Creosote bush , toxicity

Fig. 29.15 Chronic toxic hepatitis after 10 months chaparral ( creosote bush ) automedication. Laparoscopy marked acinar structure, irregular chagreen-like surface (splintered light reflex) and extremely fine fibrosis histology single cell necrosis, slight inflammatory infiltrations and moderate steatosis...

On December 10, 1992, FDA issued a nationwide warning to consumers (FDA Press Release, P92-38) about chaparral, an herbal product derived from the leaves of the creosote bush, because of reports of acute toxic hepatitis after its use. The press release can be found at the FDA Web site, http //www.fda.gov. 

Exposure to wood creosotes appears to be confined to ingestion of plant extracts and dermal contact with the plants. Most of the toxicity data for oral exposure to wood creosotes comes from reports of individuals who ingested plant extracts such as chaparral, an herbal extract prepared by grinding leaves of the creosote bush, or seirogan , a Japanese folk remedy made with wood creosote that is typically taken for stomachaches. 

Creosote Bush. Acute toxic hepatitis has been attributed to ingestion of chaparral, an herbal nutritional supplement product derived from the leaves of the creosote bush (Clark and Reed 1992). A 42-year-old man had icterus and jaundice after consuming three 500 mg capsules of chaparral a day for 6 weeks. Serum chemistry tests showed elevated bilirubin, gamma glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), AST, and lactate dehydrogenase. His illness was diagnosed as hepatic dysfunction secondary to chaparral ingestion. 

Creosote Bush. A 45-year-old woman developed pruritus, probably secondary to chaparral-induced toxic hepatitis, after taking 160 mg/kg/day chaparral for around 2 months (Alderman et al. 1994). 

Creosote Bush. A 45-year-old woman developed fatigue and anorexia after taking 160 mg/kg/day chaparral for around 2 months (Alderman et al. 1994). The patient was diagnosed with chaparral-induced toxic hepatitis. In another report, a 60-year-old woman was hospitalized with a 1-week history of upper quadrant abdominal pain, anorexia, and jaundice (Gordon et al. 1995). The patient had been taking 1-2 capsules of chaparral daily for the past 10 months. The patient developed "flulike syndrome" and increased her chaparral intake to 6 capsules per day 3 weeks before admission. On admission, she was confused her encephalopathy worsened, and she developed seizure activity. The patient was diagnosed with toxic hepatitis secondary to chaparral ingestion. 

Grice, H.C., G. Becking, and T. Goodman. 1968. Toxic properties of nordihydroguaiaretic acid. Food Chem. Toxicol. 6(2) 155. Heron, S., and E. Yamell. 2001. The safety of low-dose Larrea tridentata (DC.) CoviUe (creosote bush or chaparral) A retrospective clinical study. /. Altern. Complement. Afed. 7(2) 175-185. 

Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) (60) is found in large quantities in Larrea divaricata (creosote bush, Zygophylla-ceae), a plant that is extremely abundant in the Chihuahuan, Sonoran, and Mojave deserts, as well as in southern South America. This compound was widely used in the food industry for several years as an antioxidant, but its use has recently been restricted. NDGA possesses light-activated toxicity (Downum, 1992). 

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