ABSTRACT
Unicorn lotus is a plant tuber in the araceae family, which has therapeutic effects such as dispelling cold and dampness, dispelling wind and phlegm, and treating stroke. However, acute poisoning of fresh Unicorn lotus has been rarely reported domestically and internationally. This article reports a case of poisoning caused by chewing unicorn lotus. The patient experienced numbness in the lips, swelling and rupture of the oral cavity, continuous salivation, difficulty swallowing and obvious burning sensation in the throat, accompanied by shortness of breath and mild hypoxemia. After receiving comprehensive treatments such as oxygen therapy, electrocardiographic monitoring, cleaning of necrotic oral mucosa, anti infection, inhibition of oral salivary secretion, and nutritional support, the patient finally recovered and was discharged.
Subject(s)
Araceae , Humans , Araceae/poisoning , Plant Tubers/poisoningABSTRACT
Gloriosa superba is an ornamental herb, wildly found in the tropics especially in the southern parts of India and Sri Lanka. All parts of the plants are toxic, especially the tuberous rhizomes in view of their high content of colchicines and its derivatives. We report a case of fatal ingestion of the tubers of G. superba, with an intention of deliberate self harm, leading to systemic coagulopathy and progressive multiple organ dysfunctions. The patient was managed with intralipid rescue therapy, plasmapheresis, haemodialysis and intensive care. The ease of availability makes plant poisons, a common method of deliberate self-harm in South India. This report reiterates the need for clinician's awareness of common toxidromes associated with plant poisons.
Subject(s)
Colchicine/poisoning , Plant Tubers/poisoning , Adolescent , Fatal Outcome , Female , Humans , Multiple Organ Failure/etiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Poisoning with Gloriosa superba, a plant containing colchicine, is common in Sri Lanka. OBJECTIVES: This study was to estimate release of colchicine from 5 g of different parts of Gloriosa superba in simulated gastric and intestinal media, and examine the binding efficacy of activated charcoal (AC) to colchicine within this model. METHODS: A USP dissolution apparatus-II was used to prepare samples for analysis of colchicine using HPLC. RESULTS: Cumulative colchicine release from tuber in gastric media at 120 minutes was significantly higher (2883 µg/g) than in intestinal media (1015 µg/g) (p < .001). Mean ± SD cumulative colchicine concentration over 2 hours from tuber, leaves and trunk in gastric medium was 2883.15 ± 1295.63, 578.25 ± 366.26 and 345.60 ± 200.08 µg/g respectively and the release in intestinal media was 1014.75 ± 268.16, 347.40 ± 262.61 and 251.55 ± 285.72 µg/g respectively. Introduction of 50 g of AC into both media made colchicine undetectable (<0.1 µg/ml). CONCLUSIONS: The tuber released the highest quantity of colchicine. The colchicine release and elapse time to achieve saturated, equilibrium dissolution mainly depends on physicochemical properties of plant part. Significant in vitro binding of colchicine to AC suggests that AC has a role in decontamination of patients presenting to hospital after ingestion of Gloriosa superba.
Subject(s)
Antidotes , Charcoal , Colchicaceae , Colchicine , Gastric Juice , Intestinal Secretions , Plant Poisoning , Antidotes/pharmacology , Charcoal/pharmacology , Colchicine/chemistry , Colchicine/poisoning , Drug Liberation , Gastric Juice/chemistry , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Intestinal Secretions/chemistry , Kinetics , Plant Leaves/chemistry , Plant Leaves/poisoning , Plant Poisoning/drug therapy , Plant Poisoning/etiology , Plant Stems/chemistry , Plant Stems/poisoning , Plant Tubers/chemistry , Plant Tubers/poisoning , Solubility , Colchicaceae/chemistry , Colchicaceae/poisoningABSTRACT
Gloriosa superba is one of the poisonous plants growing in Japan. It contains potent alkaloid such as colchicine which binds to tubulin and prevents it from forming microtubules that are part of the cytoskeleton in human cells. Ingestion of Gloriosa superba tubers causes severe and potentially fatal toxic effects. We report here a case of colchicine intoxication caused by tubers of Gloriosa superba. A 58-year-old male ingested about 25 g of Gloriosa superba tubers by mistake. He believed that it was wild yam. He developed abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea 30 minutes after the ingestion of the plant. Forty five hours later he was taken to the emergency department. Unfortunately he died due to progressive multiple organ failure about one hour after the admission. It was two days after Gloriosa superba ingestion. The clinical features and the aspect of the poisonous plants should be acquainted with people.
