Plant Alkaloids Toxicity

What is Plant Alkaloids Toxicity?

Plant chemistry and the study of poisonous substances produced by these plants are very intricate and have a rich history. Many aspects of plant chemistry are still a mystery, and our understanding relies on research using animals and documented human experiences. We’ve learned a lot about plants’ health benefits from the scientific study of medicinal properties of plants, which has revealed several important groups of chemicals found in plants.

One of these groups is alkaloids, which include well-known substances like nicotine, caffeine, cocaine, mescaline, ephedrine, and strychnine. Alkaloids come from a class of chemicals, amines, defined by their function as bases, usually containing one or more nitrogen atoms in a ring-like structure.

These alkaloids usually have powerful effects on the body and are part of the plants’ chemical makeup. A single type of plant may contain one or many types of alkaloids. Certain plant families, such as the poppy and nightshade families, are particularly packed with these plant chemicals. Most alkaloids, in their pure forms, don’t evaporate easily, are colorless solid crystals, and have a bitter taste.

It’s interesting to note that alkaloids demonstrate how a substance can be both toxic and therapeutic. They can have cell-protective effects and also harmful effects to our genes. They can disrupt the body’s nerve signaling systems yet also show potential for treating nerve diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease. They can be lethal as well as life-saving.

For example, while coniine, an alkaloid found in the same group that claimed the life of philosopher Socrates, can cause respiratory arrest, some alkaloids in this group show promise in treating lung diseases. There are also instances where one alkaloid can counteract the toxic effects of another.

Ever since scientists discovered morphine, plant alkaloids have been used to treat various health conditions, including pain, fever, cancer, asthma, irregular heart rhythms, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and bacterial infections. This information will incorporate the available data to highlight the less desirable effects of these metabolites – the exposure of which may lead to health problems.

What Causes Plant Alkaloids Toxicity?

Plant alkaloid toxicity happens when someone is exposed too much to certain plants that contain these chemicals. These could come from seeds, flowers, or weeds, and they can be in various forms like extracts, herbal teas, or can contaminate food products. Sometimes people might use them without realizing, or intentionally for recreation or self-harm. This exposure can happen directly or indirectly, through breathing them in, eating or drinking them, through the skin, or even from mother to child.

Nicotine toxicity can happen after eating the leaves of the Nicotiana tabacum plant, products used for killing insects, refills for electronic cigarettes, cigarettes themselves, or through the skin, as in cases of green tobacco sickness which affects farmworkers who harvest tobacco. Pyrrolizidine alkaloid toxicity, on the other hand, can occur if someone uses parent plants for their medicinal uses or eats food grain that had the seeds of such plants mixed in.

When a pregnant woman consumes plant products that contain pyridine or quinolizidine alkaloids, it can lead to developmental defects in both humans and animals. This happens because the alkaloids cause the baby’s muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptors to become less sensitive, which stops the baby from moving and can lead to skeletal defects. Cases of unintentional poisoning have happened when people consume foods like hamburgers, honey, millet porridge, homemade wine, and Paraguay tea that were contaminated with tropane alkaloid. For example, in 1995, a number of people in New York City were severely poisoned after they used heroin that was mixed with scopolamine.

In several cases, such as with nicotine toxicity, only a tiny amount of the toxin is needed to make someone sick. For instance, poison hemlock has been mistakenly eaten by people foraging for wild carrots, as the two plants look similar. Another similar case is the alkaloid Cytisine found in the Cytisus laburnum plant, which has caused mass poisoning in both children and adults who consumed as little as 0.5 milligrams per kilogram body weight.

Risk Factors and Frequency for Plant Alkaloids Toxicity

Exposure to certain plants, specifically those containing alkaloids, can be harmful, though such instances are limited. Overall, contact with toxic plants is not uncommon. In the United States, over a hundred thousand cases occur each year, making up 3 to 5% of the total calls to poison control centers. The primary way people are exposed to these plant toxins is through swallowing, with 98% of these cases being accidental. A large majority of these accidental swallowings, nearly 80%, involve kids below six years old. However, these instances are typically not severe as the responsible plants usually have low toxicity, and the consumed quantities are often small.

More serious plant poisonings usually happen to adults who might confuse a toxic plant for an edible one, or purposely consume it for its supposed health benefits or toxic effects. Yet, only about 7% of such individuals need to seek medical help. Less than 20% experience mild to moderate symptoms, and more than 80% don’t exhibit any symptoms. The death rate from toxic plant ingestions in the United States, which happens mostly accidentally, is less than 0.001%. On the other hand, in regions where healthcare isn’t as readily available, plant poisoning can pose more significant health risks. Between 1983 and 2009, only 45 deaths from toxic plants were reported, with Datura and Cicuta species contributing to over a third of these. Between 2000 and 2009, males accounted for 52.2% of toxic plant ingestions, with over 60% of these cases resulting in moderate to severe health effects.

Signs and Symptoms of Plant Alkaloids Toxicity

When dealing with patients showing unclear symptoms, a detailed exploration of their medical history, medication usage and any potential toxins they may have been exposed to is crucial. Knowing the type of substance, how much was taken, the method of exposure, and when it happened can all help to make an accurate diagnosis. It’s also important to know why the substance was taken (for example, by accident or on purpose), if more than one substance was taken and the symptoms they show.

The toxins found in plants can cause a variety of harmful effects. Let’s look at some examples:

• Tropane alkaloids such as atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine, found in the belladonna plant, can cause symptoms such as blurry vision, fast heartbeat, dry skin and reduced bowel sounds. They can eventually lead to high body temperature, confusion, aggression, and even death.
• Pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are found in a wide range of plants, can be poisonous and cause damage to the liver and other parts of the body. They can also affect unborn babies and can be transferred through breast milk.
• Alkaloids such as arecoline, pilocarpine, and physostigmine, cause a buildup of a chemical called acetylcholine in the body. This leads to symptoms such as tears, throwing up and diarrhea. Severe poisoning can cause slow heart rate, breathing problems and even death.
• Nicotine poisoning can initially cause vomiting. At high doses, it can result in muscle twitching, fast heartbeat, high body temperature and hypertension. In extreme cases, it can lead to seizures, breathing difficulties and death.
• Peyote and morning glory plants are sources of the alkaloids mescaline and lysergic acid, which have hallucinogenic effects.
• Opioids derived from the poppy plant cause a depression in the central nervous system. Overdose can lead to slowed breathing, miosis, and occasionally death.
• Isoquinoline alkaloids such as sanguinarine, hydrastine, and berberine, have various harmful effects including cardiac and respiratory depression, and uterine contraction.
• Strychnine, a non-isoquinoline alkaloid, can cause symptoms like muscle stiffness and spasms, as well as death by impacting the respiratory muscles.

Suffice to say, it is crucial to understand these various types of plant toxicities as they can be quite harmful, and in severe cases, fatal.

Testing for Plant Alkaloids Toxicity

If your doctor suspects you’ve been poisoned by a plant, the main goal is to identify what type of plant it was. They may do this based on what the plant looks like and by consulting with a poison expert. The doctor may use similar plant databases for comparison.

As technology and science progress, the process might eventually involve DNA analysis of the plant substance. However, right now the diagnosis mainly depends on your symptoms and personal experience with the plant. Lab tests might not be particularly informative in most cases.

In case of potential cocaine poisoning, a urine test can be done. This test can find a substance called benzoylecgonine which your body makes when it breaks down cocaine. This can be detected as early as four hours after cocaine use, and it can stay in the body and be detected up to 10 days after use.

Furthermore, you probably will have other tests to check for additional substances in your system. An electrocardiogram, which takes a reading of your heart’s electrical activity, may also be performed. This is done to see if your heart rhythms are normal or if there’s any blocking of the electrical signals.

Health care providers should base their further examination on your reported symptoms and physical state. If you seem confused or your thinking is not clear, they should also consider other possible causes of your condition. These could include infections or conditions related to the body’s structure. Lastly, if you show signs of anticholinergic toxicity, which results from exposure to certain drugs, your clinical samples can be tested for specific compounds like atropine and scopolamine.

Treatment Options for Plant Alkaloids Toxicity

When managing toxicities or poisonings, the focus should be on preventing them, recognizing them as soon as possible, removing the toxins, closely monitoring and observing the patient, and giving the necessary care to support their health. One of the common methods is the early administration of a substance called activated charcoal, typically within the first few hours of being exposed to the toxin. Activated charcoal is good at ‘soaking up’ toxins, thereby reducing their absorption into the body from the digestive system. However, it should not be used if the patient has trouble swallowing, breathing, or with their bowel movement, as it might cause choking or intestinal blockage.

Benzodiazepines – a type of medication used to treat anxiety and seizures – are commonly used to treat severe restlessness and seizures due to toxicity. If a person is experiencing severe poisoning due to a high level of certain chemicals in their body – a condition known as anticholinergic poisoning – they can be treated with medications called reversible anticholinesterase inhibitors. There are multiple varieties of these inhibitors, but not all are approved for treating this specific type of poisoning.

On the other hand, if a person has been exposed to high levels of another group of chemicals, known as cholinergic chemicals, atropine – a type of medication – is used as an antidote.

There are specific treatments for particular types of drug poisoning. For instance, if a person has consumed excessive amounts of cocaine, ‘beta-blockers’ – a type of blood pressure medication – should not be used. Instead, sodium bicarbonate – a substance used to balance pH levels – should be considered if the person is experiencing heart rhythm disturbances. If a person has consumed too much of opioids – a group of powerful painkillers – and this has resulted in slowed or stopped breathing, a medication called naloxone can be used alongside other supportive care measures and close monitoring.

What else can Plant Alkaloids Toxicity be?

Diagnosing plant alkaloid poisoning can be tricky due to the many different ways it can present itself. There’s a long list of other potential conditions that doctors need to consider ruling out, which include:

• Low blood sugar (Hypoglycemia)
• Serious bacterial infection (Acute tetanus)
• Overdose or poisoning from drugs like speed (Amphetamine toxicity)
• Overdose or poisoning from antidepressants (Antidepressant toxicity)
• Overdose or poisoning from heart rhythm medications (Antidysrhythmic toxicity)
• Poisoning from plants that affect the heart (Cardiac glycoside plant poisoning)
• Effects of a specific type of illegal drug (Phencyclidine toxicity)
• Poisoning from hallucinogenic mushrooms
• Overactive thyroid gland conditions (Hyperthyroidism, thyroid storm, and Graves disease)
• Swelling and infection of the brain and spinal cord layers (Meningoencephalitis)
• A serious seizure condition (Status epilepticus)
• Overdose from allergy medications (Antihistamine overdose)
• Severe symptoms from stopping alcohol use (Alcohol withdrawal)

What to expect with Plant Alkaloids Toxicity

Information about the outcomes of certain poisonings and their specific harmful effects might be limited, but generally, these poisonings have a good outlook and most people recover well. How well someone recovers depends on several factors such as what kind of poison is involved, how much was ingested or absorbed, and how the person came into contact with it. Other factors include whether they consumed other harmful substances at the same time, how quickly the poison was identified, and how well they were cared for after exposure.

Possible Complications When Diagnosed with Plant Alkaloids Toxicity

Plant alkaloid toxicity, derived from various plants, can lead to immediate or long-lasting health problems if not correctly identified or treated. The severity of the symptoms can range from mild to severe, potentially causing a significant risk of death in some instances.

The effects of belladonna alkaloid poisoning, for example, might include seizures, agitated delirium, or heart rhythm abnormalities. These heart problems can potentially be fatal. If a person consumes about 100 jimsonweed seeds (equivalent to approximately 6 mg of atropine), it can have lethal consequences. Similarly, synephrine, a plant-based alkaloid found in bitter orange (Citrus aurantium), can stimulate the central nervous system and has been associated with death and harmful drug interactions.

In regards to pyrrolizidine alkaloids, they can be transformed in the liver into highly reactive substances that can cause liver cell damage. In about 30% of cases, this leads to a narrowing of the blood vessels in the liver, which can result in death for about two in every ten people affected.

Compounds such as opioids and coniine can dangerously slow down or stop breathing, whereas berberine (derived from goldenseal and barberry) can depress both breathing and heart function.

Strychnine can lead to muscle spasms, rigidity, and weakness, potentially resulting in respiratory failure and death. Sanguinarine consumption can cause heart failure and inflammation of the heart muscle.

Long-term exposure to plant alkaloids like arecoline (found in betel nut) has been linked to DNA damage, mouth fibrosis, and head and neck cancers. Chronic misuse of opioids, cocaine, and certain hallucinogenic plant chemicals like lysergic acid diethylamide and mescaline may lead to dependence. Overuse of these substances may result in personality changes, emotional instability, psychosis, aggression, and at worst, suicidal or homicidal thoughts.

Common Symptoms:

• Seizures
• Agitated delirium
• Heart rhythm abnormalities
• Respiratory depression or failure
• Liver cell damage
• Narrowing of blood vessels in the liver
• Muscle spasms, rigidity, and weakness
• Mouth fibrosis
• Head and neck cancers
• Personality changes and emotional instability
• Psychosis and aggression
• Potentially fatal outcomes

Preventing Plant Alkaloids Toxicity

Education and information play a major role in preventing accidental exposures to harmful plants. These exposures most often happen unintentionally. Therefore, being educated about the potential harm brought about by certain plants can significantly reduce these instances. For instance, people should know that certain indoor plants or plants they may encounter while out foraging can have toxic effects. The chemistry of plants is complicated, and their substances can have either harmful or beneficial effects, affecting the body in different ways over time.

Thanks to advancements in technology, it’s not just healthcare professionals who can access information about potential toxic exposures. Nowadays, everyone can use books, online search engines, and mobile apps to learn about this. Since the establishment of poison control centers in 1953 and the introduction of open-source programs like WIKITOX, such information has been much more accessible to everyone. Of course, your primary care doctor, nurse, or other healthcare providers are also a trusted source of information on this topic.