Sustainable Use of Biological Resources in , 2010, pp. 245-249. Eds: P.K. Jha, S.B. Karmacharya, M.K. Balla, M.K. Chettri and B.B. Shrestha Publisher : Ecological Society (ECOS), P.O. Box 6132, Kathmandu, Nepal

MISUSES OF MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC AS POISONS: A STUDY OF POISONING CASES IN NEPAL

Om Prakash Sharma National Science Laboratory Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

National forensic science laboratory receives many criminal cases (suicidal, homicidal and accidental) annually for the forensic analysis. Some of these criminal cases have been related to plant poisoning. In last ten years (1997-2006), 70 cases have been reported as plant poisoning in forensic laboratories of Nepal. Present paper describes the cause and nature of mostly misused plants like (Bikahma), Thevetia peruviana (Pahelo karbir), Datura sp. (Dhatura) etc.

Key words: Medicinal and aromatic plants, plant poisons, forensic analysis.

INTRODUCTION homicidal, suicidal and accidental incidents. Over time, as modern scientific methodologies Before we describe about aromatic and medicinal emerged, herbal remedies began to lose their plants, with specific reference to their misuses as popularity. As the 20th century progressed and poisons, it would be appropriate to briefly touch modern medicine was making some of its most upon the question as what is “poison”. In the significant impacts on society, the dark side of biological context, poisons are substances that can technology was forging a crack in the foundation cause damage, illness, or death to organisms, of modern science. Due to this, people are attracted usually by chemical reactions or other activity at towards “back to nature” fundamentalism. The the molecular scale (Modi 1998). According to wealth of medicinal and aromatic plants may be Paracelsus, widely regarded as the father of considered as one of the major natural resources to modern toxicology, all things are poison and uplift the economic development of Nepal. Due to nothing is without poison: only the dose makes a the physiographic diversity of Nepal, many kinds thing a poison (Casarett and Doulls 2007). A key of plants and herbs grow here and large numbers of principle in toxicology is the dose response them have been used for medicinal purposes relationship. (Chaudhary 1998). Medicinal plants are of interest Over the past few years deaths attributed to the not only because they are used as medicine but also use/misuse of medicinal plants have increased. The because they may be misused as poison in vast majority of herbal products are deficient in 245 appropriate toxicological analysis. The but fruits are highly poisonous (Modi 1988). misconception is that these “all natural” remedies Young shoots of Angeri (Lyonia ovalifolia) are are safe. Nowadays, owing to the growing highly poisonous for cattle but toxicity of shoot conception of toxicology i.e. plant poisoning; gradually decreases with maturation (Bhandari and misuses of medicinal and aromatic plants have Shrestha 1985, Shrestha and Dhillion 2003). been increasingly popular and concerned subject to Actually dose, type and nature of victims, active toxicologists, chemists and public health parts of the plant stage of growth and development, authorities. From the remote past to present time and other environmental parameters are the factors human beings have misused the plant products for that influence the toxicity of plants (Bhandari and the purpose of homicide suicide, abortion and drug Shrestha 1985). addiction (Bhandari and Shrestha 1985, Vij 2002). Many accidental deaths and illness of human Accidental poisoning: In rural areas of Nepal beings, cattle and other animals have been hundreds of plant species are used as fodder for frequently reported due to misuse of plants in livestock. Fodder poisoning of livestock happens different parts of Nepal (Bhandari and Shrestha frequently in such rural areas. For example 1985). accidental poisoning of cattle by ingesting the young shoots of Angeri (Lyonia ovalifolia), Causes of misuse of medicinal plants Kalosiris (Albizzia chinensis), Bakaino (Melia azedarach), etc. are common in rural Misconception, ignorance, criminal intention areas(Bhandari and Shrestha 1985). Similarly, and accidents are supposed to be the main factors severe accidental poisoning to humans has been of misuses of medicinal plants as poison (Vij reported due to confusion about toxic plant and 2002). medicinal plants. Misconception: Many people use plant products Poisoning due to criminal intention: Many cases as medicines without sufficient knowledge. They of homicide, suicide and abortion have been do not have adequate information, as some reported for abusing the plants like Aconitum medicinal plants may be highly poisonous. (Aconitum ferox), Dhaturo (), Misconception among people is cause for the Yellow oleander (Thevetia peruviana), Darsan misusing of medicinal and aromatic plants as pepale (Colocasia sp.) etc (Modi 1988, Joshi and poisons. Joshi 2000). Some persons are involved Ignorance: Many people are unknown about intentionally in fish poisoning by using the toxic toxicity of plant. Amount of toxicity varies in plants like Pire jhar (Polygonum hydropiper) and different parts of the same plant. Hence, all parts of Ratopire (Polygonum viscosum) (Annual Progress the plant may not have necessarily been medicinal Reports 1997-2006a, Kulakkattolickal 1989). value. For example, young stems of Sajiwan Similarly, Chitu (Plumbago zeylanica), and Tama (Jatropha curcus) are used by local people as bans (Dendrocalamus hamiltonii) have been hygienic toothbrush but seeds of same plant are misused intentionally as aborticides in rural area highly poisonous (Bhandari and Shrestha 1985, (Vij 2002, Joshi and Joshi 2000). The brief view of Modi 1988). Similarly, leaves of yellow oleander type and nature of plant poisoning is given in (Thevetia peruviana) are used as fodder for goats Table 1.

246 Table 1. Medicinal and aromatic plants. SN Scientific Name Local Name Active principle No. of Type of cases Cases Homicidal Suicidal Accidental Others 1 Thebetia Pahelo karbir Thevetine/ 7 3 2 1 1 peruviana Thevetoxine 2 Aconitum ferox Aconite/Setobikh Aconitine/ 6 1 4 1 - Pseudaconitine 3 Colocasia sp Darsan peepal Calcium oxalate 4 3 3 1 - 4 Datura Dhaturo Atropine/ 6 2 1 1 - stramonium Scopolamine 5 Nux vomica Kuchila Strychinus 2 1 1 - - 6 Jatropha Sajiwan Curcin 1 - - - - curcas 7 Plumbago Chitu - 2 - - - 2 zeylanica 8 Lyonia Angeri Andromedotoxin 2 - - 2 - ovalifolia 9 Melia Bakaino Azaridine/ 1 - - 1 - azedarach Bakayanin/ Benzoic Acid 10 Poligonum Rato pire - 1 - - - 1 viscosum 11 Poligonum Pire jhar - 2 - - - 2 hydropiper 12 Albizzia Kalo siris Saponin 1 - - - 1 chinensis 13 Dendrocalamus Tama bansh Saponin 1 - - - 1 hamiltonii 14 Unidentified - - 16 2 2 4 8 poisonous glycosids 15 Unidentified - - 18 1 2 3 12 poisonous alkaloids Source: (1) Annual Progress Reports 1997-2006a,b; (2) Bhandari and Shrestha 1985.

Plant poisoning cases in Nepal technology and another laboratory is Central Police Science Laboratory (CPSL), which is In Nepal two forensic laboratories are involved running under the Ministry of Home Affairs. in the scientific analysis of biological samples Toxicology sections of both laboratories receive (blood, urine, viscera, vomits etc) and other different type of samples related to criminal cases physical evidences including plant products. One is for the toxicological analysis from all over the National Forensic Science Laboratory (NFSL), country. National Forensic Science Laboratory which is running, as an autonomous organization receives the sample related to clinical cases as under the ministry of environment, science and well. In this paper only the data of the plant 247 poisoning cases of last 10 years (1997 to 2006) (Plumbago zeylanica) were misused as aborticides. from both laboratories are included. In the last ten Out of 70 plants poisoning cases, individual plants years, 70 cases have been reported as plant and their active principals were identified only in poisoning cases; mostly suicidal, homicidal, 36 cases. In remaining 34 cases, only poisonous accidental deaths were reported (Annual Progress glycosides and alkaloids have been ascertained but Reports 1997-2006a,b). In few cases plant individual alkaloids and glycosides could not be products were misused as aborticides. identified. In the laboratories suspected samples were received through different sources like police CONCLUSION authority, National parks, Hospitals, custom Maximum public awareness about the offices, veterinary departments and from public medicinal plant is important to prevent the misuse directly (Annual Progress Reports 1997-2006a,b). of plants. Nature of samples requested for the analysis were biological (viscera, vomit blood and urine) and REFERENCES physical samples like suspected plant products, fodders, etc. Annual Progress Reports. 1997-2006a. Ministry of Science and Technology, National Forensic Out of the 70 plant poisoning cases, 28 cases Science Laboratory, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, were related to homicidal and suicidal. In 6 cases Nepal. Plants were misused as aborticides. Similarly, 15 cases have been reported as accidental poisoning Annual Progress Reports. 1997-2006b. Ministry of mainly in cattle. In 8 cases, persons were Home Affairs, Central Police Science intentionally involved in fish poisoning by using Laboratory, Maharajganj, Kathmandu, Nepal. plant products. In remaining 13 plants poisoning Bhandari, H. and P. Shrestha. 1985. cases nature of incident could not be ascertained. Ethnobotanical Investigation on Poisonous After Laboratory analysis, it was found that Plants of Kathmandu Valley. Series 2, National plants like Pire jhar (Polygonum hydropiper), Rato Council for Science and Technology (NCST), pire (Polygonium viscosum) and Khirro (Sapium Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal insigne) were misused intentionally for fish Chaudhary, R.P. 1998. Biodiversity in Nepal: poisoning. Aconite (Aconitum ferox), Dhaturo Status and Conservation. Tecpress Books, (Datura stramonium), Yellow oleander (Thebetia Bangkok. peruviana), Darsan pepale (Colocasia sp.), Casarett, L.J. and J. Doull. 2007. Toxicology: the Sajiwan (Jatropha curcas) and Kuchila (Nux Basic Science of Poisons. 7th ed., edited by vomica) were misused for the purpose of homicide Curtis, D. Klaassen. McGraw-Hill, USA. pp. 1- and suicide. Angeri (Lyonia ovalifolia), Kalosiris 45 (Albizzia chinensis), Bakaino (Melia azedarach) and Dhaturo (Datura stramonium) were Joshi, A.R. and K. Joshi. 2000. Indigenous accidentally used as fodder for cattle. In one case, knowledge and uses of medicinal plants by Dhatura was accidentally used as vegetable by local communities of the Kaligandaki members of one family due to confusion. Tama watershed area, Nepal, Journal of bans (Dendrocalamus hamiltonii) and Chitu Ethnopharmacology. 73:175-183. 248 Kulakkattolickal, A.T. 1989. Piscicidal plants of Shrestha, P.M. and S. Dhillion. 2003. Medicinal Nepal: Toxicity to air breathing predatory fish plant diversity and use in the highlands of (Ophiocephalus punctatus, Clarias batrachus Dolakha District, Nepal. Journal of and Heteropheustes fossilis) and the duration of Ethnopharmacology. 86:81-96.

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