Cestrum parqui

Chilean shrub Hammer ( Cestrum parqui )

The Chilean shrub Hammer ( Cestrum parqui ) is a plant of the genus hammer shrubs that occurs in tropical America.

Features

The Chilean hammer shrub is up to 2 m tall trees or shrubs. The narrow leaves have an unpleasant smell, the yellow tubular flowers are in axillary clusters. The initial green berries are black when ripe.

Occurrence

The originally from the tropical parts of America plants were exported as ornamental plants worldwide. In many areas they have become stubborn weeds.

Use

Agents

Cestrum species, thus the Chilean hammer shrub containing Carboxyparquin, a terpene as a poison. The fabric is significantly more toxic of the two Kaurenglykoside and can be isolated from the dried leaves of the plant. Structurally, it is closely related to the atractyloside. Besides the two Parquinen saponins are also included.

Use

The plant was smoked prior to the 16th century as exhilarating and exciting means. Partial found the plant used in traditional medicine.

Symptoms

In cattle occurs salivation and watery eyes, and colic, a curved back, general weakness, unsteady gait, and abdominal pain. Further there is liver lesions. In humans, lead poisoning to violent vomiting, abdominal pain and headaches, cramps. After a rapid decline in health occurs after coma death.

Pharmacology

The active ingredients of the Chilean hammer shrub are cytotoxins and as a psychoactive classified with a toxicity of Ib -II. The poisonous to mammals substances Atracylosid and Carboxyparquin lead to symptoms similar to poisoning with strychnine. Supposedly, it has already come through the Chilean shrub hammer to Todeslfällen in livestock. The toxins are not degraded in the dried plant material. When editing material, such as hedges, used for the feeding of animals, can cause poisoning. The fruits of the plant are about ten times more toxic than other aerial plant parts. Death usually occurs within a few hours. 200 g dried leaves are deadly for cattle, goat already 15 g The LD50 for mice is 4.3 mg / kg Carboxyparquin.

First Aid and clinical therapy

As an immediate measure, the administration of activated charcoal and sodium sulphate is done. In the clinic usually occurs gastric lavage as also the application of activated charcoal and sodium sulphate and sodium carbonate Azidosetherapie with, if appropriate, an intubation and oxygen therapy.

Swell

• Michael Wink, Ben -Erik van Wyk, Coralie Wink: Handbook of poisonous and psychoactive plants. Scientific Publishing Company, Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 3804724256th

• Hammer shrubs
• Herbal drug