An experimental pathological study of acute intoxication by macleaya cordata / 中国法医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To find out the main target organs, their main pathological changes and to explore the toxic mechanism of the macleaya cordata. Method SD rats were intoxicated by oral administration with extracts of macleaya cordata followed by pathological and electromicroscopic examination of main organs. Results The LD50 was 19.5% when 1.5g/ml macleaya cordata extract was oral administrated. All pocsoned rat's serum GPT, Cr, BUN, CK, CK-MB increased markedly. The EKG were abnormal. The weight of brain, liver, spleen, and kidneys decreased significantly. There were extensive congestion and hemorrhage in heart, brain, liver and kidneys. The mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and nuclear membrane of the rat's heart, brain, liver, and kidney were destroyed. Conclusion The results indicated that the toxic target organs of macleaya cordata were the heart, brain, liver and kidneys mainly. The toxic mechanism of macleaya cordata poisoning was the damage of the mitochondrial, endoplasmic reticulum and nuclear membrane directly causd by the macleaya cordata.