poliomielitis y Síndrome de Guillain-Barre
Subject(s)
Child, Preschool , Child , Adult , Middle Aged , Humans , Male , Female , Karwinskia/toxicity , Mortality , Paralysis/etiology , Plant Poisoning/blood , Plants, Toxic/chemistryABSTRACT
A prospective study of 11 cases of Clistanthus collinus leaf poisoning was undertaken to evaluate the mechanism of hypokalaemia that occurs in these cases. Continuous cardiac monitoring was done. Ventricular ectopics, ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation were the important arrhythmias. No atrioventricular blocks or other significant bradyarrhythmias were noted. The renal potassium loss was found to be very high (120 +/- 87.95 mEq/L) even in the presence of hypokalaemia and in spite of continuing drop in serum potassium concentration. Metabolic study established that renal potassium leak is the mechanism by which hypokalaemia was mediated.