Another death due to ingestion of Nicotiana glauca.
Deaths attributed to ingestion of Nicotiana glauca are extremely rare. We report here a case where a 43-year-old man was found dead after apparently drinking a water extract of Nicotiana glauca. The primary alkaloid in the plant is anabasine. Toxicological analysis by capillary gas chromatography showed the deceased had a blood anabasine concentration of 2.2 mg/L. Clinically, the features of poisoning are nicotine-like and if death occurs it results from respiratory paralysis. The case further supports the view that, in the human, anabasine is considerably more toxic than nicotine.
Sims
D N
DN
Forensic Science Centre, Adelaide, Australia.
James
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R
Christensen
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000691:Anabasine / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000032:analysis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000506:poisoning; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000506:poisoning*; D014867:Water
D010936:Plant Extracts; D014867:Water; D009538:Nicotine; D000691:Anabasine