Large outbreak of Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium) poisoning due to consumption of contaminated humanitarian relief food: Uganda, March-April 2019

Neuroinflammation and oxidative redox imbalance drive memory dysfunction in adolescent rats prenatally exposed to Datura Stramonium

Although there have been reports indicating that Datura Stramonium (D. stramonium) may induce anticholinergic and neuropsychiatry effects, the compound is still being used for recreational and medicinal purposes while ingestion during pregnancy has been documented. Intriguingly, minimal studies have investigated the potential neurotoxic impact of D. stramonium exposure at various stages of gestation, including its potential implication on neurophysiological well-being later in life. The present study, therefore, examined spontaneous working memory and the expression of specific neurochemicals modulating crucial neural processes in adolescent rats exposed to high and low D. stramonium doses during different stages of gestation. Pregnant rats were orally infused with 150- or 500- mg/kg/day of D. stramonium either during mid- (second week; days 8-14) or late- (third week; days 15-21) gestation, while control rats received PBS at dosing periods. Behavioral characterization of offspring between postnatal days (PD) 40 and 41 in the Y-maze revealed that D. stramonium perturbed spatial working memory in rats, although locomotor activity was generally unaltered. In addition to SOD and nitric oxide downregulation, induction of oxidative stress in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) of young adult rats prenatally exposed to D. stramonium was corroborated by depletion of key antioxidant regulatory elements glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and catalase, which was accompanied by lipid peroxidation shown by increased MDA levels. Whereas increased expression of acetylcholinesterase and LDH was seen in adolescent rats prenatally infused D. stramonium, acetylcholine levels were downregulated in both hippocampal and PFC lysates, suggesting cholinergic and metabolic dysfunctions. Immunohistochemical labelling of GFAP and IBA-1 revealed increased expression of reactive astrocytes and microglia respectively, while the accompanying TNFα upregulation in both the hippocampus (dentate gyrus) and PFC causally linked intrauterine D. stramonium exposure with neuroinflammatory responses postnatally. Overall, our data correlated postnatal spatial working memory dysfunction evoked by D. stramonium exposure during critical stages of embryonic development to oxidative redox impairment, cholinergic disruption and neuroinflammatory perturbations in rats.

Dual-functional probe-based multi-signal immunosensor platform for tropane alkaloids: Verification and evaluation

This study aims to realise rapid detecting of tropane alkaloids (TAs) in food. For this purpose, a broad-spectrum single-chain fragment variable was fused with horseradish peroxidase to create an antibody-enzyme complex (AEC) with antigen recognition and catalytic activity. A multi-signal immunosensor platform based on AEC in the direct competitive reaction mode was constructed using 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine and 10-acetyl-3,7-dihydroxyphenoxazine as substrates. The sensitivity of TAs in the immunosensor platform ranged from 0.25 μg/kg to 7912.46 μg/kg. Honey was selected as a representative food sample, and the limit of detection of TAs in honey ranged from 0.02 μg/kg to 409.11 μg/kg, with a recovery rate of 65.7 %-117.1 % and a coefficient of variation less than 21.4 %. Results showed that the immunosensor platform possesses satisfactory accuracy and precision, which highlights its potential for practical applications and its suitability as an ideal tool for rapid screening of TAs in food.

Unveiling the Dark Side of Datura in Pediatric Poisoning With Insights From Jordanian Experience : A Retrospective Clinical Study

OBJECTIVES

Datura stramonium , jimsonweed, is a toxic plant with hallucinogenic properties. Although there are many studies on Datura poisoning, none reported cases in Jordan. This study offers a comprehensive review on D. stramonium ingestion, covering its epidemiology, clinical presentation, and treatment. We aimed to provide better understanding of the factors for Datura ingestion, identify prevention and management strategies, and address research challenges.

METHODS

This study adopted a retrospective review design to evaluate the cases of Datura poisoning in Al Karak, province of Jordan during the spring of 2022. Data collected from medical records, toxicology databases, and consultation records were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

The common symptoms of Datura poisoning included agitation, mydriasis, and tachycardia. The management approaches comprised supportive care, administration of Diazepam for agitation, and, in some cases, neostigmine to counteract anticholinergic effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding the risks associated with D. stramonium poisoning and implementing effective prevention and management strategies are crucial. This study highlights the importance of recognizing Datura poisoning as a potential diagnosis in children presenting with unexplained anticholinergic symptoms or agitation to the emergency room.

Effects of dietary exposure to plant toxins on bioaccumulation, survival, and growth of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae and lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus)

In their natural habitat, insects may bioaccumulate toxins from plants for defence against predators. When insects are accidently raised on feed that is contaminated with toxins from co-harvested herbs, this may pose a health risk when used for human or animal consumption. Plant toxins of particular relevance are the pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which are genotoxic carcinogens produced by a wide variety of plant species and the tropane alkaloids (TAs) which are produced by a number of Solanaceae species. This study aimed to investigate the transfer of these plant toxins from substrates to black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) and lesser mealworm (LMW). PAs and the TAs atropine and scopolamine were added to insect substrate simulating the presence of different PA- or TA-containing herbs, and BSFL and LMW were grown on these substrates. Bioaccumulation from substrate to insects varied widely among the different plant toxins. Highest bioaccumulation was observed for the PAs europine, rinderine and echinatine. For most PAs and for atropine and scopolamine, bioaccumulation was very low. In the substrate, PA N-oxides were quickly converted to the corresponding tertiary amines. More research is needed to verify the findings of this study at larger scale, and to determine the potential role of the insect and/or substrate microbiome in metabolizing these toxins.

Comparative chloroplast genomes provided insights into the evolution and species identification on the Datureae plants

Generally, chloroplast genomes of angiosperms are always highly conserved but carry a certain number of variation among species. In this study, chloroplast genomes of 13 species from Datureae tribe that are of importance both in ornamental gardening and medicinal usage were studied. In addition, seven chloroplast genomes from Datureae together with two from Solanaceae species retrieved from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) were integrated into this study. The chloroplast genomes ranged in size from 154,686 to 155,979 and from 155,497 to 155,919 bp for species of Datura and Brugmansia, respectively. As to Datura and Brugmansia, a total of 128 and 132 genes were identified, in which 83 and 87 protein coding genes were identified, respectively; Furthermore, 37 tRNA genes and 8 rRNA genes were both identified in Datura and Brugmansia. Repeats analysis indicated that the number and type varied among species for Simple sequence repeat (SSR), long repeats, and tandem repeats ranged in number from 53 to 59, 98 to 99, and 22 to 30, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on the plastid genomes supported the monophyletic relationship among Datura and Brugmansia and Trompettia, and a refined phylogenic relationships among each individual was resolved. In addition, a species-specific marker was designed based on variation spot that resulted from a comparative analysis of chloroplast genomes and verified as effective maker for identification of D. stramonium and D. stramonium var. inermis. Interestingly, we found that 31 genes were likely to be under positive selection, including genes encoding ATP protein subunits, photosystem protein subunit, ribosome protein subunits, NAD(P)H dehydrogenase complex subunits, and clpP, petB, rbcL, rpoCl, ycf4, and cemA genes. These genes may function as key roles in the adaption to diverse environment during evolution. The diversification of Datureae members was dated back to the late Oligocene periods. These chloroplast genomes are useful genetic resources for taxonomy, phylogeny, and evolution for Datureae.

Germination Response of Datura stramonium L. to Different pH and Salinity Levels under Different Temperature Conditions

Weeds can be one of the most severe threats to crop production, especially when they are widespread and highly adaptable. Part of the adaptive strategy of plants is the ability to germinate in different conditions. Germination is the first developmental phase of plant life and is fundamental for its establishment. In this work, the germination of two populations of Datura stramonium L. at two different sites in Croatia (one cropped, the other non-agricultural) was tested under a wide range of salinity stress, 4, 8, 12, and 16 dS/m, and pH stress, values 1-9, at two temperature ranges of 15-25 °C and 18-30 °C. The results show that this species can tolerate high salinity, with a high number of seeds germinating, even under the highest level of saline stress and especially at higher temperatures: 21.7% of seeds germinated at 15-25 °C and 51.2% at 18-30 °C. D. stramonium also appears to be quite acid tolerant, with a significant reduction in germination only at pH 2, and no germination only at pH 1. Germination was always higher at higher temperatures, independently of abiotic stress. Although there were some differences between the two populations in the final germination percentages, they were similar in their responses to the abiotic stresses.