Poisoning lobelia

In addition to lupines, poison-hemlock and Nicotiana spp., other plant species of the genera Genista, Prosopis, Lobelia, Cytisus, Sophora, Pinus, Punica, Duboisia, Sedum, Withania, Carica, Hydrangea, Dichroa, Cassia, Ammondendron, Liparia, and Colidium contain potentially toxic and teratogenic piperidine alkaloids. Many plant species or varieties from these genera may be included in animal and human diets (Keeler and Crowe, 1984). 

Lobelia inflata has for many years been one of the most widely discussed and hotly debated articles used in medicine. While many herbalists contend that it is the most valuable of all botanic remedies, official medicine in England classifies it as a poison. Herbalists who use Lobelia insist that it is most certainly not a poison, and that it can be administered by them in large doses with perfect safety. They use it chiefly as an emetic, and, as its administration brings about the prompt removal of accumulations of mucus, the action in bronchial complaints is speedy and beneficial. Coffin s comments in this connection are enthusiastic "Lobelia is decidedly the most certain and efficient emetic known, and is at the same time safe in its operations. Unlike most emetics from the mineral kingdom, it produces its specific effect without corroding the stomach or producing morbid irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane of this organ, which are so common in the use of antimony, zinc, and the sulphate of copper. Lobelia may emphatically be said to operate in unison with the laws of life. "... 

Several plants produce milk juice sequestered in laticifers in several plant genera alkaloids are mainly stored in latex vesicles, such as isoquinoline alkaloids in Papaver and Chdidonium, or piperidine alkaloids in Lobelia. If herbivores wound such a plant, the latex will spill out and the herbivore will immediately be confronted with alkaloids. Since most of them are strong poisons, a deterrent effect is usually achieved. Another strategic way to store alkaloids is their sequestration in epidermal vacuoles or in trichomes. These tissues have to ward off not only herbivores (especially small ones) but also microorganisms in the first place. Several classes of alkaloids have been found in epidermal tissues, such as quinohzidine and tropane alkaloids [2,3]. 

Lobelia Siphilitica Common Names Blue Cardinal flower. Great Blue Lobelia Poison Lobeline... 

The plant or plants ealled Lobelia have a track record in the treatment of infectious diseases, including tetanus and blood poisoning. The Iroquois Indians used Lobelia syphilitica, as the scientific name implies, against venereal diseases, maybe even uterine cancer. In the Civil War the species Lobelia inflata was used variously as an enema and for snake, spider, and insect bites. 

Ivy, Oakt or Sumach. Bathe the poisoned part thoroughly with hot water, without soap. TThen dry, paint the place Hberallv, 2 to 4 times a day, with a feather dipped in strong tincture of lobelia. Avoid bnnginz the tincture in contact with any fresh wonna or excoriation. 

Hemedy for Poison Ivy, dbc. In some coses, where lobelia (sea last recHpt) does not succeed quickly, an application, in a simitar manner, of fluid extract bf gclseminuin sempervirens (yellow jessamine) will rarely fail to cure. Both of these are excellent remedies, generally acting like magic. 

Langley first studied the action of drugs on the autonomic ganglia with the alkaloid nictoine obtained from Nicotiana tabacum. Subsequently, some other alkaloids were also foimd to possess similar effects, namely coniine from the poison Hemlock obtained from Conicum maculatum, gelsemine from the yellow jasmine and lobeline from the lobelia, a native of America. 

Thebaine, the methoxy derivative of morphine, is also a habit-forming substance, but its primary toxic effects are similar to those of strychnine, a convulsant poison, rather than narcosis. Also, there are alkaloids having different structures but similar toxic actions. Lobeline, a lobelia alkaloid, which has a piperidine nucleus, shows pharmacologic action similar (but less potent) to that of nicotine, a tobacco alkaloid that has a pyridine-pyrrolidine ring system. The structure, occurrence, physical properties, and toxicity of some important alkaloids are presented in the following sections. 

One controversial death sometimes cited as being a result of lobelia toxicity is that of Ezra Lovett, who allegedly died by lobelia poisoning at the hands of Samuel Thomson in Massachusetts in 1 7. The death was the basis... 

Another series of lysine derived alkaloids occurs in the genus Lobelia (Campanulaceae). One of these compounds, lobeline (39) (Fig. 29.13) (from Lobelia inflata, Indian tobacco), has been used in antismoking preparations. Both lobeline and nicotine are classed as ganglionic stimulants. Therapeutically, lobeline is hardly used today (Fodor and Colosanti, 1985). Poisoning of cattle because of ingestion of Lobelia berlandieri has occurred in Texas and Mexico... 

L. inflata L. is a traditional medicinal plant native to North America. It contains several piperidine alkaloids. The main alkaloid is lobeline which has a stimulatory effect on the respiratory center and it is applied in the cases of asthma, gas- and narcotic-poisoning. Thus, lobeiine is currently the subject of renewed interest for the treatment of drug abuse and neurological disorders, like Alzheimer s or Parkinson s disease, which pose an important public health problem in industrial countries. As lobeiine can act as a competitive nicotinic receptor antagonist, it is frequently used in antismoking preparations. Interest in Lobelia alkaloids, and in particular (-)-lobeline, the most active of them, has increased in recent years due to their activity on the central nervous system (CNS). 

Lobelia has a limited and decreasing use in pharmacy it contains alkaloids, principally lobeline, but formerly it was not considered necessary to assay it for its alkaloidal content and consequently few methods have been published. However, the requirements of the Poisons Rules, by which the total alkaloid content of certain lobelia preparations has to be declared, re-awakened interest in its assay. MarkwelP proposed a method which, with small modifications, was adopted by the Analytical Methods Committee of the S,A.C, The method, which is essentially that official in the B.P.C, is as follows ... 

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