Findings in fatal cases of poisoning attributed to traditional remedies in South Africa.
An analysis of the Johannesburg forensic database over the years 1991-1995 revealed 206 cases in which a traditional remedy was either stated to be the cause of death or was found to be present in a case of poisoning with an unknown substance. The range of toxins detected was wide, with herbal materials being found in 43% of cases, and pharmaceutical or agri-chemicals in 20% and 33% respectively. Since there are as yet no standard methods for the detection of many herbal remedies or their metabolites, careful analysis, using methods such as HPLC/MS, are mandatory for the correct identification of the true cause in cases of poisoning ascribed to traditional remedies.
Stewart
M J
MJ
Department of Chemical Pathology (SAIMR), University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, South African Institute for Medical Research, Parktown, Gauteng, South Africa. 158mike@chiron.wits.ac.za
Moar
J J
JJ
Steenkamp
P
P
Kokot
M
M
D002423:Cause of Death; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000506:poisoning*; D013019:South Africa; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000032:analysis*
D014118:Toxins, Biological