Black henbane and its toxicity – a descriptive review

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Pediatrician- Fellowship of clinical Toxicology Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, I. R. Iran

2 Department of Pharmacodynamy and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, I. R. Iran

3 Mechanical Engineer, Hydro mechanical designer BS, Department of Dam and hydropower plant Hydromechanics of Tooss Ab Company, Mashhad, I. R. Iran

4 Medical Toxicology Research Centre, Imam Reza Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, I. R. Iran

Abstract

Black henbane (BH) or Hyoscyamus niger, has been used as a medicine since last centuries and has been described in all traditional medicines. It applies as a herbal medicine, but may induce intoxication accidentally or intentionally. All part of BH including leaves, seeds and roots contain some alkaloids such as Hyoscyamine, Atropine, Tropane and Scopolamine. BH has pharmacological effects like bronchodilating, antisecretory, urinary bladder relaxant, spasmolytic, hypnotic, hallucinogenic, pupil dilating, sedative and anti-diarrheal properties. Clinical manifestations of acute BH poisoning are very wide which include mydriasis, tachycardia, arrhythmia, agitation, convulsion and coma, dry mouth, thirst, slurred speech, difficulty speaking, dysphagia, warm flushed skin, pyrexia, nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision and photophobia, urinary retention, distension of the bladder, drowsiness, hyper reflexia, auditory, visual or tactile hallucinations, confusion, disorientation, delirium, aggressiveness, and combative behavior. The main treatment of BH intoxicated patients is supportive therapies including gastric emptying (not by Ipecac), administration of activated charcoal and benzodiazepines. Health care providers and physicians particularly emergency physicians and clinical toxicologists should know the nature, medical uses, clinical features, diagnosis and management of BH poisoning.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Anonymous. 2013. Hyoscyamus niger, black henbane, The poison Garden, website, available on: http://www.thepoisongarden.co.uk/atoz/hyoscyamus_niger.htm.
Anonymous. Wednesday, September 7th, 1910. The Crippen Case - Discovery of Poison. The Times: p3.
Balali-Mood M, Moshiri M and Alizadeh A. 2014. Nerve agents OP In: Balali-Mood M and Abdollahi M (Eds), Basic and Clinical Toxicology of Organophosphorous Compounds, Londan Springer 177-212.
Beaver KM and Gavin TJ. 1998. Treatment of acute anticholinergic poisoning with physostigmine. Am J Emerg Med, 16: 505-507.
Begum AS. 2010. Bioactive Non-alkaloidal Secondary Metabolites of Hyoscyamus niger Linn. Seeds: A Review. Research Journal of Seed Science, 3: 210-217.
Begum AS, Verma S, Sahai M, Schneider K and Sussmuth R. 2009. Hyoscyamal, a new tetrahydrofurano lignan from Hyoscyamus niger Linn. Nat Prod Res, 23: 595-600.
Begum S, Saxena B, Goyal M, Ranjan R, Joshi VB, et al. 2010. Study of anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities of seeds of Hyoscyamus niger and isolation of a new coumarinolignan. Fitoterapia, 81: 178-184.
Bernhoft A. 2010. A brief review on bioactive compounds in plants, In: Bernhoft A (Eds), Bioactive compounds in plants- benefits and risks for man and animals;Proceedings from a symposium held at The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, Oslo, 13 - 14 November 2008 , available on (http://www.dnva.no/geomed). The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.
Brown JH and Taylor P. 1996. Muscarinic receptor agonists and antagonists, In: Hardman JG (Eds), The pharmacological basis of therapeutics, 141-160, New York, McGraw-Hill.
Burns MJ, Linden CH, Graudins A, Brown RM and Fletcher KE. 2000. A comparison of physostigmine and benzodiazepines for the treatment of anticholinergic poisoning. Ann Emerg Med, 35: 374-381.
Carter AJ. 2003. Myths and mandrakes. J R Soc Med, 96: 144-147.
Cirak C, Kevseroglu K and Saglam B. 2004. Physical and Physiological Dormancy in Black Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger L.) Seeds. Journal of Plant Biology, 47: 391-395
Cooper MR and Johnson AW. 1984. Poisonous Plants in Britain and other effects on Animals and Man. London, Stationery Office.
Craig OI. 1975. Emergencies In General Practice: Poisons Children Swallow. Emerg gener pract, 17: 1495-1498.
Daneshvar S, Mirhossaini ME and Balali-mood M. 1992 Hyoscyamus poisoning in Mashhad. Toxicon, 30: 501
Doneray H, Orbak Z and Karakelleoglu C. 2007. Clinical outcomes in children with hyoscyamus niger intoxication not receiving physostigmine therapy. Eur J Emerg Med, 14: 348-350.
Duke JA. 1985. Handbook of Medicinal herbs. Boca Raton CRC Press.
Ebadi M. 2007. Pharmacodynamic basis of herbal medicine. U.S goverment, CRC press.
Efstratiadis G, Voulgaridou A, Nikiforou D, Kyventidis A, Kourkouni E, et al. 2007. Rhabdomyolysis updated. Hippokratia, 11: 129-137.
El Bazaoui A, Bellimam MA, Lancar IT and Soulaymani A. 2012. Gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry investigation of tropane alkaloids in Hyoscyamus albus L. from Morocco. Z Naturforsch C, 67: 461-465.
Emami SA. 2007.Toxic plants, In: Excellence center of Toxicology and food chemestry (Eds), Toxicology ( in persion), 839-841, Tehran, Iran, Tehran University of Medical sciences
Erkal H, Özyurt Y and Arikan Z. 2006. The central anyicholinergic syndrome after ingesting henbane (hyoscyamus niger) plant in a geniatric patients. Yaşli Hastada henbane (hyoschyamus niger) sonrasi antikejik sendrom, 9: 188-191.
Etemad L, Moshiri M and Moallem SA. 2014 Chronic toxicity of OP compounds In: Balali-Mood M and Abdollahi. M (Eds), Basic and Clinical Toxicology of Organophosphorous Compounds, Londan Springer 79-118.
Frascogna N. 2007. Physostigmine: is there a role for this antidote in pediatric poisonings? Curr Opin Pediatr, 19: 201-205.
Frohne D and Pfander HJ. 1983. A colour atlas of poisonous plants. London, England, Wolfe Publishing Ltd.
Fuchs J, Rauber-Luthy C, Kupferschmidt H, Kupper J, Kullak-Ublick GA, et al. 2011. Acute plant poisoning: analysis of clinical features and circumstances of exposure. Clin Toxicol (Phila), 49: 671-680.
Ghane T, Behmanesh Y and Davood Abadi M. 2013. Descriptive Analysis of Recorded Poisoning phone calls in Iran Drug and Poisoning Information Centers in 2012, Tehran-Iran. 12th Iranian Toxicology congress Sari- Iran.
Ghorbanpour M, Ghafarzadegan R, Khavazi K and Hatami M. 2013. Two Main Tropane Alkaloids Variations of Black Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) Under PGPRs Inoculation and Water Deficit Stress Induction at Flowering Stage J Medici Plan, 12: 29-42.
Ghorbanpour M, Majnoon Hosseini N, Rezazadeh S, Omidi M, Khavazi K, et al. 2010. Hyoscyamine and scopolamine production of black henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) infected with Pseudomonas putida and P. fluorescens strains under water deficit stress. Planta Med, 76: 167.
Gilani AH, Khan AU, Raoof M, Ghayur MN, Siddiqui BS, et al. 2008. Gastrointestinal, selective airways and urinary bladder relaxant effects of Hyoscyamus niger are mediated through dual blockade of muscarinic receptors and Ca2+ channels. Fundam Clin Pharmacol, 22: 87-99.
Glatstein MM, Alabdulrazzaq F, Garcia-Bournissen F and Scolnik D. 2012. Use of physostigmine for hallucinogenic plant poisoning in a teenager: case report and review of the literature. Am J Ther, 19: 384-388.
Graev M and Fallani M. 1960. [Collective poisoning caused by ingestion of Hyoscyamus niger (with a fatal case)]. Minerva Medicoleg, 80: 225-230.
Graham J and Johnson SW. 2010. Managing Black Henbane;Fact Sheet-04-10. The University of Nevada Reno.
Grieve M. 1913. A Modern Herbal, avialableat:http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/h/henban23.html.
Gude AB and Hoegberg LCG. 2011.Techniques used to prevent gastrointestinal absorptiopn In: Nelson LS, Lewin NA, Howland MAet al (Eds), Goldfrank's toxicologic emergencies, 90-104, New York McGraw-Hill Medical.
Haas LF. 1995. Hyoscyamus niger (henbane). J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 59: 114.
Heber D. 2004. PDR for Herbal Medicines, , Thomson Healthcare.
Hocking GM. 1947. Henbane: Healing herb of Hercules and Apollo. Economic Botany, 1: 306-316.
Hodgson E. 2012. Toxins and venoms. Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci, 112: 373-415.
Hojjati MR, Taji F and Rafieian M. 2012. [The effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Hyoscyamus niger seeds on learning and short-term memory in Balb/c Mice ], article in Persian. Quarterly J Sabzevar Univ MedicScie.
Hosseini Yekta N and Sadeghpoor O. 2012. Relief pain and the Mechanism of action of analgesic drugs in Iranian Traditional Medicine. Journal of Islamic and Iranian Traditional Medicine, 3 : 285-292 ( in persion)
Howland MA. 2011.Physostigmine salicilate In: Nelson LS, Lewin NA, Howland MAet al (Eds), Goldfrank's toxicologic emergencies, 759-763, New York McGraw-Hill Medical.
Khan AU and Gilani AH. 2008. Cardiovascular inhibitory effects of Hyoscyamus niger. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol, 30: 295-300.
Khan FZ, Alam M, Saleem R and Rashid I. 1992. Biological studies of indigenous medicinal plants--I: physicochemical and antimicrobial screening of non-alkaloidal constituents of some solanaceous seeds. Pak J Pharm Sci, 5: 55-61.
Kiasalari Z, Khalili M, Khoshnevisan F. 2007.Evaluation of the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of henbane seed on acute and chronic pain in male rats. Koomesh, 8: 239-246
Kiasalari Z, Khalili M, Heidari H and Azizi Y. 2011. Anti-convulsant effect of alcoholic Hyoscyamus niger L seed extract on PTZ model of kindling in male mice. Razi J Med Sci, 18: 27-33.
Kirtikar KR and Basu BD. 1984. Indian Medicinal Plants. New Delhi, Periodical Experts Book Agency.
Koy S. 2003. Physostigmine for Anticholinergic Toxicity. Utox Update (A publication of the Utah poisoning control center for Health, UPCC professonals) available on: http://uuhsc.utah.edu/poison, Utah Poison Control Center. 5.
Lee MR. 2006. Solanaceae III: henbane, hags and Hawley Harvey Crippen. J R Coll Physicians Edinb, 36: 366-373.
Li J, Shi J, Yu XW, Sun Jk, Q.M. M, et al. 2011. Chemical and Pharmacological Researches on Hyoscyamus niger. Chinese Herb Med, 3: 117-126.
Li R, Reed DW, Liu E, Nowak J, Pelcher LE, et al. 2006. Functional genomic analysis of alkaloid biosynthesis in Hyoscyamus niger reveals a cytochrome P450 involved in littorine rearrangement. Chem Biol, 13: 513-520.
Lieberman JA, 3rd. 2004. Managing anticholinergic side effects. Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry, 6: 20-23.
Long DJ, Milburn P, Bunting MJ and Tipping R. 1999. Black Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger L.) in the Scottish Neolithic: A Re-evaluation of Palynological Findings from Grooved Ware Pottery at Balfarg Riding School and Henge, Fife. J Archaeolog Sci, 26: 45-52.
Ma CY, Liu WK and Che CT. 2002. Lignanamides and nonalkaloidal components of Hyoscyamus niger seeds. J Nat Prod, 65: 206-209.
Ma CY, Williams ID and Che CT. 1999. Withanolides from hyoscyamus niger seeds. J Nat Prod, 62: 1445-1447.
Macchiaiolo M, Vignati E, Gonfiantini MV, Grandin A, Romano MT, et al. 2010. An unusual case of anisocoria by vegetal intoxication: a case report. Ital J Pediatr, 36: 50.
Millspaugh CF. 1974. American Medicinal Plants: An Illustrated and Descriptive Guide to Plants Indigenous to and Naturalized in the United States Which Are Used in Medicine. New York, Dover publication institue.
Moradi M, Ghosian MH and Yaghout poor E. 2012. Assessment of Hyoscyamus niger seeds alcoholic extract effects on acute and chronic pain in male NMRI rats. Bas Clin Pathophysiol, 1:29-36.
Mofredj A, Rakotondreantoanina JR and Farouj N. 2000 [Severe hypernatremia secondary to gastric lavage]. Ann Fr Anesth Reanim., 19: 219-220.
Moshiri M, Darchini-Maragheh E and Balali-Mood M. 2012. Advances in toxicology and medical treatment of chemical warfare nerve agents. Daru, 20: 81.
Moshiri M, Etemad L, Javidi S, Alizadeh A. 2013. Peganum harmala intoxication, a case report. Avicenna J Phytomed, 3: 288-292.
Nasiri SM, Nasiri M, Mokri A, Ghaffari F, D avati A, et al. 2012. Opium and opium addiction treatment in persian traditional medicine. Med History 3: 133-150.
Oztekin-Mat A. 1994. [Plant poisoning cases in Turkey]. Ann Pharm Fr, 52: 260-265.
Paulsen BP. 2010.Highlights through the history of plant medicine, In: A. B (Eds), Bioactive compounds in plants - benefits and risks for man and animals;Proceedings from a symposium held at The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, Oslo, 13 - 14 November 2008 , available on (http://www.dnva.no/geomed).Oslo:, The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.
Pentel P and Peterson CD. 1980. Asystole complicating physostigmine treatment of tricyclic antidepressant overdose. Ann Emerg Med, 9: 588-590.
Pokorny M and Mangold J. 2010. MontGuide : Black Henbane: Identification, Biology and Integrated Management. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) MSUaMSUE, avalable in www.msuextension.org.
Prance GT and Nesbitt M. 2005. The Cultural History of Plants. . New York, Taylor and Francis Routledge:.
Reza HM, Mohammad H, Golnaz E and Gholamreza S. 2009. Effect of methanolic extract of Hyoscymus niger L. on the seizure induced by picritoxin in mice. Pak J Pharm Sci, 22: 308-312.
Robbers JE, Speedie MK and Tyler VE. 1996. Pharmacognosy and Pharmacobiotechnology. Baltimore, Williams and Wilkins.
Sajeli B, Sahai M, Suessmuth R, Asai T, Hara N, et al. 2006. Hyosgerin, a new optically active coumarinolignan, from the seeds of Hyoscyamus niger. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo), 54: 538-541.
Salen P, Shih R, Sierzenski P and Reed J. 2003 Effect of physostigmine and gastric lavage in a Datura stramonium-induced anticholinergic poisoning epidemic. Am J Emerg Med, 21: 316-317.
Schenk G. 1955. The book of poisons, New York, Rinehart.
Schultes RE and Smith E. 1976. Hallucinogenic plants. New York, Golden Press
Sengupta T, Vinayagam J, Nagashayana N, Gowda B, Jaisankar P, et al. 2011. Antiparkinsonian effects of aqueous methanolic extract of Hyoscyamus niger seeds result from its monoamine oxidase inhibitory and hydroxyl radical scavenging potency. Neurochem Res, 36: 177-186.
Spillum BJ and Muan B. 2010.Human plant poisoning in the Nordic countries experiences from the Poisons Information Centres, In: A. B (Eds), Bioactive compounds in plants - benefits and risks for man and animals; Proceedings from a symposium held at The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, Oslo, 13 - 14 November 2008 , available on (http://www.dnva.no/geomed).Oslo:, The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.
Spoerke DG, Hall AH, Dodson CD, Stermitz FR, Swanson CH, Jr., et al. 1987. Mystery root ingestion. J Emerg Med, 5: 385-388.
Stedman J. 1751. The Effects of the Hyoscyamus albus, or White Henbane; In a Letter to Dr. John Pringle, F. R. S. from Dr. John Stedman, Late Surgeon Major to the Regiment of the Royal Grey Dragoons. Phil Trans, 47: 194-197.
Stefnek J, Dufincov J, Vychytil P and Holmes S. 2000. [Mystery of mydriatic pupils]. Vnitr Lek. [Vnitrni lekarstvi], 46: 808-810.
Tsewang TJ. 1994. Tibetan medicinal plants new dehli, Tibetan Medicinal Publications.
Tugrul L. 1985. Abuse of henbane by children in Turkey. Bull Narc, 37: 75-78.
Uniyal MR. 1989. Medicinal Flora of Garhwal Himalayas. Nagpur, India., Ayurved Bhawan.
Urkin J, Shalev H, Sofer S and Witztum A. 1991. [Henbane (Hyoscyamus reticulatus) poisoning in children in the Negev]. Harefuah. 120:714-6
Verstraete F. 2010.Management and regulation of certain bioactive compounds present as inherent toxins in plants intended for feed and food, In: A. B (Eds), Bioactive compounds in plants - benefits and risks for man and animals;Proceedings from a symposium held at The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, Oslo, 13 - 14 November 2008 , available on (http://www.dnva.no/geomed).Oslo:, The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.
Vidovic D, Brecic P, Haid A and Jukic V. 2005. [Intoxication with henbane]. Lijec Vjesn, 127: 22-23.
Volak J and Stodola J. 1992. The Illustrated Book of Herbs: Their Medicinal and Culinary Uses, Chancellor Press (Bounty Books).
Wikipedia. 2013. avilable on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_henbane.
Yousefi MJ. 2007. Evaluation of genetic diversity of some Iranian black henbane accessions (Hyoscyamus niger) based on RAPD markers and seed proteins fingerprinting ( in persion). MS.
Zaczek R. 2001. "Scopolamine and Atropine." Encyclopedia of Drugs, Alcohol, and Addictive Behavior., Retrieved May 27, 2013 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3403100410.html
Zhang L, Yang B, Lu B, Kai G, Wang Z, et al. 2007. Tropane alkaloids production in transgenic Hyoscyamus niger hairy root cultures over-expressing putrescine N-methyltransferase is methyl jasmonate-dependent. Planta, 225: 887-896.
Zhang WN, Luo JG and Kong LY. 2012. Phytotoxicity of lignanamides isolated from the seeds of Hyoscyamus niger. J Agric Food Chem, 60: 1682-1687.
 
Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine
Volume 4, Issue 5 - Serial Number 5
September and October 2014
Pages 297-311

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics