Aspectos botânicos e clínicos das intoxicações por plantas das Famílias Araceae, Euphorbiaceae e Solanaceae no Estado de Pernambuco / Bothanical and clinical aspectos of intoxications caused by plants of the Araceae, Euphorbiaceae and Solanaceae family in the state of Pernambuco

Trata-se de um estudo investigativo sobre os aspectos botânicos e clínicos das intoxicações humanas provocadas por espécies das famílias Araceae, Euphorbiaceae e Solanaceae. É um estudo transversal, descritivo, com abordagem quantitativa, aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética do Hospital da Restauração. Os dados referentes ao período de 1992 a 2009 foram coletados no Centro de Assistência Toxicológica de Pernambuco (CEATOX). Dos 214 prontuários analisados, 140 tiveram diagnóstico de intoxicação por espécies das famílias Araceae (55%; n=77); Euphorbiaceae (36,43%; n=51) e Solanaceae (8,57%; n=12). A maioria das Araceae foi representada por Dieffenbachia amoena Bull (50%); Euphorbiaceae por Manihot esculenta Crantz (11,42%) e Solanaceae por Brugmansia suaveolens (Willd.) Bercht. & J. Presl. (5,71%), utilizadas como ornamental, alimentícia, medicinal, em brincadeiras infantis e suicídio. Em consequência da ingestão de partes dessas plantas os sintomas apresentados foram: edema (língua, lábio), náusea, diarreia, rubor facial, midríase, alucinações e dores abdominais. O tratamento constou de observação clínica (45,31%) e tratamento sintomático (40,18%). A gravidade das intoxicações foi classificada como aguda moderada em 79,69% dos pacientes.(AU)

This is an investigative study about the clinical and botanical aspects of human poisoning caused by plants of the species Araceae, Euphorbiaceae and Solanaceae. It is a cross-sectional descriptive study with a quantitative approach, approved by the Restoration Hospital Ethics Committee. Data was collected at the Toxicological Assistance Centre of Pernambuco (CEATOX) comprising the period of 1992 to 2009. 214 records were analyzed, 140 had an intoxication diagnostic from the families: Araceae (55%, n = 77); Euphorbiaceae (36,43%; n = 51) and solanaceae (8,57%; n = 12). Aracea was majorly represented by Dieffenbachia Amoena Bull (50%); Euphorbiaceae by Manihot esculenta Crantz (11,42%) and Solanaceae by Brugmansia suaveolens (Willd.) Bercht. & J. Presl. (5, 71%) that were used as ornamental plants, food, medicine, in children's play and suicide attempts. As a result of ingestion of parts of the plant the symptoms were edema (tongue, lips), nausea, diarrhea, facial flushing, mydriasis, hallucinations and abdominal pain. Treatment consisted of clinical observation (45,31%) and symptomatic treatment (40,18%). The severity of the intoxications was classified as 'moderate acute' in 79,69% of patients.(AU)

Study on the release routes of allelochemicals from Pistia stratiotes Linn., and its anti-cyanobacteria mechanisms on Microcystis aeruginosa.

Allelochemicals in Pistia stratiotes Linn. have a strong anti-cyanobacteria effect on Microcystis aeruginosa. To further determine the release routes of allelochemicals in P. stratiotes and understand their anti-cyanobacteria mechanisms, we aimed to systematically investigate the allelopathic effects of leaf leachates, leaf volatilization, root exudates, and residue decomposition of P. stratiotes on M. aeruginosa. The influences of P. stratiotes allelochemicals on the physiological properties of M. aeruginosa were also studied. Root exudates of P. stratiotes exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect on M. aeruginosa growth. The residue decomposition and leaf leachates exhibited a relatively strong inhibitory effect on M. aeruginosa growth. By contrast, the leaf volatilization stimulated M. aeruginosa growth. Therefore, root exudation was determined to be the main release route of allelochemicals from P. stratiotes. The mixed culture experiment of P. stratiotes root exudates and M. aeruginosa showed that the allelochemicals released from root exudation had no effect on the electron transfer of M. aeruginosa photosynthetic system II. However, it reduced the phycocyanin (PC) content and phycocyanin to allophycocyanin (PC/APC) ratio in the photosynthetic system. As the root exudates concentration increased, the electrical conductivity (EC) and superoxide anion radical (O2(*-)) values in the M. aeruginosa culture fluid increased significantly, indicating that the allelochemicals released from the root of P. stratiotes inhibited algae growth by affecting the PC and PC/APC levels in photosynthesis, destroying the cell membrane, and increasing O2(*-) content to result in oxidative damage of M. aeruginosa.

Severe destruction of the upper respiratory structures after brief exposure to a dieffenbachia plant.

Dieffenbachia is a common domestic plant. Oral contact with the plant generally causes slight effects, but when chewed it may result in painful oropharyngeal edema. Even though the mechanism through which this plant causes toxicity is not known, calcium oxalate crystals (rhaphides) and protease in the idioblast of the plant are considered to be the causes. Our aim was to show the lethal effects of a common domestic plant named Dieffenbachia.A 70-year-old male patient applied to our clinic with aphasia, dysphagia, sialorrhea, wounds on the lips and tongue, and swelling on the face. There was edema on his tongue, soft palate, uvula, anterior pharyngeal plica, epiglottis and aryepiglottic fold, and ulceration on the right side of his tongue, the right cheek mucosa, right-lower gingival, soft palate, tongue base, epiglottis anterior surface, and free edge.Dieffenbachia toxicity presents both minimal and serious problems, which can be life threatening, as in our case. Toxic cases resulting in serious clinical pictures due to Dieffenbachia are rare.