1. Poisonous Plants
With special reference of Pakistan
DEFINITION:
Poisonous plants consist of a group of plants, when these plants are introduced into human body toxic effects are produced
Classification of poisonous plants
A.Plants Causing GIT Toxicity
1.Gastroenteric plants
PLANT COMMON NAME HABITAT TOXICITY
Toxic principle is Raphides. The oxalic acid is poisonous if ingested. The plant
contains calcium oxalate crystals as in all parts, and because of this, consumption
of the raw plant material results in a powerful burning sensation. It can cause
irritation of the mouth and digestive system, and on rare occasions the swelling
of the mouth and throat may be severe enough to affect breathing. Care is
needed to avoid confusion with poison ivy, which has three leaflets per leaf
somewhat similar in appearance.
Arisaema triphyllum Indian turnip,
saanp booti
Sindh ,Gilget ,Swat, Ayubia,Nathiagali
Colocasia esculanta Taro, elephant-ear Sindh ,Gilget , Swat ,Ayubia ,Nathiagali
Arum jacquemonti Arum Sindh ,Gilget ,Himalaya ,Parachanar
,Nathiagali
2.Plants toxic to Gastric Mucosa
NAME COMMON NAME HABITAT TOXICITY
Narcissus tazetta paper white Gilgit ,Lower Swat Wally There are various alkaloids in these plants but lycorine is the most dangerous one, that
cause multiple symptoms
Amaryllus vittae belladonna lily, Jersey lily Punjab ,Sindh
Crinum asiatcum Crinum Lily Punjab ,Sindh
3.Plants irritant to Intestinal Mucosa
2. NAME COMMON NAME HABITAT TOXICITY
Aseculus indica Aseculus indica Kashmir,Ziarat
Quetta,Muree ,Swat.
• It contain saponin glycoside “aesculin” which is found in nut, leaves and
bark of Aseculus indica.
Podophyllum emodi Himalayan May Apple Swaat ,Chitral
,Murree ,Ziarat
• The reason of toxicity is the presence of a resin “podophyllin” which is
present in the rhizome.
Taxus baccata Taxus baccata Kashmir, Gilgit
Muree ,Swat.
• There are many alkaloid present in taxus baccata but the reason of toxicity
is “taxine” which is present in the leaves.
4.Plants causing delayed gastroenteritis
NAME COMMON NAME HABITAT TOXICITY
Abrus precatorius Ratti, rosary pea Sindh, and Kashmir .it found at
3000__5000 altitude
Seeds of this plant contain abrin, which is a phytotoxin. Abrin is neither
degraded nor altered by gastric juices. It is a lethal cytotoxin
Ricinus communis castor bean Punjab
Sindh
The toxic principle behind ricinus communis is the presence of
a glycoproteien “Ricin” which is present in seeds
Rheum webbianum Chotal, ishpar , rhubarb In Pakistan it grows on slopes at an
elevation of 2,000–4,500 metres
above sea level., Gilgit ,Kpk
The leaf blades of rhubarb contain enough oxalic acid to cause poisoning
. Acute renal failure has been associated with long-term use.
Rheum ribes Rawash, Syrian rhubarb In Pakistan it grows on slopes at an
elevation of 2,000–4,500 metres
above sea level.,Gilgit ,Kpk
3. 5.Plants causing cvs disturbance
B.PLANTS ACTING ON CNS
NAME COMMON
NAME
HABITAT TOXICITY
Cicuta virosa Water
hemlock
Cicuta, native to northern and
central Europe, northern Asia
This plant contains a unsaturated alcohol called Cicutoxin distributed through the
plant but highly concentrated in stem and rhizome.
Melia azadirachta chinaberry
tree,
Gilgit
Kpk
It contains neurotoxin and unidentified resins .
It contains four tetranortriterpenes(meliatoxin)
Cannabis sativa Bhang Punjab
Sind
KPK
Baluchistan
Usually found on road sides
Best quality found in Gilgit & chitral
Toxicity of the drug depends upon the potency of the drug & route of
administration. When taken orally , the following symptoms are observed
• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Disoreintation
• Auditory hallucination
NAME COMMON NAME CHEMICAL CNSTITUENTS TOXICITY
Digitalis ENGLISH: Foxglove
URDU: Berge-Lafta
Digitoxin
Gitoxin, Lannatoside C
High dose can cause Increase in heart rate,Vomiting ,Diarrhea ,Abdominal pain ,Yellow vision
,Other visual disturbances ,Difficult breathing, Unconsciousness & coma, Death due to heart
arrest after fibrillation (abnormal action of heart muscles)
Aconitum URDU: Atis
PUNJABI:Bonga
ACONITINES All parts of plants contain Aconitine & other alkaloids
But the roots contain greater amount & concentration of poisonous Aconitine
Roots are the most poisonous part
Leaves are greatly poisonous just before flowering
Nerium
indicum
OLEANDER alpha.-Pinene
Camphene
beta.-Myrcene
D-Limonene
Leaves and roots of this plant contain a mixture of glycosides which are chemically and
physiologically related to digitalis glycosides. Among these Oleandrin is a major toxic principle.
4. C.CYANOGENETIC PLANTS
NAME COMMON NAME HABITAT TOXICITY
Prunus amygdalus Badam Wild in Baluchistan, Chitral,
Gilgit, cultivated in these
areas
Few mg of HCN may be fatal to humans because it blocks the ability of cells to
use Oxygen.
HCN inhibits the action of an enzyme i.e, Cytochrome Oxidase which is
Respiratory catalyst or enzyme which links atmospheric Oxygen with metabolic
respiration.
Thus HCN poisoning causes asphyxia (lack of Oxygen causing death or loss of
consciousness) at cellular level .
Manihot utilissima Cassava • Punjab
• Sindh
The toxic principle is LINAMARIN and LOTAUSTRALIN. Both these toxins are
hydrolyzed by LINAMARASE ,naturally occuring ezyme liberating Cyanide.
In 1830, the cyanogenetic glycosides i.e, Manihotoxin was isolated from Manihot
Manihotoxin consist of acetone, cyanohydrin & glucoside .On hydrolysis,
manihotoxin yields HCN
D. ATROPINE CONTAINING PLANTS
NAME COMMON NAME HABITAT TOXICITY
Atropa belladona deadly nightshade Kurram ,Dir
Sawat ,Hazara ,
Muree ,Azad kashmir
Atropine increases firing (The rate at which the SA node generates
impulses) of the sinoatrial node (is a group of cells known
as pacemaker cells, located in the wall of the right atrium of
the heart).
Opposes the action of vagus nerve (longest nerve of the autonomic
nervous system which regulate many physiological functions e.g
heart rate etc)
• Blocks acetylcholine receptor sites (anticholinergic).
• In general atropine lowers the parasympathetic activity of all
muscles and glands regulated by parasympathetic system
Datura stramonium thorn apple, jimsonweed Sindh, Punjab,KPK ,
Balochistan
Commonin weedy places
Hyoscyamus niger Stinking nighshade, henbane Sindh, Baluchistan,Punjab,
KPK
E.PLANTS PRODUCING NICOTINE LIKE ACTION
5. NAME COMMON NAME HABITAT TOXICITY
Conium maculatum hemlock, poison hemlock Mardan ,Swabi
Peshawar ,Hazara
kashmir
Overdose may cause fatal neuromuscular dysfunction, failure of
the respiratory system and Oxygen deprivation
Lobelia inflata Indian Tobacco Pakistan & india at
altitude of 700-2200 m
Dryness of throat ..Nausea, Vomiting,Abdominal pain,Sweating,Rapid
pulse,Tremors, Muscular twitching & convulsion
Death due to respiratory failure
Nicotianna tobaccum Tumbacco Mardan ,Swabi
Peshawar
Overdose may cause Local irritation ,paralysis .
Overdose can occur through combined use of nicotine patches or
nicotine gum & cigarettes at the same time.Spilling a high
concentration on skin can cause intoxication or even death because
nicotine readily passes into blood stream
It is Carcinogenic and teratogenic
F.LIVER DAMAGING PLANTS
• 1. Manihot esculantus
• 2. Melia azedarach
• 3. Ricinus communis
• 4. Spindus tripholiatu
Spindus tripholiatu Soap nut Mardan,Hazara,kashmir It is capable of inducing abortion and contra indicated in pregnancy. • It has neuroleptic effect.
