Phytotherapy

Toxic plants in Palestine

Mallak Saifi
Sujood Abde
Ameena Hasna
Toxic plants in Palestine
Almond Urtica urens Foxglove

tobacco autumn crocus Castor Bean

 About Toxic plants :

 Poisoning with houseplants is one of the main causes of unintended poisoning

specially in, Poisonous plants may contain substances that have the potential
to cause certain interaction or impaired health that may cause death.

The plants in the house weather wild plant or not, identified if they are poisonous
or not by specialists
Toxicity classes:

Major Toxicity: These plants may cause

serious illness or death.

Minor Toxicity: Ingestion of these plants may

cause minor illnesses such as vomiting or
diarrhea.
Epidemiology:
Poisoning due to exposure to such plants are most
common in children

poisoning may happen because of misuse of some

plants for example overdose of taking the active
ingredient of the plant can cause poisoning

About 4% of poisoning cases among children in

Palestine were the result of exposure to poisonous
plants, whether by eating or touching them
Almond
Almond
Scientific name: Amygdalus dulcis
Family name: Rosaceae
Common name: almond
Arabic name: ‫اللوز‬
Origin: middle east
Toxic part: seeds
Active ingredient: Phytic acid (antioxidant) and contain a lot of
vital nutrients such as vitamin E , Mg , fat , proteins and fibers.
 Toxicity

1. Almonds are susceptible to aflatoxin-producing molds. Aflatoxins

are potent carcinogenic chemicals produced by molds such as
Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus (BOTH pathogenic
fungus ) , So eating almonds contaminated with these parasites
leads to poisoning and problems with the digestive system and
others.
2. Excessive eating of almonds may cause hypoglycemia or IBS or
poisoning in pregnant .
3. Eating bitter almonds, because some types of bitter almonds are
highly toxic because its contain a highly toxic substance “
amygdaline”.
Used for
1. As antioxidant .

2. Control of blood pressure.

3. Diabetes.

4. Control Cholesterol level.

5. Weight loss.
Side effects
over eat of almond leads to :
1. GI symptoms: constipation and bloating.
2. vitamin E overdose: weakness and blurred vision.
It may cause itching and redness When applied to the skin

• Precautions:
1. avoid eating almonds in large quantities, especially for
pregnant women and people with hypoglycemia.
2. avoid eating almonds with mold or fungi.
3. avoid eating bitter almonds.
Interactions with drugs or other herbs:
1. Laxatives
2. Antibiotics
3. Blood pressure medication

 Contraindications:
1. In pregnancy.
2. Diabetes: almond might lower blood sugar in some people
(hypoglycemia).
3. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): Eating large amounts of
almond might worsen pain and diarrhea in people with IBS
Tree tobacco
Tree tobacco
 Scientific name: Nicotiana glauca.

 Family name: Solanaceae.

 Common name: tobacco plant, tobacco tree, tree tobacco, wild tobacco

 Arabic name: ‫التبغ‬

 Origin: South and North America.

 Toxic part: all parts especially leaves and flower.

 Active “toxic” ingredient: nicotine, nornicotine, anabasine,

and anatabine
 How dose it work:

 At low doses: nicotine can stimulate central and peripheral nervous

systems resulting in, the increase in heart rate and blood pressure.

 At high doses: nicotine can block Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors,

resulting in low blood pressure and changes in the body’s capacity
to release adrenaline.
How can be used
 for treating nicotine dependence to help addictive patient in
quitting smoking, it can be achieved by administered it in
several forms including gums, dermal patches, lozenges, nasal
spray and inhalers.

 Adverse effect: “HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF

EATEN”
Vomiting, diarrhea, slow pulse, dizziness, depression, death, and
respiratory failure , severe muscle weakness and spasms , high
blood pressures, yellow teeth .
Contraindications:
1. Pregnancy :The anabasine can be harmful to the mother and
may also cause birth defect.
2. Breast feeding.
3. diabetes.
4. cardiovascular diseases
5. Hypertension.

Interactions: 25 agents are known to interact with

nicotine for example: amphetamine, ibuprofen, dopamine,
caffeine .
Autumn Crocus
autumn crocus
 Scientific name: Colchicum

 Family name: Colchicaceae

 Common name: autumn crocus

 Arabic name: ‫السورنجان او اللحالح‬

 Origin: Mediterranean basin.

 Toxic parts: all parts including, flowers, seeds,

leaves and specially corms.

 Active ingredients: colchicine

Mechanism of action
➢ colchicine bind to a protein called tubulin, thus it will inhibit
cellular mitosis in several body tissues.
➢ Other mechanism of action including blocking the
inflammatory cells called neutrophils so it maybe causes
immune suppression.

Adverse effect:
Autumn crocus is UNSAFE. It is considered a poison, and can
cause burning of the mouth and throat, vomiting, diarrhea, liver
and kidney problems, blood disorders, nerve problems, shock,
organ failure, and death
How can be used
1. for gout and rheumatism arthritis, because it can reduce the
pain and swelling.
2. familial Mediterranean fever.
❖ it is much safer to use colchicine prescribed by your
healthcare provider. Prescription colchicine contains a set
amount of medicine. The amount of colchicine in autumn
crocus can vary from plant to plant.

Interaction
eating autumn crocus with colchicine even in very small doses it
will increase the effect of colchicine in the body and leading to
colchicine poisoning due to its low therapeutic index
Contraindications

Unsafe for all people specially for breast-feeding women and

pregnant, because autumn crocus may cause birth defects it is an
extra reason for avoiding in pregnancy.
Castor Bean
Castor is a plant that produces seeds (beans). Castor oil is produced by
pressing ripe seeds that have had their outer covering (hull) removed.
The hull contains a
deadly poison called ricin. Castor oil has been used as medicine for
centuries.

Latin name : Ricinus communis

Common name : castor bean
Arabic name :‫بذور الخروع‬
Family name : Euphorbiaceae
Origen : tropical Africa , Ethiopian
Toxic part : bean pulp
Active ingredient : Ricin
How to work : If toxin is consumed ,symptoms typically begin
among 2–4 hour, but is additionally late by up to 36 hour.
These embody a burning feeling in throat and mouth , abdominal pain,
bloody diarrhea. among several days there is severe dehydration, a drop
in pressure and a decrease in excretion. If it is treated
death are usually predictable to occur among 3–5 day anyway , most of
cased recovery occur .
Uses : Castor oil is commonly used by mouth for constipation and
bowel preparation prior to colonoscopy It is also used orally to start
labor in pregnancy. There is limited scientific research to support the
other uses of castor oil and castor bean, The whole seed is unsafe to
take by mouth. The outer coating (hull) of the castor seed contains a
deadly poison.

Side effect : vomiting; diarrhea; abdominal pain; dehydration ,

shock ,blood cell destruction; severe fluid and chemical disturbances;
liver, kidney, and pancreas damage; and death. Chewing as few as 1-6
whole seeds can kill an adult. If the seed is swallowed whole, poisoning
is less likely; however, prompt medical attention is still an absolute
necessity.
Contraindication
 Children
 pregnancy and brest feeding
 Intestinal problem

 Interaction : could be a laxative ,some

laxatives will decrease K within the body. may also decrease K within
the body, taking castor oil on would possibly decrease potassium within
the body an excessive amount of.
Some laxatives which will decrease K embody thiazide (Diuril), diuretic,
furosemide, thiazide, and others
Utica urens
 Utica urens
 Latin name : Urtica urens

 Family name : Nettle family Urticaceae

 Common name : burning nettle , dog nettle ,dwarf nettle

 Arabic name : ‫القريص‬

 Toxic part :the whole plant

 How to use it : by dries up the leaves and flowers to make a tea, or cook the
leves , roots and stem and add them to soups . but don’t eat fresh leaves
 Uses
 It has been used for hundreds of years to treat painful muscles and joints,
eczema, arthritis, gout, and anemia. Today, many people use it to treat
urinary problems during the early stages of an enlarged prostate (called
benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH). It is also used for urinary tract
infections, hay fever (allergic rhinitis), or in compresses or creams for
treating joint pain, sprains and strains, tendonitis, and insect bites.
Active ingredient & Mechanism of action

 There are many small hairs in all parts of the plant, the large ones is sharp , stiff
and hollow, bulbous base. These hairs serve as tiny hypodermic needles. when
you touches the plant a mixture of histamines, acetylcholine, serotonin and
formic acid witch filled in them will go out of the hairs in to your skin causing
burning itching and swelling.
Toxicity

Touches cause the skin to redden with itching, followed by swelling, and an
extreme feeling of burning. It goes fast in most situations, but can last up to
36 hours or longer. In serious cases, people can experience an extreme
allergic reaction that may be life-threatening.
Side effects

 fluid retention

 sweating

 stomach upset

 diarrhea

 and rash (mainly from topical use)

Interactions :

 Diabetes drugs

 Anti anticoagulant drugs

 hypertensive drugs

 Lithium

 Diuretics
Contraindications

 Pregnant women should avoid eating it because it may induce uterine

contractions that increase the risk of miscarriage.

 Diabetes patients because it lowers blood sugar

 Patients who have low blood pressure

 People who have Kidney problems

Foxglove
Foxglove

 Latin name : Digitalis

 Family name : Plantaginaceae

 Common name : Foxglove

 Arabic name :‫قفاز الثعلب‬

 Used part : The leaves

 Active ingredient : cardiac glycosides, the most important is digoxin

USES : it used to treat mild to moderate congestive heart failure and

abnormally rapid atrial rhythms (atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, atrial tachycardia).

 Mechanism of action : inhibit the Na+/K+ ATPase pump in cardiac muscle cells, that
leads to excess intracellular Na+, which leads to an increase in calcium ions stored in the
sarcoplasmic reticulum. Which case stronger contraction of cardiac muscle, allowing the
heart to work more efficiently.

 How to use it : make tea from the leaves

Toxcicity: can cause irregular heart function and death . Poisoning involves
stomach upset, small eye pupils, blurred vision(yellowish), powerful sluggish

pulse, nausea , vomiting , dizziness, heavy urination, fatigue , muscle weakness

and tremors, stupor, confusion, convulsions, irregular heartbeats, and mortality

when delivered in large and highly frequent doses.

Interactions :
 Digoxin (Lanoxin)

 Quinine

 Macrolide antibiotics

 Stimulant laxatives

 Diuretic drugs
Contraindications

 Children: taking foxgloves is potentially dangerous.

 Pregnancy and breast-feeding: for self-medication, Foxglove is
UNSAFE.
 Heart disease: While foxglove is useful for many heart problems, it
is too risky for individuals to use it on their own. A healthcare
provider should diagnose, manage, and treat heart disease.
 Kidney disease: People with kidney disorders may not have a very
effective extraction of foxglove. The risk of foxglove build-up and
poisoning may be increased