The acute toxicity of water hemlock (Cicuta douglasii) in a goat model

The actions of varenicline on alkaloids from Conium maculatum (poison hemlock), Lupinus sulphureus (sulphur lupine) and Nicotiana glauca (tree tobacco)

Evidence-based therapies to manage the clinical signs of intoxication caused by toxic plants in livestock are lacking. For that reason, the aim of this work was to develop a drug-based intervention for the management of clinical signs of piperidine alkaloid intoxication in livestock. The actions of anabasine, coniine, γ-coniceine, and two total alkaloid extracts from Lupinus sulphureus were compared in the presence and absence of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist varenicline in RD cells, mice and goats. Pretreatment of RD cells with 10.0 μM varenicline significantly shifted the anabasine fifty percent effective concentration (EC50) value to a greater concentration and blocked the response of the cells to coniine. γ-coniceine did not have any effect on RD cells as measured by membrane potential sensing dye. Swiss Webster mice median lethal dose (LD50) values for anabasine, coniine, γ-coniceine were 1.5, 5.5, and 3.7 mg/kg respectively, and pretreatment with 10.0 mg/kg i. p. dosed varenicline shifted the LD50 values to 4.2, 9.1, and 4.3 mg/kg respectively. The rodent LD50 value of the Pendelton, WA L. sulphureus quinolizidine alkaloid extract was shifted to a lesser concentration by varenicline while the Ritzville, WA L. sulphureus piperidine alkaloid extract was shifted to a greater concentration by varenicline. The clinical signs of intoxication in goats orally dosed with Conium maculatum were exacerbated by 0.5, 1.0 and 10.0 mg/kg i. v. dosed varenicline. These results suggest that varenicline was effective at shifting piperidine alkaloid EC50 values in RD cells and increasing piperidine but not quinolizidine alkaloid LD50 values in mice and was not useful at managing the clinical signs of poison hemlock intoxication in goats.

Plants' Impact on the Human Brain-Exploring the Neuroprotective and Neurotoxic Potential of Plants

BACKGROUND

Plants have long been recognized for their potential to influence neurological health, with both neuroprotective and neurotoxic properties. This review explores the dual nature of plant-derived compounds and their impact on the human brain.

DISCUSSION

Numerous studies have highlighted the neuroprotective effects of various phytoconstituents, such as those found in Ginkgo biloba, Centella asiatica, Panax ginseng, Withania somnifera, and Curcuma longa. The neuroprotective compounds have demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cognitive-enhancing properties, making them promising candidates for combating neurodegenerative diseases and improving brain function. Polyphenolic compounds, triterpenic acids, and specific phytocompounds like the ones from EGb 761 extract have shown interactions with key enzymes and receptors in the brain, leading to neuroprotective outcomes. However, this review also acknowledges the neurotoxic potential of certain plants, such as the Veratrum species, which contains steroidal alkaloids that can cause DNA damage and disrupt neurological function, or Atropa belladonna, which interfere with the normal functioning of the cholinergic system in the body, leading to a range of symptoms associated with anticholinergic toxicity.

CONSLUSIONS

This review also emphasizes the need for further research to elucidate the complex mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects of plant-derived compounds, as well as to identify novel phytoconstituents with therapeutic potential. Understanding the complex relationship between plants and the human brain is crucial for harnessing the benefits of neuroprotective compounds while mitigating the risks associated with neurotoxic substances. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the knowledge on the neurological properties of plants and highlights the importance of continued research in this field for the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting brain health and neurological disorders.

Biomarkers and their potential for detecting livestock plant poisonings in Western North America

The United States National Cancer Institute defines a biomarker as: "A biological molecule found in blood, other body fluids, or tissues that is a sign of a normal or abnormal process, or of a condition or disease." In Veterinary Medicine, biomarkers associated with plant poisonings of livestock have great utility. Since grazing livestock poisoned by toxic plants are often found dead, biomarkers of plant poisoning allow for a more rapid postmortem diagnosis and response to prevent further deaths. The presence and concentration of toxins in poisonous plants are biomarkers of risk for livestock poisoning that can be measured by the chemical analysis of plant material. More difficult is, the detection of plant toxins or biomarkers in biological samples from intoxicated or deceased animals. The purpose of this article is to review potential biomarkers of plant poisoning in grazing livestock in the Western North America including recently investigated non-invasive sampling techniques. Plants discussed include larkspur, lupine, water hemlock, swainsonine-containing plants, selenium-containing plants, and pyrrolizidine alkaloid containing plants. Other factors such as animal age and sex that affect plant biomarker concentrations in vivo are also discussed.

Phytotoxicological study of selected poisonous plants from Azad Jammu & Kashmir

Poisonous plants cause tremendous economic losses to the livestock industry. These economic losses are deterioration in their health, decreased productivity, deformed offspring, and reduced longevity. The current study is the first comprehensive report on poisonous plants of Azad Jammu and Kashmir which systematically documents the phytotoxicological effect and mode of action in livestock. The information was gathered from 271 informants including 167 men and 104 women through semi-structured interviews and literature search through available databases. The data collected through interviews was analyzed with quantitative tools viz. the factor informant consensus and fidelity level. A total of 38 species of flowering plants belonging to 23 families and 38 genera were reported. Family Asteraceae (5 spp) was the most dominant, followed by Solanaceae (4 spp), Fabaceae (4 spp), Euphorbiaceae (4 spp) and Convolvulaceae (3 spp). Among all the species collected, herbs were the dominant life form (22 spp, 57.89%), trailed by shrubs (11 spp, 28.95%), and trees (5 spp, 13.16%). Whole plant toxicity was reported to be the highest (15 spp, 39.47%), followed by leaf toxicity (12 spp, 31.58%), seed toxicity (4 spp, 7.89%), fruit toxicity (3 spp, 10.53%), latex toxicity (2 spp, 5.26%), flowers toxicity (1 spp, 2.63%), and berries toxicity (1 spp, 2.63%). The most toxic route of administration was found oral (39 spp, 40.63%), followed by intraperitoneal (24 spp, 25%), and intravenous (21 spp, 21.88%). The most commonly affected organ was found liver (20.41%), followed by gastrointestinal tract (20.341%), CNS (16.33%), skin (14.29%), kidneys (12.24%), lungs (4.04%), reproductive organs (2.04%), spleen (1.75%), blood (1.75%), heart (1.75%), urinary tract (1.75%), and pancreas (1.75%). The maximum Fic value was found for dermatological disorders (0.91), followed by the endocrine system (0.90), gastrointestinal (0.82), neurology (0.77), nephrology (0.67), cardiovascular (0.67), urinary (0.67), respiratory (0.60), sexual (0.60) disorders. Senecio vulgaris, and Ageratum conyzoides were the most important plants with fidelity level (0.95) and (0.87). Nerium oleander, Lantana camara, Leucaena leucocephala, and Ricinus communis were the important poisonous plant with maximum fidelity level (100%). Ricinus communis with reported lowest LD50 (<20 mg/kg) was the top-ranked poisonous plant followed by Lantana camara and Justicia adhatoda (25-50 mg/kg), Nerium Oleander (157.37 mg/kg), and Datura innoxia (400 mg/kg). We found that knowledge about poisonous plants is less prevailing in the rural areas of Azad Kashmir compared to the knowledge about medicinal plants and poisonous nature of reported plants is due to production of toxic substances and presence of essential oils.

Beware of Neurotoxins in Common Plants: Water Hemlock Poisoning Presenting as Convulsive Status Epilepticus

BACKGROUND

Pediatric status epilepticus occurs in about 44/100.000 children per year with an unknown cause in about a third of patients. One cause can be the ingestion of plants containing toxins that target the central nervous system. Here we describe an ingestion of water hemlock resulting in a status epilepticus.

METHODS

We studied in detail the clinical, laboratory, electrophysiological, and radiological features of a patient with status epilepticus.

RESULTS

A 9-year-old boy presented to the pediatric emergency department for sudden onset of nausea, vomiting, and status epilepticus approximately one hour after the patient had bitten into the root of a water plant in an inner-city park. Bilateral tonic-clonic seizures could only be terminated after administration of midazolam, lorazepam, and finally propofol. Cranial MRI, cerebrospinal fluid, and EEG findings were largely unremarkable. The ingested plant was identified as water hemlock through a detailed search with the help of a drawing issued by the patient with the help of the medical team. The specific toxicological analysis for water hemlock verified the presence of cicutoxin and cicudiol in the blood sample. The patient was discharged, levetiracetam was weaned off four weeks later, and he has remained seizure free since.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the considerable percentage of cases of unknown etiology in new-onset pediatric status epilepticus, it is important to consider plant intoxication as a possible cause.

Evaluation of diazepam as a drug treatment for water hemlock (Cicuta species) poisoning in Spanish goats

Water hemlocks (Cicuta spp.) are toxic members of the Apiaceae plant family. The best drug treatment for the convulsions associated with acute water hemlock poisoning in livestock and humans has not been determined experimentally. This work compared the therapeutic actions of benzodiazepines (diazepam) and barbiturates (phenobarbital) on water hemlock poisoning in a goat model. C. maculata tubers were orally dosed to goats. Experimental groups consisted of; control saline; 20 mg/kg phenobarbital; 1.0 mg/kg diazepam; 10 mg/kg diazepam; and 1.0 mg/kg diazepam administered as needed to moderate convulsions by intravenous (i.v.) infusion. Diazepam provided nearly instant control of convulsions. Clinical signs of poisoning were completely controlled for the duration of the experiment in the goats that received the 10 mg/kg diazepam dose. These results suggest that diazepam is effective at managing the clinical signs of water hemlock poisoning in goats. We speculate that diazepam can be used as a potential treatment for water hemlock poisoning in other livestock species and humans.