title: Neurotoxicity following the ingestion of a Chinese medicinal plant, Alocasia macrorrhiza.
abstract: 1. A case of poisoning due to the raw root tuber of a Chinese medicinal plant, Alocasia macrorrhiza is presented. 2. The patient developed neurological (severe pain and numbness in the perioral area and throat) and gastrointestinal (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain) symptoms immediately after eating the root tuber. 3. A macrorrhiza has properties and morphology very similar to another medical plant. A. odora. The root tuber of the latter is known to contain a neurotoxin sapotoxin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: T Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Critchley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth / Q000187:drug effects; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000506:poisoning*; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced; D010614:Pharynx / Q000187:drug effects; D018517:Plant Roots; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D009498:Neurotoxins