Vegetable irritants poisons

undergraduate class for the vegetable irritants

1. Demonstration Class Vegetable Irritants Dr. Salam Bitam Singh Senior Resident

2. Ricinus Communis Common Name: Castor Seed, Arandi , Mole bean Physical Character: Shape and size : oval, Large seed(1.5X2cm), Small(1.2X0.8cm). Resembles with the croton seeds which is though oval in shape but greyish brown in colour, surface got glossy, having longitudinal lines, no ornamental. Colour: Glossy brown and mottled in appearance Large seeds: Red seeds with brown blotches yields 40% oil used for illumination, industrial lubricant. Small Seeds: Grey, bright, Polished with brown spots resembling Croton Tigluim in size and shape yields 37% oil.

3. Toxic principles: Ricin ( Water soluble glycoprotein.): Supertoxic poison even more poisonous than Cobra Venom. Toxalbumin / Phytotoxin : Got antigenic property so produce antibody when injected in the body so causes agglutination of red cells,Haemolysis and cytolysis and is antigenic in nature. Castor Seeds : Oil (Pale yellow with a faint odour and acidic taste.)contains recinolic acid(non Poisonous) causes purging. Pressed cakes : Poisonous. Entire plant is poisonous containing Ricin (max. In seeds) and a powerful allergen.

4. Clinical Features: 1. Ingestion Severe burning pain in the mouth, throat,stomach . Salivation, nausea,Violent Vomiting , Thist,Coliky pain abdomen,Diarrhoea with bloody stool. Decrease Blood Pressure, Rapid feeble pulse Cramps in the muscles,cold cammy skin. Shallow respiration Oliguria,uraemia , Jaundice followed by convulsion, collapse and death Consciousness retained till death. 2. Powder /Paste Lacrimation,conjunctivitis,headache,Sneezing,Pharyngitis,bronchitis,Dermatitis.

5. Fatal dose: 10 seeds/6gm of Ricin . Fatal Period: 36-48 hrs. Treatment Ingestion /Seeds Poisoning: Stomach wash Demulcent NaHCO 3 2-3g, 6 hourly orally to alkalize urine I.V Glucose saline to combat dehydration.

6. Post Mortem Appearances: Fragments of crushed seeds in the stomach G.I.T congested, inflamed and haemorrhagic with mucosal excoriation at places. Haemorrhage in the lungs , liver , kidney even spleen. Heart dilated.

7. Medicolegal Significance: ( Castor seeds in not poisonous) Commercial /Judicious use: Leaves : when applied locally relieves abdominal pain,headache,and increases breast milk. For the treatment of Rheumatic pain,sciatic pain and tooch ache. Castor oil for illumination. Injudicious /Criminal Use: Accidental: common Homicidal/Suicidal: Rare Abortificent Malingering(Conjunctivitis).

8. Abrus Precartorius Common Name: Kunch / Rati Seed,Jequirity,Indian Liquorice,rosary Beads,Gunchi,or gunja . Physical Characters: Shape: small oval pea like seed. Colour: Red coloured with a black dot at one end. Other colours(White with black dot,white all over ,Black blue or even yellow.) Size: 8mmX6mm Weight: one seed 105mg.

9. Toxic Principles: Abrin ( Inhibits protein synthesis and cause cell death) : Toxalbumin similar to Viper Snake Venom. Abrene : N- Methyl Tryptophan. Abralin : Glycoside. Abrussic acid( Haemagglutinin in cotyledon ,fat splitting enzymes.) Parts: Roots,stem,leaves contain glycyrrhizin , all the parts are poisonous. S.C abrin is 100 times toxic as oral route.

10. Clinical Features: 1. Ingestion: Signs and symptoms may be delayed 3-4hrs to 2-3 days Severe irritation of G.I.T ( upper). Abdominal pain Nausea,Vomotting,Bloody Diarrhorea,Weakness,cold perspiration. Trembling of hand Miosis Rectal Bleeds.Delayed cytotoxic effects on CNS ,Liver , Kidney,adrenal Gland in 2-5 days. Faintness,Vertigo,Vomitting,Dyspnoe,General prostration, Convulsion may proceed death from cardiac failure.

11. Treatment.: Stomach wash Demulcent drinks. Acid Hydrochrloride pepsin to alkalinize urine. Anti Abrin : antidote Calcuim Gluconate (to control Tetany ) Post Mortem Appearances: Needle fragments. Oedema at the site of injection. Petecheial haemorrhage under the skin,pleura , pericardium.

12. 2. Injection Animals when injected under the skin: convulsion and other similar symptoms to Viperine Snake Bite. Man: Painful swelling,echymosis , Inflamation,Necrosis at the site of injection. Fatal Dose: ½ -1 seed,(90-120mg injection) Abrin (super toxic) 0.0001-0.0002 mg/kg injection fatal. Fatal Period: 3-5 days.

13. Medicolegal Significance : Judicious /Commercial Use: Goldsmith to weight Gold. Oil for alopecia Decoction obtained on boiling the seeds in milk is used as a nerve tonic in 60-200mg doses contraception. Necklace. Injudicious/Criminal Use: Homicidal: in the form of SUI/ Sutar , by placing between finger and slapping on face. Decocnition on eye: purulent ophthalmic may be fatal. Accidental: biting the necklace of mother by child. Cattle poison by chamars ( tanners) Arrow poison. Aphrodisiac.

14. Marking Nut ( Semicarpus Anacardium ) Common Names: Phobic nut , Vila,Bhilawa . Physical Characters: Shape : Heart Shape Colour: Black, Hard nut with an ashy grey stalk at the base. Weight: 1.6 to 3.6 gm.

15. Clinical Features: Toxic Principle: Semicarpol , Bhilwano,Tannic Acid. Locally: Irritation,itching,forms black blisters and eczematous lesions with the formation of marginal tiny blister on the surrounding skin, resembling bruise, latter ulceration and sloughing. Lesions getting infected forms ulcer and sloughs which even leads to death if applied to the scortum or vulvo vaginal. Fever, haematoma, even dysurea and painfull defecation. Upon Ingestion: Burning pain of mouth with blister in the mouth,tongue , throat,Nausea,Vommiting,Severe Gastrointeritis,Dsyponea,Rapid and weak pulse,Decrease B.P, cyanosis,Delerium,Coma,Collapse , and Death. Fatal Dose: 5-10gm Fatal Period: 12-24hrs.(ingestion).

16. Treatment: Gastric Lavage Demulcent. Post Mortem Appearances: Blisters in the ,mouth , Throat , and stomach , also walls are congested and inflamed.

17. Medico Legal Significance: Judicious Use: Washer man to mark on cotton clothes: (Soaked in water— Jiuce taken by tip of needle by scratching the pericarb ----tip dipped in lime water used for marking. Injudicious/Criminal Use: Homicidal Suicidal Accidental: when used for the treatment of syphilis,Nervous deases . Abortificent : Paste on abortion stick or applied over evxternal OS. Punishment for infidelity : juice introduce to the vagina. Vitriolage Produce Artificial Bruise: Acrid juice from: Chitra,Lalchitra ( Plumbaga Zeylanica or Rosea ),Marking Nut. Chemical: Caustic,H 2 SO 4 etc.

18. Croton Seeds ( Croton Tigleum ) Common Nme : Naepala,Jamal gota . Physical Characters: Shape: Oval or oval-oblong.1.27cm X 0.84cm Weight : 240mh/seed. Colour: Greyish brown , non glossy surface with some longitudinal lines on the surface.

19. Active Principles: Crotin , Crotonoside,Crotonaleic acid, Crotonol , Methyl Crotonic acid. Crotin : irritant and vesicant. Croton Oil: Brown , vicid , unpleasant odour acid with burning taste , drastic purgative and does not contain crotin . Parts poisonous: seeds:- Pressed cake , Croton oil. Roots.

20. Clinical Features: When ingested: Hot burning pain in the mouth,throat,stomach,salivation Nausea,Vomitting,coliy pain abdomen, Diarrhoea with bloody stool( due to excretion of crotonolic acid into the intestine), Vertigo, Prostration, circulatory and respiratory collapse. When oil applied on the skin .: Burningpain , errythema , Vesication . Fatal Dose: 4 seeds or 3ml of croton oil. Fatal Period: 4-6hrs.

21. Treatment: Stomach Wash(even when the croton oil/ paste is applied on the skin ) Demulcent drinks I.V Glucose saline, Morphine and atropine to relieve painand also reduce intestinal secretion. NaHCO 3 2-5gm 8hrly to alkalinize the urine. Post Mortem Appearances: Congestion , inflammation and erosion of the gastric and intestinal mucosa. Congestion of the internal organs.

22. Medicolegal Significance : Homicidal : Through food( Extracts obtained after boiling with water is mixed with the food.) Suicidal: Rare Accidental: Mistaken overdose as purgatives. Abortificent : oil or paste of the root applied over the abortion stick. Cattle poison(poison fish in the tank.) Arrow poison(oil or paste from the soft part of the seed.)

23. Cattle Poisons: Abus Precarious Arsenic Yellow oleander Rattle,Aconite Madar Snake venome Nux Vomica Seeds Arrow Poisons Abrus precartorus , Aconite, croton oil, calotropis , snake venome , strychnine.