POISONOUS PARTS
Whole plant, especially the tuber.2,3
TOXICITY
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Toxic Constituents
Cyanogenic glycosides such as linamarin and lotaustralin.4
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Mechanism
Cyanogenic glycosides are converted into cyanide in the gut. Cyanide uncouples oxidative phosphorylation and inhibits ATP generation. Sufficient soaking of cassava can remove the cyanogenic glycosides.4,5
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Poisoning Features
Acute: dizziness, headache, tachycardia, tachypnoea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, confusion and convulsion occurred 4–6 hours after ingestion. Chronic: damage to neurological system characterised by spastic paralysis of limbs.4
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Poisoning Events
In Africa, outbreaks of more than 3700 cases of “Konzo”, an upper motor neuron disease, occurred after intake of insufficiently soaked cassava.4
CLINICAL MANAGEMENT
Supportive treatment. Activated charcoal therapy has been used for gastrointestinal decontamination in cyanide poisoning. Hydroxocobalamin, sodium nitrite and sodium thiosulphate have been used as antidotes.4,6,7
IDENTIFICATION FEATURES
Erect shrubs, 1.5–3m tall, with fleshy elongated tuberous roots. Leaves peltate; petioles 6–35 cm; leaf blades usually deeply palmately 3–9-parted; lobes 8–18 × 1.5–4 cm. Racemes 5–8 cm long. Male flowers: calyx purplish red, lobes 3–4 mm long, hairy adaxially; stamens 10. Female flowers: calyx lobes about 8 × 3 mm; styles 3, connate at base. Capsules 1.5–1.8 × 1–1.5 cm, with 6 winged angles.8
MEDICINAL USES
Roots or leaves used in TCM: remove toxin and disperse swelling. For external use only.2
LABORATORY ANALYSIS
Linamarin can be detected by HPLC-RI and NMR.9
