(castor, abrus, croton, ergot, calotropis, colicynth

1. Dr Mohd Kaleem Khan
Assistant Professor
Department Of Forensic Medicine
JNMCH AMU Aligarh

2. Ricinus communis (Castor, Arandi)
• The castor bean plant, ricinus communis, is a "native
of tropical africa.
• Cultivated in several varieties for the oil found in its
leaves and for its bold foliage.
• Leaves consist of usually eight radiating, pointed
leaflets with slightly serrated edges.
• Entire plant is poisonous esp. Seeds except oil.
• Seeds are smooth, flat, oval, mottled, dark brown
marking, bright and polished and occur in large and
small form.

3. Green Red

4. Small seed Large seed

5. uses
• Oil
• Candles, cosmetics, soaps
• Lubricants in jets
• Purgative
• ornamental

6. MOA:
Active principle:
• Toxalbumin RICIN, a water soluble glycoprotein
• (Ricinus Communis Agglutinin)
– Antigenic- causes agglutination, hemolysis and cell
destruction
– RCA does not penetrate the intestinal wall, and does not
affect red blood cells unless given intravenously

7. • Ricin
– Blocks protein synthesis
– Ricin has special binding protein that gains access to the
endoplasmic reticulum of GIT causing diarrhoea.
• These "ribosome-inactivating proteins" (RIPs) are typically N-
glycosylated, 30 kDa monomers (Type 1 RIPs). However, in order to bind
to the cell surface galactosides and enter the cytosol to reach ribosomes,
they require a second monomer, a galactose-binding, 30 kDa lectin. The
monomers are joined by a disulfide bridge to form the toxic heterodimers
(Type 2 RIPs).

9. • The RTB portion of ricin binds to both glycoproteins and
glycolipids at cell surfaces that terminate with galactose.
• However, just a single ricin molecule that enters the
cytosol can inactivate over 1,500 ribosomes per minute and
kill the cell.
• The ricin A portion of the heterodimer is the enzyme that
binds and depurinates a specific adenine of the 28S rRNA

10. • Endocytosis by coated pits and vesicles or, endocytosis by
smooth pits and vesicles. The vesicles fuse with an endosome.
• Many ricin molecules are returned to the cell surface by
exocytosis, or the vesicles may fuse to lysosomes where the
ricin would be destroyed.
• If the ricin-containing vesicles fuse to the trans Golgi network,
(tgn), there is still a chance they may return to the cell surface.

11. • Toxic action will occur when RTA, aided by
RTB, penetrates the Golgi membrane and is
liberated into the cytosol.
• Once inside the cytosol, the RTA catalyzes the
depurination of the ribosomes, halting protein
synthesis.

13. Sign and Symptom
• Dust of seeds causes:
• Watering of eyes, conjunctivitis
• Rhinitis, acute nasal inflammation
• Headache, pharyngitis, bronchitis
• Dermatitis
• Gastric upset
• Ingestion
• GIT: burning pain in throat, colicky abdominal pain, cramping,
nausea, thirst, vomiting and diarrhea.
• CNS: vertigo, drowsiness, delirium, convulsions coma
• Uremia, jaundice, feeble pulse, shock and dehydration

14. • F.D. : 5- 10 seeds
• F.P. : 3-5 days
• Treatment:
• Gastric lavage
• Emetics and demulscents
• symptomatic

15. PM Appearance:
• Mucosa congested, softened, inflamed, erosions, fragment of
seeds may be present
• Dilatation of heart, pleural Hg, edema of Liver, kidney spleen
and lung
MLI:
• Accidental in children
• Rarely homicidal( The Umbrella Murder Case)
• Bioterrorism

17. Abrus Precatorius Indian Liquorice/ Ratti
• All parts of plants are poisonous esp. seeds.
• Seeds are size of small pea, red in colour, egg shape,
having black spot on one end or may be white or yellow
• active principle:
– Abrin ( toxic protein that disables ribosomes, inhibits protein
synthesis, antigenic properties, hemolytic properties);
– Abrine- an amino acid; haemagglutinin,
– Abralin- a glycoside

18. • Abrus precatorius,
Known commonly as
– Jequirity, Crab's Eye, Rosary Pea, Precatory
Pea or Bean, John Crow Bead, Indian Licorice,
Akar Saga,
– Gidee Gidee Or Jumbie Bead In Trinidad & Tobago,
– Is a slender, perennial climber that twines around trees,
shrubs, and hedges.
– It is a legume with long, pinnate-leafleted leaves.

19. SEEDS
Red and black white

20. PLANT
Plant Necklace

21. MOA
• Binds to endoplasmic reticulum of gut mucosal cells
l/t diarrhoea.
• Mechanism same as Ricinous Communis
• F.D. : 1 seed
• F.P. : 3- 5 days

22. USES
– The seeds of abrus precatorius are much valued in native jewelry for
their bright color.
– There have been cases of death by a finger-prick while boring the
seeds for beadwork.
– These seeds to weigh gold using a measure called a ratti, where 8 ratti
= 1 masha; 12 masha = 1 tola (11.6 grams)
– In siddha medicine, the white variety is used to prepare oil that is
claimed to be an aphrodisiac .
– Ayurveda because it is said to promote/stimulate hair growth.

23. Sign and Symptom
• On ingestion:
• Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, bloody diarrhoea,
• Vertigo, tinnitus, and giddiness,
• Cold clammy skin, irregular pulse, laboured breathing,
convulsions,
• Haemolysis, oliguria and death d/t cardiac failure.
• Injected:
• Resembles viperine snake bite.
• Inflammation, oedema, oozing of fluid.
• Painful swelling and necrosis of muscles and regional lymph node
may occur.

24. TREATMENT
• Gastric lavage
• Suis should be excised
• Anti abrin ( not so effective)
• A mixture of dilute hydrochloric acid and pepsin
• Symptomatic treatment

25. Medicolegal Aspect
– Accidental in children
– Suis made from opium, dhatura, onion and spirit
and used for animal poisoning
– Seeds act as abortificient
– Malingering: conjunctivitis
– Arrow poison

26. Croton tiglium (jamal gota)
• Croton tiglium, known as Purging Croton, is a plant species
in the Euphorbiaceae family.
• C. tiglium is also called Jamaal Gota in Hindi and Urdu.
• Seeds are dark brown, oval, similar to croton but not
mottled and lustureless.
• All parts of plant are poisonous but seeds contain
maximum conc. of Active principle.

27. Plant Seed

28. Uses
• C. tiglium is used in traditional Chinese medicine,
•
• C. tiglium is known as Japaala/or "Jayapala" in Sinhala and
used in Sinhala traditional medical system of Sri Lanka.
• Seeds have a powerful purge.
• Is a valuable remedy in diarrhoea, summer complaint, and
Skin affections, in Homeopathic remedies

30. Toxic effect
• Active principle:
– Crotin (toxalbumin)
– Crotoniside ( glycoside )
Ingestion
– Burning pain in throat and stomach, salivation, colicky abdominal
pain, cramping, nausea, thirst, vomiting and bloody diarrhoea.
– Prostration circulatory and respiratory collapse
– Applied to skin
– Burning redness and vesication

31. • F.D. : 4 crushed seeds or 3 drops of oil
• F.P. :3-6 days
• Treatment:
• GL
• Emetics and demulscents
• Morphine and atropine
• symptomatic

32. PM Appearance:
• Mucosa congested, softened, inflamed, erosions,
fragment of seeds may be present
• Dilatation of heart, pleural Hg, oedema of Liver,
kidney spleen and lung
• MLI:
• Accidental
• Rarely homicidal and suicidal
• Roots and oil as abortificient
• Arrow poison

33. Calotropis gigantea/ calotropis procera
madar or akdo
• Dried root freed from the outer cortical is
called Madar
• Active Principle:
• Uscharin,
• Calotoxin,
• Calactin,
• Calotropin (Cardiac Glycoside)
• Gigantin (Contained In Serum)

36. Uses:
• Flowers: Digestive , Carminative, Tonic
• Leaves: Purgatives, Emetic
• Milky Juice : Vesicant, Depilatory And T/T Of
Chronic Skin Condition
• Tincture Of Bark Or Root: Dysentery
• Dried Bark: Expectorant, Emetic And Purgative

37. Sign and symptoms
• External – irritant vasication, conjunctivitis
• Internal – gastrointestinal and cerebral
poison

38. Medico- legal importance
– Madar juice is commonly used as an abortifacient,
– May be used for homicide , suicide or infanticide
– Animal poison
– Artificial bruise
– Arrow poison

39. Plumbago Rosea/ Plumbago Zeylinca
Lal Chitra/ Chitra
• Roots are most poisonous
• Active principle:
• Plumbagin (glycoside) – strong irritant and in
small doses it
• Stimulates contractions of heart,
• Intestine a
• Uterus
Large doses causes respiratory failure.

40. Medico-legal importance
• Abortion
• Homicide
• paste of stem or leaves : for artificial
bruise
• Powdered leaves and roots: t/t of leprosy,
scabies and influenza

42. Semecarpus Anacardium or Marking Nut/ Bhilawan
• Fruit is black, heart shape, having rough projection at
base.
• Fleshy pericarp contains thick, oily, acrid juice which
turns black when mixed with lime and exposed to air
• Active principle:
• Bhilawanol,
• Semicarpol

43. Sign and symptoms
• On skin: irritation and painful blister.
• Lesion resembles bruise which may ulcerate
and slough
• F.D.: 5- 10 gm
• F.P. : 12- 24 hr

44. Medico-legal importance
– Accidental
– Artificial bruise
– Criminal abortion
– Malingering : conjunctivitis
– Vitriolage

45. Difference
Artificial bruise
• Cause : chemical
• Situation: accessible
• Appearance : blister
formation
• Colour changes: absent
• Ecchymosis: absent
• Content: acrid serum
• Itching present
• Analysis chemical
present
True bruise
• Trauma
• Anywhere
• No blister
• Present
• Present
• Extravasated blood
• Absent
• Absent
• Negative

46. Ergot
• Dried fungus Claviceps purpurea which grows on
stale grains particularly Rye , Wheat, Barley and
Maize
• Active principle: alkaloids- Ergotoxin, Ergotamine
and Ergometrine
• MoA: Vaso-constricting agent and stimulates smooth
ms contraction of arterioles , intestine and uterus

47. Acute poisoning
– Nausea , vomiting and diarrhoea
– Respiratory distress
– Paraesthesias, muscle cramps
– Dizziness, dilated pupil, bleeding from nose,
unconciousess
– F.D. : 1-2 gm

48. Chronic poisoning
• Convulsive type: twitching, tingling, numbness
and painful contraction of voluntary muscles,
headache, drowsiness, giddiness, formification
and convulsions
• Gangrenous type: resembles Raynaud’s
disease (St. Anthony’s fire), numbness tingling
anaesthesia, may be dry gangrene in fingers
toes, ears, nose, hands

49. Treatment
• Symptomatic
• Emesis
• Nitroprusside or nitroglycerine
• Prazocine, captopril, nifedipine and
cyproheptidine for limb ischaemia
• Phenobarbital

50. MLI:
• Accidental poisoning
• Abortifacient