The acute and subacute toxicities of ajmalicine (raubasine) extracted fro Vietnamese Catharanthus roseus roots were studied. The oral administration of this substance (from 500 mg/kg to 1600 mg/kg) on mice caused no effect, except sedative. It was certified that there was no need to determine the LD50 of ajmalicine. The continuous oral administration on rabbits with high dose of ajmalicine (4.8 mg/kg body weight daily for one month) did not influence on their body weight, the blood and other biochemical indices. It can be confirmed that ajmalicine extracted from Vietnamese Catharanthus roots had very low toxicity when used by oral.
ajmalicine ; Medicine, Traditional ; toxicity ; Plants, Medicinal

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are widely distributed in many plants including medicinal herbs. The hepatotoxicity of PAs has been known academically for a long time, however, their reproductive toxicity, mutagenesis and carcinogenicity have been less researched. This article is an overview of the clinical and experimental reports of the reproductive toxicity, mutagenesis and carcinogenicity of PAs, the effective factors and generating mechanism of the toxicity.
Animals ; Biomedical Research ; Humans ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; toxicity ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids ; analysis ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the cytotoxicity of the crude ethanol extract of the rhizome of Zingiber zerumbet (Z. zerumbet) (L) Smith. and Curcuma zedoaria (C. zedoaria) Rosc. against Artemia salina Leach.

METHODSFresh rhizomes of Z. zerumbet (L) Smith. and C. zedoaria Rosc. were extracted separately in cold with ethanol (2.5 L) and after concentration a brownish syrupy suspension of ethanol extracts of Z. zerumbet (L) Smith. and C. zedoaria Rosc. was obtained. The cytotoxic effect of the crude ethanol extracts of both plants was determined by brine shrimp lethality bioassay.

RESULTSCrude ethanol extracts of the rhizome of Z. zerumbet (L) Smith. showed the highest cytotoxicity (LC50 was 1.24 µg/mL) against brine shrimp nauplii as compared with C. zedoaria Rosc. (LC50 was 33.593 µg/mL) after 24 h of exposure.

CONCLUSIONSIt can be concluded that the rhizome of Z. zerumbet (L) Smith. and C. zedoaria Rosc. can be used as a source of cytotoxic agent.

Animals ; Artemia ; drug effects ; Curcuma ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Plants, Medicinal ; toxicity ; Rhizome ; toxicity ; Zingiberaceae ; metabolism ; toxicity

The review deals with the phenomenon of autotoxicity in medical plants. The autotoxic potential could be attributed to direct inhibition of plant growth and some diseases could be promoted by autotoxin. Factors affecting autotoxicity include species and cultivars, soil microbes, plant's nutrient situation and soil type etc. Autotoxicity could be overcome or alleviated by plant residues removal, adding beneficial microbes, using organic fertilizer, proper rotation, and grading management to different plant' autotoxic force.
Fertilizers ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; toxicity ; Soil Microbiology

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids(PAs) are a group of naturally occurring alkaloids with a pyrrolizidine skeleton which can be found in about 3% of the world's flowering plants. It is notorious that PAs are cause the hepatoxic and genotoxic-carcinogenic effects by taking PA-containing herbs, food and dietary supplements. In order to control the poisoning caused by PAs, European Medicines Agency has set a limit of intake of PAs from herbal medicinal products at 0.007 μg of 1,2-unsaturated PAs/kg body weight. Nonetheless, a systematic overview of the amount of PAs in the herb has not been provided. Therefore, this paper is to systematically review the current status of PAs content analysis of herbal medicines and foods reported in the literature, and to provide theoretical and experimental support for the safety risk assessment and control of PAs in Chinese herbal medicines.
Food ; Herbal Medicine ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids/toxicity*

It is estimated that 80% of the world population depends on traditional medicine for primary healthcare need. Trianthema portulacastrum Linn. (family: Aizoaceae) is a small perennial weed found in the Americas, Africa, India, and other regions of the world. This plant is used extensively in Indian traditional medicines and is also consumed as a vegetable throughout Asia for its perceived health benefits. Phytochemical analysis of T. portulacastrum reveals the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, and phenolic compounds. Emerging studies demonstrate that crude extracts as well as bioactive phytoconstituents of T. portulacastrum exhibit potent antioxidant, anti-infective, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory activities. A growing number of in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate various biological and pharmacological activities, including prevention and amelioration of hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, infectious diseases and cancer. This review aims to present and analyze available literature to understand the full potential of T. portulacastrum in health promotion and disease prevention. Current limitations and future directions of research on this medicinal and dietary plant are also critically discussed.
Aizoaceae ; chemistry ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; India ; Nutritive Value ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Plants, Edible ; Plants, Medicinal

Objective: To study the effect of Banaba on IOP among normals Methodology: A randomized blind study done on subjects IOP before and after intake of Banaba decoctions of different concentrations were taken Results: As early as 30 minutes, there was a gradual drop of IOP a maximum at 2 hours for the 2 percent and 3 percent decoctions Conclusion: Banaba is effective in lowering the IOP of individuals at a minimum concentration of 2 percent. (Author)
Human ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Young Adult ; PLANTS, MEDICINAL/ADVERSE EFFECTS ; PLANTS/MEDICINAL/TOXICITY ; DIURETICS ; INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE ; HUMANS ; MALE ; FEMALE ; ;

OBJECTIVEPrunalla vulgaris was used as the experimental material to study the effects of lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) on the related physiological and growth indexes of the plant.

METHODBy referencing the GAP and the soil environmental quality standard, the growth and inherent quality of the plant were observed under different concentrations of the heavy metals stresses. The data were statistically processed.

RESULTThe results showed that the plant grew normally when the heavy metal concentrations in soil were close to up limits of the soil environmental quality standard II. The content of heavy metal in spica met the requirement of the standard, and under the circumstances the content of ursolic acid was increased in a certain range. The critical values of Pb, Cu, Cd in the P. vulgaris grown soil were set at 450, 100, 1.0 mg x kg(-1), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe harmful influence of the heavy metal stress at a lower concentration is lighter than at a higher concentration, and it could increase the content of ursolic acid. The stress of Pb, Cu and Cd is more obvious than that of Zn.

Cadmium ; toxicity ; Copper ; toxicity ; Lamiaceae ; drug effects ; growth & development ; physiology ; Lead ; toxicity ; Plants, Medicinal ; drug effects ; growth & development ; physiology

Salvia divinorum is a psychoactive botanical plant that is increasingly used for the 'legal' highs that it can produce. It is readily available for purchase on the Internet, and most abusers are unaware of the toxicity and abuse potential associated with its use. As the use of novel compounds among abusers is not uncommon, physicians need to increase their awareness and recognition of these new substances. Herein, we report a case of an acute presentation of Salvia intoxication.
Adult ; Fear ; Hallucinations ; chemically induced ; Humans ; Male ; Plants, Medicinal ; adverse effects ; toxicity ; Salvia ; adverse effects ; toxicity ; Substance-Related Disorders ; diagnosis

The main chemical composition of Arecae Semen has been summarized, which can bring the pharmacological action and toxicological action to the nervous system, digestive system, cardiovascular system, urinary and reproductive system. Arecae Semen has inhibition and killing effect to most parasite. It can also activate the cholinergic receptor, promote gastrointestinal propulsive motility in mice and inhibit helicobacter pylori, Xu Lang schoenleinii, influenza virus. Arecae Semen chewing results in oral mucositis fibrosis, which has not only carcinogenic mutagenic effect but also eproductive and nervous system toxicity. And Chinese medicine Yinpian use Arecae Semen of compatibility has no adverse reaction reports.
Animals ; Areca ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Humans ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry