Erythrina variegata 刺桐

POISONOUS PARTS

Roots, bark, stems, leaves, fruits and raw seeds.^4,5

TOXICITY

• Toxic Constituents

  Erythrina alkaloids such as erythrinine, hypaphorine, erysotrine and erythraline.^3,4,6

• Mechanism

  Erythrina alkaloids are antagonists to nicotinic cholinergic receptors, causing paralysis by blocking nerve transmission to muscles. Erythrinine is a central nervous system depressant.^6–8

• Poisoning Features

  Dizziness, limb weakness, paralysis, drowsiness, hypotension and respiratory depression .^6,9

CLINICAL MANAGEMENT

Supportive treatment.

IDENTIFICATION FEATURES

Semi-deciduous trees, up to 20 m tall; bark slightly cracked, slightly orange brown. Branches with obvious leaf scars and short straight conical spines. With a pair of raised glands at the opposition of the petiolule bases of lateral leaflets and the base of the petiolule of the top leaflet. Leaves trifoliolate, membranous; leaflets 15–30 × 15–30 cm. Racemes terminal, 10–16 cm long. Corolla red, 6–7 cm long. Pods 15–30 × 2–3 cm, black. Seeds 1.5 × 1 cm, reniform, deep red.¹⁰

MEDICINAL USES

Uses in TCM—bark or root bark: dispel wind-dampness, unblock the meridian and collateral vessels, kill parasites and relieve itching; leaves: relieve accumulation and expel parasites; flowers (for external use only): stanch bleeding with astringent. Recommended dose: bark or root bark 6–12 g, leaves 2–3 g.^3,11

LABORATORY ANALYSIS

Erysotrine and erythraline can be detected by GC-MS and NMR. Hypaphorine can be detected by LC-MS/MS.^12,13