Download Poison Hemlock

Poison Hemlock
Poison Hemlock
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Poison Hemlock:
Common name: ‫شوكران‬
Scientific name: Conium maculatum
L. Family: Apiaceae(Umbelliferae)
Hemlock
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POISON HEMLOCK AND COWBANE are NOT
evergreens at all, but deadly poisonous herbs
of the Apiaceae Family, which makes them
close relatives of Parsley, Caraway, Carrots,
and Parsnips. In fact, the leaves of young
Poison Hemlock resemble those of Carrots.
Fortunately, the mature plant grows tall, with
many tiny, white flowers in umbrella-like
clusters above smooth hollow stalks that are
often marked with purple spots.
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POISON LOCATION:
All parts of the plant containing the
yellow, oily sap are poisonous, but
especially the leaves
TYPICAL POISONING SCENARIO:
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Accidental consumption by livestock, by
children who are attracted by the flowers, or
by adults who mistake POISON HEMLOCK
for Caraway, which it resembles. It pays to
take care in identifying the edible members
of this plant family. If you are in any doubt,
bruise the plant in question; POISON
HEMLOCK will give off a strong,
unpleasant odour said to be like that of
mice.
Treatment
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No antidote exists for coniine
poisoning.
Treatment is supportive, respiratory
support and gastric decontamination
should be instituted immediately.
Anticonvulsants should be
administered as needed.
SYMPTOMS
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Brief initial stimulation, followed by severe
depression of the nervous sytem, paralysis,
and death. The plants are more likely to be
fatal for children than adults. The poisonous
qualities of these plants have long been
known. In ancient Greece, the philosopher
Socrates died in 399BC of drinking a potent
solution of POISON HEMLOCK, which was
favoured by his countrymen as a "humane"
method of execution.
Mechanism of action
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The mechanism of action of these alkaloids is
twofold. The most serious effect occurs at the
neuromuscular junction, where they act as
nondepolarizing blockers, similar to curare.
Death, when it occurs, is usually caused by
respiratory failure. As a result of their
action at the autonomic ganglia, the toxins produce
biphasic nicotinic effects, including salivation,
mydriasis and tachycardia followed by bradycardia.
Less commonly, rhabdomyolosis and acute tubular
necrosis have occurred 2.
It was found that this plant has a teratogenic activity
in animals
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Toxic ingredient:
The toxins in poison hemlock are simple
piperidine alkaloids.
Coniine and gamma-coniceine are the
predominant toxicants that have been
implicated in overt toxicity in animals and
humans
Coniine
Socrates
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One of the greatest ancient philosophers was
executed by a solution of the hemlock plant
(Conium maculatum) in 399 BC.
The onset of toxic effects is in 20 – 30 minutes. The death
is most frequently caused by the cessation of breathing at
full consciousness and before cardiac arrest.
Coniine is a curare-like poison, such alkaloids block the
transmission of stimuli from motor nerve endings to
striated muscles, which subsequent leads to muscle
paralysis. The paralysis progresses from the lower limbs
upwards to respiratory muscles, and when these muscles
are paralyzed, the victim dies of asphyxia. The brain is not
affected and the victim retains consciousness.
Socrates Death
Cases
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In man, 3 mg of coniine is said to have
produced symptoms, but 150 mg have
been tolerated without discomfort.
Perhaps 30-60 mg is dangerous and
death may occur with doses greater
than 100 mg. It has been reported that
a lethal dose may be 6 to 8 fresh
leaves
‫ الحرمل‬Peganum harmala
Peganum harmala
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Scientific name: Peganum harmala L.
Family: Zygophyllaceae.
Harmal
Harmal Seeds
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Toxic ingredient:
β-carbolines alkaloids: harmine,
harmaline and harmol.
The aerial parts of Peganum harmala have
four flavonoids: acacetin 7-O-rhamnoside,
7-O-[6"-O-glucosyl-2"-O-(3'''acetylrhamnosyl)glucoside and 7-O-(2'''-Orhamnosyl-2"-O-glucosylglucoside), and the
glycoflavone 2'''-O-rhamnosyl-2"-Oglucosylcytisoside 3.
Toxic parts:
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The seeds, fruit and young leaves are
the most poisonous plant parts.
Uses in folkloric medicine:;
The seeds are used in hypertension,
blood metabolism, backache, arthritis
and common cold
Manifestations
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Narcotic hallucination, colored visions,
tremors, salivation, nausea, agitation
and delirium, and, at high doses, it can
produce paralysis 6,7.
Harmine and harmaline elicit
hallucinogenic effects in humans at
doses of 4mg/kg
Treatment:
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Supportive, (no specific treatment is
mentioned in the literature).
Case
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A 35 year old male patient, who was under
treatment for his addiction to opium, admitted to the
clinic due to gastrointestinal distress. He explained
that he had consumed 1 kg of sheep testicles in the
belief that it would improve his well being, but
resulted in emesis and vomiting. Then to his
grandmother's recommendation and accord to the
family tradition, he took around 150 g of seeds P.
harmala. Due to her old age, the grandmother was
not sure about the traditional dose.
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After that he experienced gastrointestinal
distress and vomited blood. On physical
examination, he showed slight elevation in
body temperature (37.5C), a pulse rate of
100 beats per minute, and a low blood
pressure (80/40mmHg), convulsion, tremor
(limbs and facial muscles), and visual
hallucinations as well as abdominal pain.
Structures
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Harmaline
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Harmine