Health promotion through herb information: a special discussion of GEGEMU herb in yoruba setting of Nigeria

Gegemu herb (Datura Stramonium) is a plant that is common in the environment. It is a cosmopolitan weed of word wide distribution. It is found in many countries. The herb is widely available and dominates the surroundings of houses in Yoruba land. However, only few people know about its uses, toxicity and hazards. This paper is a review on Gegemu herb, the toxic effects of the plant and the various uses in Yoruba land. The paper recommendations that information about gegemu should be made known to the public through print and other mass media, Librarians should make efforts to communicate indigenous knowledge and herb information to the community and Researchers on health sciences and pharmacology are urged to further study this plant for the benefits of mankind. Keywords: Gegemu Herb, Datura Stramonium, Herb Information, Health Promotion.

Intoxicación por Datura stramonium: serie de tres casos / Datura stramonium poisoning: series of three cases

Se presenta una serie de tres casos de pacientes menores de edad con intoxicación por ingesta de semillas de Datura stramonium, ocurridos durante el mes de mayo en la provincia de Mendoza. Pacientes de sexo masculino, ente 15 y 3 años de edad. Uno de ellos asociado con ingesta intencional de semillas y otros dos por intoxicación accidental al ingerir las semillas jugando con el fruto de la planta. La recolección de semillas se realizó en zona rural periurbana, y todos los casos fueron llevados a la consulta por familiares directos, ante la presencia de desorientación, ataxia y disartria. Los tres pacientes desarrollaron síndrome anticolinérgico, con delirio y alucinaciones, requiriendo internación y tratamiento sintomático, con buena evolución y recuperación completa entre las 24 y 72 horas. Se resalta el riesgo que representa la presencia de este vegetal tóxico, no sólo por su fácil disponibilidad, sino por las bajas dosis letales de sus alcaloides y la falta de diagnóstico etiológico por parte de los servicios de urgencia.

A series of three cases of pediatric patients with poisoning by ingestion of seeds of Datura stramonium, which occurred during the month of May in the province of Mendoza is presented. Male patients, among 15 and 3 years old. One associated with intentional ingestion of seeds and other two by accidentally ingesting seeds while playing with the fruit of the poisonous plant. Seed collection was conducted in rural and peri-urban areas, and all patients were brought to the office by relatives, due to the presence of dysarthria disorientation and ataxia. The three patients developed anticholinergic syndrome with delirium and hallucinations, requiring hospitalization and symptomatic treatment. All cases had favorable outcome and complete recovery within 24 to 72 hours. It is highlighted the risk posed by the presence of this toxic plant, not only for its easy availability, but low lethal doses of its alkaloids and lack of etiological diagnosis by emergency services.

Cambios observados en la concentración cerebral de catecolaminas, con Datura stramonium / Changes observed in brain catecholamine concentration, with Datura stramonium

Datura stramonium ha sido empleada empíricamente en la medicina tradicional mexicana desde antes de la conquista española, y después, a partir del siglo XVI, para diversos fines; entre otros datos se refiere que produce anorexia y agresividad. También se ha usado en la enfermedad de Parkinson. Con esos antecedentes se consideró de interés investigar el efecto de un extracto hidroalcohólico de esta planta sobre la concentración de dopamina (DA) cerebral en la rata. Se administró la substancia en estudio por medio de un catéter esofágico a la dosis de 0.25 ml/d a diferentes dinamizaciones. El grupo testigo mostró valores (X ± A) de 1197 ± 138 ng/g, y el que recibió la droga a la 12CH tuvo un promedio de 1607 ± 398 ng/g (p < 0.05). Las dinamizaciones más bajas (3CH y 6CH) produjeron elevaciones más moderadas, sin significación estadística...

Datura stramonium has been used empirically in ancient Mexican medicine and after the XVI century. It is known to produce anorexia and aggressiveness. It has also been used in Parkinson’s disease. For these reasons it seemed interesting to study the effect of different dynamizations of Datura stramonium on brain dopamine (DA) in the rat. The drug was administered by esophagic catheter at a dose of 0.25 ml/d. The control group showed values (X ± A) of 1197 ± 138 ng/g and the animals which received the extract at 12CH had a mean value of 1607 ± 398 ng/g (p < 0.05). The lower dynamizations (3CH and 6CH) induced more moderate increases without statistical significance...

In vitro anti-leishmanial activity of methanolic extracts of Calendula officinalis flowers, Datura stramonium seeds, and Salvia officinalis leaves / 中国天然药物

AIM@#The anti-leishmanial activity of methanolic extracts of Calendula officinalis flowers, Datura stramonium seeds, and Salvia officinalis leaves against extracellular (promastigote) and intracellular (amastigote) forms of Leishmania major were evaluated in this study.@*METHOD@#In the first stage, promastigote forms of L. major, were treated with different doses of the plant extracts in a 96-well tissue-culture microplate and IC50 values for each extract were measured with colorimetric MTT assay. In the second stage, macrophage cells were infected with L. major promastigotes. Infected macrophages were treated with plant extracts. Then the macrophages were stained with Gimsa and the number of infected macrophages and amastigotes were counted with a light microscope.@*RESULTS@#The results indicated that the plant extracts inhibited the growth of promastigotes and amastigotes of L. major. Inhibitory concentrations (IC50) for promastigote assay were 108.19, 155.15, and 184.32 μgmL(-1) for C. officinalis flowers, D. stramonium seeds and S. officinalis, respectively. The extracts also reduced the number of amastigotes in macrophage cells from 264 for control group to 88, 97, and 102 for test groups. Although the anti-leishmanial activity of the extracts were not comparable with the standard drug, miltefosine; but they showed significant efficiency in reducing the number of amastigotes in macrophages, in comparison with the control group (P < 0.001). These plant extracts had lower toxicity compared with miltefosine.@*CONCLUSION@#This study demonstrates the potential efficacy of the methanolic extracts of C. officinalis flowers, D. stramonium seeds, and S. officinalis leaves to control of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Effects of methyl jasmonate on accumulation and release of main tropane alkaloids in liquid cultures of Datura stramonium hairy root / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of methyl jasmonate (MJ) on the accumulation and release of main secondary metabolites i. e. scopolamine and hyoscyamine in liquid cultures of Datura stramonium hairy roots.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>After 18 days liquid culture of D. stramonium hairy roots induced by agrobacterium rhizogenes C58C1, the chemical elicitor methyl jasmonate was added into 1/2 MS liquid cultures and scopolamine and hyoscyamine on the day 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12, after dealing with MJ, was determined by HPLC.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>After dealing with MJ on the day 3, 6, 9 and 12,the concentration of scopolamine reached to 0.419, 0.439, 0.431, 0.374 mg x g(-1), respectively, the increase of scopolamine were 1.36, 1.42, 1.17 and 1.12 fold higher than that of the control, respectively. And hyoscyamine reached 1.493, 0.817, 0.723 and 0.698 mg x g(-1), respectively, the increase of hyoscyamine were 2.28, 1.11, 0.63 and 0.70 fold higher than that of the control, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MJ could stimulate the accumulation of scopolamine and hyoscyamine (3,6 d) in D. stramonium hairy root and have released them into the culture medium.</p>

Chemical constituents of Datura stramonium seeds / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study chemical constituents in the seeds of Datura Stramonium (Solanaceae family).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Compounds were isolated and purified by silica gel, MCI and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and their structures were determined based on physicochemical constants and spectroscopic analysis including NMR and MS.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Twelve compounds were isolated and identified from Datura stramonium, they were N-trans-feruloyl tryptamine (1), hyoscyamilactol (2), scopoletin (3), umckalin (4), daturaolone (5), daturadiol (6), N-trans-ferulicacyl- tyramine (7), cleomiscosin A (8), fraxetin (9), scopolamine (10), 1-Acetyl-7-hydrox-beta-carbol-ine (11), 7-hydroxy-beta-carbolinel-propionic acid (12).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compound 2, 7, 9 and 12 were obtained from Datura genus for the first time, whereas compound 1, 4, 8 and 11 were obtained from the Solanaceae family for the first time.</p>

Pharmacological properties of Datura stramonium L. as a potential medicinal tree: an overview

India has a great wealth of various naturally occurring plant drugs which have great potential pharmacological activities. Datura stramonium (D. stramonium) is one of the widely well known folklore medicinal herbs. The troublesome weed, D. stramonium is a plant with both poisonous and medicinal properties and has been proven to have great pharmacological potential with a great utility and usage in folklore medicine. D. stromonium has been scientifically proven to contain alkaloids, tannins, carbohydrates and proteins. This plant has contributed various pharmacological actions in the scientific field of Indian systems of medicines like analgesic and antiasthmatic activities. The present paper presents an exclusive review work on the ethnomedical, phytochemical, pharmacological activities of this plant.

Identification of Daturae flos and its adulterants based on DNA barcoding technique / 药学学报

To identify the original plant of Daturae Flos from its adulterants by DNA barcoding, the sequences of ITS2, psbA-trnH, matK, rbcL of four species including Datura metel, Darura innoxia, Darura stramonium and Brugmansia arborea were compared and analyzed. The PCR and sequencing success rate of the four regions (ITS2, psbA-trnH, matK, rbcL) was 100%, 90%, 100% and 85%, respectively. Sequences were assembled with CodonCode Aligner. K2P distances were calculated and NJ tree was performed by MEGA 4.1. Thirty SNPs were found among ITS2 sequences, and 33 insert/deletes were found among psbA-trnH intergenic regions. The interspecific K2P distance of ITS2 and psbA-trnH was obviously higher than that of the intraspecific one. As to matK and rbcL, there was no "Barcoding Gap" existing between inter- and intra-specific distances. The NJ trees of the four regions/combinations were built separately. Samples of Brugmansia arborea were clustered into one clade, and the other species of Datura L. formed another clade. The results showed that either ITS2 or psbA-trnH was useful to identify Daturae Flos from its adulterants.

[ effect of chloramphenicol on atropine and scopolamine contents in datura stramonium L]

In regard to the importance of atropine and scopolamine as medicines with natural source, this study was aimed to investigate the effect of chloramphenicol as an inhibitor of protein synthesis on the alkaloids content of Datura stramonium. After initial preparation of medicinal garden seeds, they were planted 50 cm apart in four different sections. Three different concentrations of chloramphenicol [100, 200 and 400 ppm] were sprayed on the plant once a week for a period of 18 weeks. Water was applied for the control group. Replicate samples were taken randomly every two weeks from each section. After extraction and separation of the samples, the quantitative analyses were carried out. The levels of atropine and scopolamine were determined using UV spectroscopy [¹³CNMR, UV, IR, Mass]. The maximum levels of alkaloids were observed in young stems of the plants. The best result was obtained following applying the concentration of 200 ppm, which caused a significant increase in atropine and scopolamine levels in all parts of plant by 100% and 110% respectively in comparison with the control group [p< 0.005]. Increase in the availability of amino acids may lead to an increase of alkaloids production following protein inhibition synthesis

Intoxicaciones por plantas tóxicas atendidas desde un servicio de información toxicológica / Cases of poisoning caused by toxic plants seen at a toxicological information service

En muchos países la exposición accidental o voluntaria a sustancias tóxicas es causa frecuente de procesos patológicos agudos y crónicos, que constituyen la segunda causa de muerte, después de las enfermedades infecciosas. En reportes estadísticos predominan las intoxicaciones por psicofármacos y plaguicidas, pero existen otras como las provocadas por sustancias vegetales que también son consultas frecuentes en los servicios de urgencias...

In many countries, the accidental or intentional exposure to toxic substances is the frequent cause of acute and chronic pathological processes that represent the second cause of death after the infectious illnesses. In statistical reports, poisoning from pscyho drugs and herbicides prevail, but there are others as those caused by vegetable substances that are also commonly treated in the emergency services...

Intoxicación por chamico (datura stramonium): reporte de un caso / Datura stramonium poisoning: a case report

En áreas rurales se presentan casos de pacientes intoxicados con semillas de la planta Datura stramonium, conocida popularmente como "chamico", la que tiene efectos anticolinérgicos potentes, lo que se reconocen con una anamnesis y examen físico exhaustivo.

The production of gastrodin through biotransformation of p-hydroxybenzaldehyde by cell suspension culture of Datura stramonium / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the production of p-hydroxymethylphenol-beta-D-glucoside (gastrodin) through biotransformation by plant cell suspension cultures.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using cell suspension cultures of Datura stramonium to convert the exogenous p-hydroxybenzaldehyde into gastrodin was conducted and the converted compounds were separated with a combination of multi-chromatography. Their chemical structures were determined on the basis of spectral analysis and chemical evidence.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The conversion procedure of p-hydroxybenzaldehyde into gastrodin by Datura stramonium cell suspension cultures was established. The synthesized gastrodin (II) was isolated from the fermental liquor and identified by spectral analysis. At the same time, the p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (I) converted through biotransformation of p-hydroxybenzaldehyde by cell suspension cultures of Datura stramonium was also isolated and identified. Two compounds were also isolated from the cell cultures and they were identified as beta-D-furanoallulose (III) and n-butyloxystyryl-beta-D-pyranoallulose (IV).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Datura stramonium grown in suspension cultures can convert exogenous p-hydroxybenzaldehyde into the corresponding gastrodin.</p>

Analgesic effect of alcoholic datura stramonium L. seed extract on streptozotocine-induced diabetic male rats

Hyperalgesia and allodynia are two of the most critcal debilitating symptoms in patients with diabetes mellitus. In this study, the threshold of the acute and chronic pain was measured using formalin and hot plate tests in male rats. In another experiments, we studied the anti-hyperalgesic effect of alcoholic Datura seed extract in diabetic rats. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of alcoholic Datura stramonium seed extract on hyperalgesia induced by diabetic mellitus. Experimental animals were made diabetic [n=12-15] using a single dose of streptozotocin [STZ, 60 mg/kg, i.p]. After 30 days their pain threshold in each test group was compared with control group [n=12-15]. Our statistical data analysis showed that the acute and chronic pains arising from formalin and hot plate tests were markedly augmented due to diabeties mellitus. In additional experiments we assessed the acute and chronic pain in groups 1-control+extract [n=12-15] and 2-diabetic+extract [n=12-15]. The extract was administered for 30 days every other day. The results showed that the extract [over than 50 mg/kg/BW] could significantly diminish the augmented acute pain in hot plate and formalin tests. In contrast, chronic formalin pain did not change by the extract in dosage of 50 mg/kg/BW and over. The acute pain in hot plate and first phase of formalin tests were significantly augmented due to diabetes mellitus. Also, it was shown that the Datura seed extract could have diminished the augmented acute pain in both tests, but chronic formalin pain could not be influenced by doses of the extract higher than 50 mg/kg/BW

Hallucinogenic plant poisoning in children

Datura is a hallucinogenic plant found in urban or rural areas in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia KSA. It grows wildly in many parts of the country. Its taste and shape makes it unattractive to both man and animals, though deliberate use by young adults for its hallucinogenic effects have been widely reported for the past 30 years. Datura contains 3 main toxic alkaloids: atropine, scopolamine and hyoscamine. Consumption of any part of the plant can result in severe anticholinergic toxicity. Clinical symptoms are those seen in atropine poisoning, particularly mydriasis and hallucinations. Children have a special susceptibility to atropine toxicity; even small amount may produce central nervous system manifestations. Hospitalization is required for agitation and combative behavior although symptomatic treatment is usually sufficient. We report a case of acute Datura stramonium intoxication in a 6-year-old boy from Khamis Mushayt, KSA, who presented with restlessness, hallucinations and mydriasis 8 hours after ingesting the seeds of Datura plant

Principios activos y utilización terapéutica de las plantas tóxicas del género Datura / Active ingredients and therapeutical utilization of toxic plants of the genus datura

La mayoría de las especies del género Datura, por sus propiedades paliativas y curativas de múltiples patologías, ocupa un lugar preponderante dentro de la medicina popular, pudiendo ocasionar en oportunidades toxicidad con fatalidades. En el presente trabajo se hace una revisión de los principios activos, usos terapéuticos populares, manifestaciones clínicas de toxicidad y tratamiento

Pathological alterations in the ovaries of culex pipiens induced by fixed oil extracts from thevetia peruvine, datura stramonium and acacia sp

The fixed oil extracts from Thevetia peruvine, Datura stramonium and Acacia sp were tested on Culex pipiens larvae. The estimated sublethal concentrations [LC50] were used in the present study. The reproductive potential of females and the histochemistry of their ovaries were determined. The results indicated that oil treatments of larvae caused drastic changes in reproduction potential of female mosquito including the ovarian development in the first gonotrophic cycle, fecundity and fertility of treated females. Histological and histochemical studies revealed clear changes in the oocytes of females derived from treated larvae. Treatment with the oils reduced the vitellogenesis, synthesis of proteins, carbohydrates, lipid contents, DNA and RNA materials. The reproduction was always significant and may reflect the shortage in reproductive potential, the state of being disturbed. Generally, these fixed oils merit further investigations as a potential suppressant of Culex pipiens because their abilities to kill the early stages inhibit growth and development of ovaries and reduce the reproductive potential of adult females. The three oils have variable activities but they are similar in their mode and site of actions

Datura induced delirium: a report of two cases

The native herbal plants belonging to the Solanaceous family are found worldwide including Saudi Arabia. Though the various parts of these plants are used as herbal medicines in the treatment of a variety of diseases, some of them are toxic to humans and animals. We report two cases who treat themselves with cooked Datura leaves for common cold but developed toxic features suggestive of peripheral and central anticholinergic syndromes, in particular delirium. Besides discussing different aspects of Datura poisoning, it is recommended that clinicians working in emergency departments of general and psychiatric hospitals should take relevant history of herbal plant consumption in patients who present with acute delirium, in order to make a correct diagnosis and give specific treatment

Germination and growth of dature innoxia mill i in vitro studies on the effect of pre-sowing seed treatment with selected vitamins on germination and seedling growth

An inexpensive technique for ensuring high percentage of in vitro seed germination of Datura innoxia Mill. a hard to germinate medicinal plant producing scopolamine, was tested successfully in a factorial randomised experiment. Assay of seeds for their native vitamin B1, B6 and C contents revealed very low concentrations. They were, therefore, treated for 18 h at 20°C with 0, 250, 500, 750 or 1,000 ppm of these three vitamins as well as B-complex and incubated in petri dishes for 5 weeks. Counts, made at weekly intervals, indicated 28 days as the optimal stage for germination. Growth parameters, studied at 35 days were found to be significantly affected by all treatments at P=0.05. Out of the four vitamins treated, B6 and, among the concentrations, 500 ppm alone and in combination proved most efficacious in breaking seed dormancy and accelerating early seedling growth of D. innoxia

Two cases of Anticholinergic Toxicity After Jimson weed Ingestion

Jimson weed, also known as Datura stramonium, is a member of the Solanaceae family. Jimson weed was used by American Indians for medicinal and religious purposes. All parts of the Jimson weed plant are poisons, containing the alkaloids atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine. So, it is caused by these components to make a anticholinergic toxicity within 6h after ingestion. Initial manifestations include dry mucus membrane, blurred, vision, thirst, difficulty swallowing and speaking, and photophobia, and may be followed by hyperthermia, confusion, agitation, combative behavior, hallucination, urinary retention, seizure and coma. We experienced two patients who developed combative behavior and agitation with pupil dilation caused by Jimson weed. They discharged with improvement after supportive for 2days.