This document summarizes information about two poisonous plant species - Strychnos nux vomica and Papaver somniferum. It provides details on their classification, morphology, active constituents, symptoms and effects of poisoning, fatal doses, and medicolegal aspects. Strychnos nux vomica contains strychnine and brucine alkaloids and is a spinal plant poison. Papaver somniferum contains various opioid alkaloids like morphine and codeine and causes neurotoxic effects. Both plants have been implicated in accidental, suicidal and homicidal poisonings.

1. Study of Various Types of
Poisonous Plants:-
1. Strychnos nux vomica
2. Papaver Somniferum
Presented By,
Palash Mehar
M.Sc. Forensic Science Part-II Sem-III
Govt. Institute of Forensic Science, Nagpur.

2. A poisonous plant is one which as a whole or part thereof, under certain
conditions and in a manner and in amount like to be taken or brought into
contact with an organism, will exert harmful effects or cause death either
immediately or by reason of cumulative action of the toxic property due to the
presence of the known chemical substances in it and not by mechanical
action.
Poisonous Plants

3. CLASSIFICATION OF PLANT POISONS
Sr. No. Class Example
1. Neurotic Papaver somniferum Linn
2. Spinal Strychnos nux vomica Linn.
3. Cerebral
i) Cannabis sativa Linn.,
ii) Erythroxylon coca Linn.,
iii) Atropa belladonna Linn.,
iv) Dhatura fastuosa Linn.
4. Cardiac i) Nicotiana tabacum Linn.,
ii) Aconitum napellus Linn.,
iii) Digitalis purpurea Linn.

4. Sr. No. Class Example
5. Irritant i) Abrus precatorius Linn.
ii) Calotropis gigantea (Linn) R. Br. Ex.
Ait Calotropis procera (Ait) R. Br. ex.
iii) Cytisus laburnum Linn
iv) Taxus baccata Linn.
v) Croton tiglium Linn.
vi) Argemone mexicana Linn.
vii) Gloriosa superba Linn.
6. Miscellaneous i) Cyanogenetic glycosides.
ii) Ergot.
iii) Oleander (Glycoside)

5. (1)
Strychnos nux vomica Linn. (Spinal Plant Poison)
Familiar Names in India :- Kuchila, Kuchla.

6. (1)
Strychnos nux vomica Linn. (Spinal Plant Poison)
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Loganiaceae
Genus: Strychnos
Species: S. nux-vomica
Habitat:
Native to India, Australia, and
Southeast Asia, tropical to
subtropical, found in the United
States growing wild and
cultivated.

7. •The plants are woody which bear large berries.
•Each fruit contains 3-5 grayish seeds.
•Seeds are hard, large, circular or flattened.
•Presence of many closely appressed hairs on the
seeds.
Morphological & Pharmacognostic Features

8. Active Constituents (Active Principle):-
Alkaloids: Strychnine (C21H22O2N) Brucine-(C23H26O4N2)
together with strychnicigasuric or caffeotannic acid and traces of
glucoside named logamin.
Active Constituent Present in Different Parts of plants Etc.
Active constituents are found in seeds of ripe fruits.
Bark, wood and leaves contain brucine but no strychnine.

9.  Strychnine is used as respiratory stimulant, rodenticide and vermin killer.
Symptoms:
choking sensation in the throat & stiffness of neck,
increased CNS activity,
convulsion,
cyanosis,
blood stained froth,
contraction of respiratory muscles.
Fatal Dose
1-2 seed or 30 – 100 mg
Fatal Period
30 minutes to 2 days maximum

10. Medicolegal Aspects
Poisoning is usually accidental either due overdose or contamination by rat
poison or by accidental consumption (usually by children) of seeds of nux vomica.
Suicidal poisoning may occur due to rat poison
Homicidal use is rare
Used as abortificient.

11. (2)
Papaver somniferum (Neurotic Plant Poisons)

12. (2)
Papaver somniferum (Neurotic Plant Poisons)
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Papaveraceae
Genus: Papaver
Species: P. somniferum
Habitat:
Globally a broad range.
Much is grown in the Middle East,
including Turkey
Poppy Seeds

13. Active Constituents:
 25 alkaloids in different varieties of
plants exist in combination with three
acids viz. meconic, lactic and sulphuric.
 Other ingredients include three
neutral principles– meconin, meconism
and opinion as well as pectin, glucose,
mucilarges caoutchoue, wax and
odorous fatty and colouring matter.
% of majors alkaloid present:
Morphine-10 - 20%,
Narcotine-0.75 - 10%,
Papaverine- 0.5 - 1.0%,
Thebaine-0.2 -1.0%,
Codeine-0.2 - 0.8%,
Narceine-0.1 – 0.5%.

14. Acute Poisoning
Opium is taken only by mouth. It is never taken IV; thus sign and
symptoms associated with IV injection (as in heroin) are not seen.
Signs and Symptoms of Poisoning:-
1. Excitement,
2. Stupor (depression),
3. Narcosis (deep coma).
Unusual Symptoms:
Vomiting, Purging and Convulsions.

15. Chronic Poisoning [Morphinism, morphinomanial]
Signs & symptom
a) Emaciated, disturbed sleep, insomnia.
b) Restlessness and irritability with periods of disinterest and depression in between, weakness.
c) Pupil- contracted, tongue- dry, furred.
d) GIT- anorexia, nausea, marked constipation.
e) Immune system is compromised. Innate immunity & adaptive immunity both depressed.
f) CNS- dementia or mania, hallucinations, intellectual & moral deterioration, loss of memory,
mental fatigue.
g) Sexual –impotence.
h) Skin- pigmentation around mouth and eyelids.

16. Therapeutic Dose
30-125 mg.
Fatal dose
Opium: 2 g.
Morphine: 200 mg
Codeine: 50 mg.
Fatal period
6-12 hrs.
Management of opium Poisoning
i. Support vitals through respirator.
ii. Decontamination: Stomach was frequently with1:5000 KMnO4
leaving some solution in stomach to oxidize the alkaloid that might
be secreted in stomach after absorption. Lavage should be carried
out even after IV/IM injection of drug, as it is secreted in the
stomach.
iii. Administer activated charcoal-method of choice for
decontamination following ingestion.
iv. Enema with 30 gm of sodium sulphate twice daily.
v. Whole –bowel irrigation in body packers.
vi. Antidote: Mechanical –Cow ghee& cow milk.

17. Medicolegal Importance
 Ideal Suicidal poison
 Homicidal poison – is rare because of bitter taste, characteristic smell and dark
brown colour.
 Euthanasia- Morphine is one of the favoured drugs for euthanasia.
 Accidental poisoning-
 Cattle poison –rarely.
 For doping race horses.
 Increased arsenic levels are found in opium eaters.
 Opium frequently smuggled in condoms which are swallowed may cause death if
condom is rupture in GIT.

18. REFERENCES
1) Bhargava. Strychnine nux vomica. Retrieved 28 October 2020, from
https://www.slideshare.net/drbhargava5745/strychnine-nux-vomica
2) Nelson, L., Shih, R., & Balick, M. (2007). Handbook of poisonous and injurious
plants (2nd ed.). Boston, Mass.: Springer.
3) Meuninck, J. (2014). Poisonous and psychoactive plants. Guilford, Conn.: Falcon
Guides.
4) DFS., Tosicology Manual.
5) DFS., Biology Manual.