Poisonous Plants

Key points

• • Many plants contain natural poisons, and a few are important in clinical toxicology and forensic practice because they can cause serious or fatal poisoning.
• • Datura (thorn apple) contains atropine-like substances and causes a dry mouth, wide pupils, a fast heart, flushed skin and delirium (the anticholinergic picture).
• • Oleander and yellow oleander contain heart poisons (cardiac glycosides) that disturb the heartbeat and can be dangerous if their seeds are ingested.
• • Abrus precatorius (jequirity, or rosary pea) contains the toxin abrin, which is highly poisonous if the seed is chewed and swallowed.
• • Aconite (monkshood) is one of the most poisonous plants, causing tingling, numbness and a dangerous disturbance of the heartbeat.
• • Strychnine, from the seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica, causes violent muscle spasms and arching of the body, and is a classic convulsant poison.