Analysis of toxic alkaloids in body samples.

Fatal plant poisonings are rare, though many plants contain dangerous alkaloids. Poisonings fall into three categories: accidental ingestions (often in children or from plant-mushroom mix-ups in adults), intentional ingestions (homicides and suicides), and abuse of plants for hallucinogenic effects. This review describes toxic alkaloids such as aconitine, atropine, coniine, colchicine, cytisine, dimethyltryptamine, harmine, harmaline, ibogaine, kawain, mescaline, scopolamine, and taxine, which are involved in fatal and non-fatal poisonings. It summarizes intoxication symptoms and reviews methods for detecting these substances in biological fluids.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Many plants contain toxic alkaloids which may be dangerous to humans. Despite the large number of poisonous plants, cases of fatal plant poisonings are relatively rare. The frequencies of poisonings and the plants involved are often regionally specific. Plant poisonings can be aggregated into three categories: unintended ingestions, intended ingestions, and poisoning due to abuse of plant material. Unintended ingestions often occur in children or from a mix-up of plants and mushrooms in adults. Intended ingestions are common in homicides and suicides. Increasingly common is the abuse of plants for hallucinogenic reasons. Toxicological analysis of such alkaloids may help in diagnosis of poisoning or abuse cases. This review describes the toxic alkaloids aconitine, atropine, coniine, colchicine, cytisine, dimethyltryptamine, harmine, harmaline, ibogaine, kawain, mescaline, scopolamine, and taxine, which are often involved in fatal and non-fatal poisonings. The paper summarizes the symptoms of the intoxications and reviews the methods of detection of their toxic constituents in biological fluids.