Poison Hemlock

Poison Hemlock: Common name: شوكران Scientific name: Conium maculatum L. Family: Apiaceae(Umbelliferae)

Hemlock

POISON HEMLOCK AND COWBANE are NOT evergreens at all, but deadly poisonous herbs of the Apiaceae Family, which makes them close relatives of Parsley, Caraway, Carrots, and Parsnips. In fact, the leaves of young Poison Hemlock resemble those of Carrots. Fortunately, the mature plant grows tall, with many tiny, white flowers in umbrella-like clusters above smooth hollow stalks that are often marked with purple spots.

POISON LOCATION: All parts of the plant containing the yellow, oily sap are poisonous, but especially the leaves

TYPICAL POISONING SCENARIO: Accidental consumption by livestock, by children who are attracted by the flowers, or by adults who mistake POISON HEMLOCK for Caraway, which it resembles. It pays to take care in identifying the edible members of this plant family. If you are in any doubt, bruise the plant in question; POISON HEMLOCK will give off a strong, unpleasant odour said to be like that of mice.

Treatment No antidote exists for coniine poisoning. Treatment is supportive, respiratory support and gastric decontamination should be instituted immediately. Anticonvulsants should be administered as needed.

SYMPTOMS Brief initial stimulation, followed by severe depression of the nervous sytem, paralysis, and death. The plants are more likely to be fatal for children than adults. The poisonous qualities of these plants have long been known. In ancient Greece, the philosopher Socrates died in 399BC of drinking a potent solution of POISON HEMLOCK, which was favoured by his countrymen as a "humane" method of execution.

Mechanism of action The mechanism of action of these alkaloids is twofold. The most serious effect occurs at the neuromuscular junction, where they act as nondepolarizing blockers, similar to curare. Death, when it occurs, is usually caused by respiratory failure. As a result of their action at the autonomic ganglia, the toxins produce biphasic nicotinic effects, including salivation, mydriasis and tachycardia followed by bradycardia. Less commonly, rhabdomyolosis and acute tubular necrosis have occurred 2. It was found that this plant has a teratogenic activity in animals

Toxic ingredient: The toxins in poison hemlock are simple piperidine alkaloids. Coniine and gamma-coniceine are the predominant toxicants that have been implicated in overt toxicity in animals and humans

Coniine

Socrates One of the greatest ancient philosophers was executed by a solution of the hemlock plant (Conium maculatum) in 399 BC. The onset of toxic effects is in 20 – 30 minutes. The death is most frequently caused by the cessation of breathing at full consciousness and before cardiac arrest. Coniine is a curare-like poison, such alkaloids block the transmission of stimuli from motor nerve endings to striated muscles, which subsequent leads to muscle paralysis. The paralysis progresses from the lower limbs upwards to respiratory muscles, and when these muscles are paralyzed, the victim dies of asphyxia. The brain is not affected and the victim retains consciousness.

Socrates Death

Cases In man, 3 mg of coniine is said to have produced symptoms, but 150 mg have been tolerated without discomfort. Perhaps mg is dangerous and death may occur with doses greater than 100 mg. It has been reported that a lethal dose may be 6 to 8 fresh leaves

Peganum harmala الحرمل

Peganum harmala Scientific name: Peganum harmala L. Family: Zygophyllaceae.

Harmal

Harmal Seeds

Toxic ingredient: β-carbolines alkaloids: harmine, harmaline and harmol. The aerial parts of Peganum harmala have four flavonoids: acacetin 7-O-rhamnoside, 7-O-[6"-O-glucosyl-2"-O-(3'''- acetylrhamnosyl)glucoside and 7-O-(2'''-O- rhamnosyl-2"-O-glucosylglucoside), and the glycoflavone 2'''-O-rhamnosyl-2"-O- glucosylcytisoside 3.

Toxic parts: The seeds, fruit and young leaves are the most poisonous plant parts. Uses in folkloric medicine:; The seeds are used in hypertension, blood metabolism, backache, arthritis and common cold

Manifestations Narcotic hallucination, colored visions, tremors, salivation, nausea, agitation and delirium, and, at high doses, it can produce paralysis 6,7. Harmine and harmaline elicit hallucinogenic effects in humans at doses of 4mg/kg

Treatment: Supportive, (no specific treatment is mentioned in the literature).

Case A 35 year old male patient, who was under treatment for his addiction to opium, admitted to the clinic due to gastrointestinal distress. He explained that he had consumed 1 kg of sheep testicles in the belief that it would improve his well being, but resulted in emesis and vomiting. Then to his grandmother's recommendation and accord to the family tradition, he took around 150 g of seeds P. harmala. Due to her old age, the grandmother was not sure about the traditional dose.

After that he experienced gastrointestinal distress and vomited blood. On physical examination, he showed slight elevation in body temperature (37.5C), a pulse rate of 100 beats per minute, and a low blood pressure (80/40mmHg), convulsion, tremor (limbs and facial muscles), and visual hallucinations as well as abdominal pain.

Structures Harmaline Harmine