Toxic Plant Ingestions
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biology
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published 13/11/2007
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Summary
Plants have served as both poisons and medicines. Dioscorides listed several hundred plant species in his first Materia Medica in 78 BC. Galen, in second-century Rome, catalogued plants, including those containing opiates, ergotamines, and other alkaloids. Pharmacognosy was established as an independent discipline in nineteenth century Europe.
Toxic plants are ingested by curious children, by foragers mistaking poisonous plants for edible fare, by herbalists mistaking poisonous plants for nontoxic remedies, by pleasure seekers attempting to attain natural highs, and by suicidal patients attempting to harm themselves. Over 122,000 plant ingestions or exposures were reported to 65 poison control centers serving more than 257 million people in 1998. Plant exposures represented 5.5% of total toxic exposures reported in 1998 (fourth after cleaning substances, analgesics and cosmetics/personal care products). Approximately 7% of plant ingestions required treatment at a health care facility, with four deaths reported. More than 68% of all plant ingestions reported were in children under age 6 years.
Toxic plants are ingested by curious children, by foragers mistaking poisonous plants for edible fare, by herbalists mistaking poisonous plants for nontoxic remedies, by pleasure seekers attempting to attain natural highs, and by suicidal patients attempting to harm themselves. Over 122,000 plant ingestions or exposures were reported to 65 poison control centers serving more than 257 million people in 1998. Plant exposures represented 5.5% of total toxic exposures reported in 1998 (fourth after cleaning substances, analgesics and cosmetics/personal care products). Approximately 7% of plant ingestions required treatment at a health care facility, with four deaths reported. More than 68% of all plant ingestions reported were in children under age 6 years.
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