Crinum asiaticum var. sinicum 文殊蘭

POISONOUS PARTS

Whole plant, especially the bulbs.^4,5

TOXICITY

• Toxic Constituents

  Lycorine and scillitoxin.^6–8

• Mechanism

  Lycorine has emetic effect.⁹

• Poisoning Features

  Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, dehydration and electrolyte disturbance.⁶

CLINICAL MANAGEMENT

Supportive treatment. Correction of fluid and electrolyte disturbances in patients with severe gastrointestinal symptoms.⁶

IDENTIFICATION FEATURES

Stout perennial herbs. Bulbs up to 30 cm long and 10–15 cm in diameter. Leaves basal, 50–120 × 6–10(–15) cm, midveins impressed adaxially. Scapes solid, 0.6–1 m long. Umbels 10–20-flowered, flowers white. Perianth salverform; tubes greenish white, 6–9 cm long; segments 6–8 cm × 6–10 mm. Stamens 6; filament about 4 cm long, purplish apically; styles relatively shorter. Capsules 3–5 cm in diameter.¹⁰

MEDICINAL USES

Uses in TCM—leaves: clear heat and remove toxin, dissipate stasis and disperse swelling, relieve pain; fruits: activate blood and disperse swelling; leaves and fruits are for external use only; bulbs: clear heat and remove toxin, activate blood and dissipate stasis, relieve pain. Recommended dose: bulbs 3–9 g.^2,11,12

LABORATORY ANALYSIS

Lycorine can be detected by HPLC-DAD, GC-MS and LC-MS/MS.^13–15