POISONOUS PARTS
Whole plant, especially the tubers.2
TOXICITY
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Toxic Constituents
Calcium oxalate raphides and spicy harsh toxins.3,4
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Toxic Dose
15 g can be toxic.2,5
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Mechanism
The toxic mechanism of the poisonous plants in the Araceae family is not fully understood. Calcium oxalate raphides stored in specialized cells known as idioblasts are released when subjected to mechanical pressure such as ingestion and contact, causing tissue irritation and inflammation. Other toxic ingredients that are commonly found in the family, such as sapotoxins and cyanogenic glycosides, may also play a role.2,6
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Poisoning Features
Skin contact: itchiness, numbness, irritant contact dermatitis. Ingestion: itchiness, pain, burning sensation and inflammation of oral cavity, tongue, throat and oesophagus; it can also cause dysphonia and airway obstruction; convulsion, coma and respiratory depression in severe cases.2,4,5,7
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Poisoning Events
A. erubescens poisoning cases are commonly caused by ingestion of the plant by mistake, contacting the sap or overdosing when used as a herb. There were reports in China that 4 men accidentally took the plant, resulting in tongue numbness and dysphonia. They recovered after treatment.3
CLINICAL MANAGEMENT
Supportive treatment. Maintenance of airway by intubation or tracheostomy may be required for severe cases with airway compromise.5,8
IDENTIFICATION FEATURES
Perennial herbs. Leaves radiately compound; petioles 40–80(–120) cm long; leaflets 7–20 or more, usually 1 upward. Plants dioecious; peduncles shorter than petioles, erect. Spathes with stripes or not, auriculate or slightly recurved at mouth; tubes 4–8 cm long; limb acuminate with a filiform tail 12–14 cm long. Berries red when ripe.9
MEDICINAL USES
Tubers used in TCM: dispel wind and stop convulsions, dry dampness and resolve phlegm, disperse swelling and dissipate binds. For external use only.10–13
LABORATORY ANALYSIS
Calcium oxalate raphides can be detected by polarizing microscopy.14
