Detection of poisoning by Impila (Callilepis laureola) in a mother and child.

Abstract

Poisoning with impila (Callilepis laureola) is a recurring phenomenon in South Africa. Cases of poisoning with other plants which contain atractyloside also occur in Europe and the Americas. Since poisoning leads to rapid death from renal and/or hepatic failure, it is suspected that many cases are undiagnosed; this is especially so in South Africa, where patients may die without reaching hospital and do not often admit to ingestion of a traditional remedy. We have developed a thin layer chromatographic method for the detection of impila constituents in urine. We describe the clinical symptoms and the application of the screening method to diagnosis in the case of a mother and child, who both showed symptoms of impila poisoning; the mother died but the child survived. This method is rapid and may be used for the definitive diagnosis in cases of poisoning with atractyloside-containing plants.

• Authors: V Steenkamp, M J Stewart, M Zuckerman
• Journal: Human & experimental toxicology (Hum Exp Toxicol) Vol. 18 Issue 10 Pg. 594-7 (Oct 1999) ISSN: 0960-3271 [Print] England
• PMID: 10557008 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Enzyme Inhibitors
• Atractyloside

Topics

• Adult
• Atractyloside (poisoning, urine)
• Chromatography, Thin Layer
• Enzyme Inhibitors (poisoning, urine)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Infant
• Liver Failure, Acute (chemically induced, physiopathology)
• Liver Function Tests
• Plants, Medicinal (poisoning)
• Renal Insufficiency (chemically induced, physiopathology)