Fatal Cleistanthus collinus Toxicity: A Case Report and Review of Literature. Issue 5 (16th July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Das, Siddhartha; Hamide, Abdoul; Mohanty, Manoj K.; Muthusamy, Ravichandran
• Is Part Of: Journal of forensic sciences. Volume 59:Issue 5(2014)
• Page Start: 1441
• Page End: 1447
• Publication Date: 2014-07-16
• Subjects: Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Forensic sciences -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Gerechtelijke geneeskunde; Gerechtelijke chemie; Gerechtelijke psychiatrie; 363.2505
• DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.12519
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1198

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jfo12519-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Cleistanthus collinus</italic> is an extremely toxic plant poison. We report a case of suicidal ingestion of boiled water decoction of <italic>C. collinus</italic> where the patient presented with abdominal pain and giddiness. There was persistent metabolic acidosis and fluctuation in the level of serum potassium. The ECG changes indicated a probable myocardial injury with conduction abnormality. At autopsy, the viscera were found to be congested. The toxins were detected in the viscera and blood by TLC and HPLC. Cleistanthin A and B, collinusin, and diphyllin are the principal toxic constituents of the plant. Consumption of a boiled decoction of leaves is highly toxic and, medical management of patients is mainly supportive because the molecular mechanisms of toxin action are unknown. In the recent years, <italic>C. collinus</italic> has created a considerable amount of interest because of its complex metabolites and their cytotoxic activities. Through this study, the authors have tried to highlight different properties pertaining to <italic>C. collinus</italic>.</p> </abstract>