Solandra nitida 金盃藤

POISONOUS PARTS

Whole plant.²

TOXICITY

• Toxic Constituents

  Solanaceous tropane alkaloids such as atropine, hyoscine (scopolamine) and hyoscyamine.^3,4

• Mechanism

  Solanaceous tropane alkaloids cause anticholinergic toxidrome by competitive blockade of cholinergic muscarinic receptors present in postganglionic parasympathetic neurons, in autonomic ganglia, and in cortical and subcortical neurons.^5,6

• Poisoning Features

  Anticholinergic toxidrome, including nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, dry skin, flushing, hyperthermia, tachycardia, hypertension, urinary retention, decreased bowel sounds, mydriasis and confusion. Convulsion, coma and even death in severe cases. Other symptoms include numbness of hands and feet.⁷

• Poisoning Events

  S. nitida poisoning has been reported in an adult who presented with "toxic psychosis" after consuming tea made from the flowers. The patient recovered 36 hours later.³

CLINICAL MANAGEMENT

Supportive treatment. Physostigmine has been used as an antidote for S. nitida poisoning.⁸

IDENTIFICATION FEATURES

Perennial woody vines, many‑branched. Leaves alternate, glabrous; leaf blades up to 15 cm long, glossy green. Flowers solitary, up to 20 cm long. Corolla yellow, chalice-shaped, 5-lobed, with a purplish brown stripe on each lobe extended to the throat adaxially, lobes strongly recurved; stamens 5. Berries spherical, covered by persistent calyx.³

MEDICINAL USES

In Mexico, the plant is used in folk medicine as an aphrodisiac; tea made from the flowers has been used to suppress cough.³

LABORATORY ANALYSIS

Solanaceous tropane alkaloids can be detected by GC-MS and LC-MS/MS.⁹