Poisonous Plants

Dr. Firoj Ahmed

University of Dhaka
 Paracelcus 1493-1541

“All substances are

poisons; there is none
which is not a poison.
The right dose
differentiates a poison
from a remedy.”
Poison

Any substance which, when taken into the system,

acts injuriously, in a manner neither thermal nor
mechanical, tending to cause death or serious
detriment to health.
 Introduction
 Compounds produced or absorbed by plants could mediate
toxicity in livestock.
 Phytochemical composition is influenced by, among others:
• Climate
• Season
• Amount of rainfall
• Fertilization
• Stage of growth
• Ecological zone
• Availability of water
• Part of the plant in question
 Introduction…….

 Factors influencing occurrence of poisoning in

livestock include:
• Potential of the given plant/part to contain poisonous
principles
• Amount of free toxic principle in the plant before
ingestion
• Size and kind of livestock species involved
• Speed of ingestion
• Speed of release of the toxic principle during ingestion
• Ingesta present in the digestive tract
 (A). Poisonous principles

 Alkaloids
 Polypeptides
 Amines
 Oxalates
 Resins or resinoids
 Phytotoxins (Toxalbumins)
 Poisonous principles…

 Glycosides (glucosides)
• i).Cyanogenetic (nitrile) glycosides
• ii). Goitrogenic substances
• iii). Irritant oils
• iv). Coumarin glycosides
• v). Steroid and triterpenoid glycosides
• vi).Cardiac glycosides
• vii). Saponins
 Poisonous principles….

 Mineral poisonings… (Copper, lead, cadmium,

fluorine, manganese)
 I. Nitrogen
• i). Nitrites-nitrates
• ii).Nitrosos
• ii).Gaseous oxides of nitrogen
 Selenium
 Molybdenum
 Suspect Plant Families

 Philodendron family (Araceae)

 Cactus family (Cactaceae)
 Tomato family (Solanaceae)
 Spurge family (Euphorbiaceae)
 Levels of Poisoning

 Chronic - Over a period of time. Can refer to

prolonged or repeated exposure to toxins or to the
progression of clinical signs.

 Acute - A rapid, severe onset of signs.

 Classes of Poisons

 Poisons acting on the brain

 Poisons acting on the spinal cord

 Poisons acting on the heart

 Vegetable irritants
 Specific plant poisoning
 Alkaloids (Nicotiana (tobacco); Atropa belladona (Deadly
night shade); Datura stramonium (Jimson weed); Crotolaria
spp. (Rattlebox); Solanum
 Alkali like, insoluble in water, bitter in taste..

 Distributed in all plant parts

 Detection: chromatography; electrophoresis
Alkaloids….

 Mainly produce CNS signs….

 Some types of alkaloids, however, produce completely
different syndromes e.g. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids cause severe
liver damage.
 GIT related signs with some nightshades
 The poisonous principle of Astragulus has been stated to be of
alkaloidal nature. Some members of this genus are selenium
accumulators. Others are responsible for the nervous disease
of horses, sheep and cattle called, “loco”.
 Polypeptides and amines

 Certain algae (Microcystis), toxic mushroom (Amanita, ), and

higher plants e.g. Blighia sapida, contain toxic peptides.
 Phoradendron flavescens contain amines (Phenylethylamine,
tyramine) which are credited with toxic action.
 Ergot (Claviceps) alkaloids are accompanied with amines
which may be partially responsible for the toxicity
 Glycosides

Toxic glycosides include: cyanogenetic (nitrile) glycosides,

goitrogenic substances, irritant oils, coumarin glycosides and
steroid (cardiac and saponic) glycosides

The amount of a particular glycoside elaborated in a plant depends

not only on intrinsic factors such as genetics, part of plant, age of
plant, and sometimes even sex of plant, but also to a large degree on
extrinsic factors such as climate, moisture supply and soil fertility.
 Phytotoxins

 E.g. Ricin from castor bean;…cytotoxic..are proteolytic:

poisoning is associated with breakdown critical natural
proteins and accumulation of ammonia
 Ricinus communis agglutinin….agglutination of RBCs
 Detected by precipitin reactions with sera containing
known antibodies
 Nitrates-Nitrites

 Many crop plants (especially oat hay, corn and

sorghum), vegetables and weeds (especially of the
amaranth (Amaranthaceae), goosefoot
(Chenopodiaceae), mustard (Cruciferae) composite
(Compositae) and nightshade (Solanaceae) families
contain nitrates at a potentially toxic level.
 Detection: diphenylamine test….blue color dev.
Datura metel (kalo datura)
Scientific name: Datura metel
Synonyms: Datura fastuosa (L.)
Datura alba (Nees.)
Family: Solanaceae
Common names: Devil's trumpet, black datura,

downy thorn-apple
Plant habitat: Native to China, India and South East Asia.
Common weed in waste and cultivated land
Plant description: Shrub-like annual herb with large flowers, typically
white or yellow with deep purple accents. Leaves
are alternate and simple.
Traditional use: Leaves/dried flowers are used to relieve asthma
Leaf poultices are applied to engorged breasts to
relief excess milk production, rheumatic swelling of
joints and lumbago.
Powdered root is rubbed into gums or stuffed into
cavities for toothache.
Toxic part of the plant : all parts.

Main toxic constituents : tropane alkaloids

 Leaves/flowers - mainly atropine
Seeds/roots - mainly hyoscyamine
Fruits – scopolamine
Dose: Accidentally (or intentionally) ingesting even
a single leaf could lead to severe side effects
Symptoms: anticholinergic
Thirst, dry mouth, blurred vision,
photophobia, urinary retention occur soon after
ingestion.
Skin is hot, dry and flushed.
Pupils are dilated and fixed.
Cardiovascular effects are tachycarida,
hypertension, supra/ventricular arrhythmias,
orthostatic hypertension.
Severe poisoning causes disorientation,
agitation, violent behaviour, convulsions,
delirium, visual and auditory hallucinations,
ataxia, respiratory depression, coma.
Mode of action:
It stimulates the central nervous system and simultaneously
depresses peripheral nerves and dilates the pupils by
peripheral action.
The most probable action in this case is paralysis of the
occulomotor nerve ending or its myoneural junction.

Treatment of poisoning:
Ipecac to induce emesis.
Activated charcoal to reduce absorption of toxic
substances.
Catheterization to empty bladder if necessary
Diazepam for hallucinations and delirium.
Datura stramonium (Sada datura)
 Poison Hemlock
• Conium maculatum (hemlock or
poison hemlock) is a highly poisonous
perennial herbaceous flowering plant.
• Apiaceae
• native to Europe and North Africa.

Conium maculatum
• Biennial Herb

• All parts are toxic, but the seeds are

the worst

• Livestock, poultry and humans

• Gastrointestinal irritation,
nervousness, trembling, staggering, Coniine

coldness of the extremities, slow

heartbeat and eventually coma and
death
 Hemlock poisoning
Poison hemlock contains piperidine alkaloid toxins (namely
coniine).
Coniine has direct effects on nicotinic (cholinergic) receptors, both
agonist and antagonist.
History for poison hemlock may include the following:
Nausea and vomiting
Abdominal pain
Tachycardia
Tremor
Seizures (much more common with water hemlock)
Bradycardia (late)
Ascending paralysis (late)
Coma
Respiratory failure
Physical signs
Signs of poison hemlock toxicity can be divided into
an early stimulation phase and, in severe poisonings,
a later depressant phase.
Emesis
Salivation
Mydriasis
Tachycardia, then bradycardia
Initial fasciculations, then flaccid paralysis
Hypoventilation, respiratory arrest
 History
In ancient Greece, hemlock was used to poison condemned
prisoners.

The most famous victim of hemlock poisoning is the philosopher

Socrates.

After being condemned to death for

impiety and corrupting the young men of
Athens, in 399 BC, Socrates was given a
potent infusion of the hemlock plant.

469 – 399 BC
 Water Hemlock
 The plants of the genus Cicuta is commonly known as water
hemlock.
 Family Apiaceae.
 Perennial herbaceous plants (up to 8.2 ft long)
 Distinctive small green or white flowers arranged in an umbrella
shape
 Native to mainly North America and Europe
 May be confused with a number of other edible and poisonous
plants.

Cicuta maculata Cicuta virosa Cicuta douglasii

 All members of Cicuta except C. bulbifera contain high levels
of the poisonous principle cicutoxin.
 Cicutoxin is present at all stages of growth and in all parts of
the plant.
 Most concentrated in the roots which appear to be the most
toxic in the early spring.
 Its primary toxic effect is to act as a stimulant in the central
nervous system.

Cicutoxin (C17H22O2)
 Water Hemlock poisoning
History for water hemlock may include the following:
Gastrointestinal - Nausea and vomiting, excessive salivation,
abdominal pain
Cardiac - Tachy/bradycardia, hypotension/hypertension, cardiac
dysrhythmias/failure/arrest
CNS - Delirium, convulsions, opisthotonus, hemiballismus,
seizure (status epilepticus)

Physical signs
Signs of water hemlock toxicity begin with GI symptoms, which
are rapidly followed by CNS excitation.

Emesis, Mydriasis, Agitation, Delirium,Convulsions, Seizures

Coma
 Foxglove

Digitalis purpurea Straw foxglove Wooly foxglove

D. lutea D. lanata

• Family: Scrophulariaceae
• Biennial plant
 All parts – most toxic just before the
seeds ripen
 Cats, cattle, dogs, goats, horses,
humans

 Can be fatal at any time.

Digoxigenin
 Digitalis Poisoning

 Foxglove poisoning usually occurs from sucking the

flowers or eating the seeds, stems, or leaves of the foxglove
plant.

 Poisoning may also occur from taking more than the

recommended amounts of medicines made from foxglove.

 Signs and sympoms

Dizziness, vomiting, irregular heart beat, and delirium
or hallucinations;
 Ipomoea
Ipomoea is the largest genus in the flowering plant family
Convolvulaceae, with over 500 species.

It is a large and diverse group with common names including

morning glory, water convolvulus or kangkung, sweet potato,
bindweed, moonflower, etc.

Ipomoea alba
Ipomoea carnea
Ipomoea tricolor
Ipomoea carnea
 Ipomoea tricolor
Common Name(s): Morning glory

Description: Perennial, herbaceous vine; leaves

alternate, flower funnel-shaped, blue, white, or
variously colored;
Height: 8-15 ft.
Flower: Reddish purple, china blue flowers mid-summer
to fall

Poison Part: Seeds

Poison Delivery Mode: Ingestion
Symptoms: Hallucinations, dilated pupils,
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, and
muscle tightness
Toxic Principle: Indole alkaloids, LSD and
others
Ipomoea tricolor Severity: CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF
EATEN.
Moon flowers Pink morning glory Ipomoea quamoclit
Ipomoea alba Ipomoea calrnea

Lysergic acid amide

Tobacco
Sci. name Nicotiana tabacum

Family Solanceae

Bengali nameTamak

English name Tobacco

Plant habitat Native of tropical and

subtropical America but it is now
commercially cultivated worldwide

Trad. Use - as an insecticide

- intestinal worms or
constipation
- dried tobacco leaves for
chewing, snuffing or smoking
 Tobacco
Toxic part of the plant leaves, stems, roots and flowers

Main toxic constituents nicotine

Constituent type alkaloid

Lethal dose 0.5-1 mg/kg body weight nicotine (~ 40 - 60

mg)

nicotine
 Tobacco
Clinical features of poisoning
• Mild: salivation, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, headache,
vomiting, diarrhoea, hand tremor
• Serious: mental confusion, circulatory collapse (shallow
rapid pulse, ‘cold sweating’), convulsions, loss of
consciousness, cardiac arrest, respiratory paralysis

Diagnosis
• Blood monitoring and urinanalysis

Treatment of poisoning
• induced emesis (ipecac) or gastric lavage and activated
charcoal
• supportive therapy directed towards maintaining respiration
and blood pressure (IV fluids) and controlling convulsions
 Poppy

Papaver somniferum, the

opium poppy, is a species
of flowering plant in the
family Papaveraceae. It is
the species of plant from
which opium and poppy
seeds are derived.
Morphine Codeine
 Poppy
Toxic part of the plant pod exudate, stems, roots and flowers

Main toxic constituents Opiates

Constituent type alkaloid

 Pyrethrum flower

C. cinerariifolium C. coccineum

Pyrethrum was a genus of several Old World plants now

classified as Chrysanthemum or Tanacetum (e.g., C.
coccineum).
Cultivated as ornamentals for their showy flower heads.

Pyrethrum is used as a natural insecticide made from the dried

flower heads of Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium and
Chrysanthemum coccineum.
 Pyrethrum flower
Toxic part of the plant dried flowers

Main toxic constituents pyrethrin

Use insecticides

Pyrethrin
 Lonchocarpus

Lonchocarpus is a plant genus in the legume family (Fabaceae).

The species are called lancepods.

Cubé resin is produced from the roots of L. urucu or L. utilis.

It contains toxic rotenoids rotenone and deguelin, and used as an

insecticide.
 Lonchocarpus
Toxic part of the plant Roots
Main toxic constituents Deguelin, rotenone
Use insecticides

Deguelin

Rotenone

As these are naturally occurring compounds, they were formerly used in

organic farming.
Since it is highly unselective and kills useful, as well as pest, animals, it is
considered harmful to the environment today.
Also, chronic exposure to rotenone and deguelin increase the risk of
Parkinson's disease even in mammals,
On the other hand, deguelin might be useful in cancer therapy.
 Red squill
Drimia maritima (syn. Urginea
maritima) is a species of flowering
plant (Asparagaceae).

This species is known by several

common names, including squill, sea
squill, red squill (a form which
produces red-tinged flowers).

It is native to southern Europe, western

Asia, and northern Africa.
 Red squill
The plant has been used as a poison and as a medicinal remedy.
The main active compounds are cardiac glycosides, including
unique bufadienolides.
The plant can have a cardiac glycoside content of up to 3%.
Scilliroside, the most important of the toxic compounds, is
present in all parts of the plant.

Scilliroside