Aconite poisoning by Mr. Sunil Ahirwar (Forensic Expert)
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This document discusses the plant Aconitum, also known as aconite or monkshood. It is an alkaloid-producing plant that grows in sub-Himalayan regions of India. Various species of aconite have been used for centuries as both poisons and medicines in Chinese and Japanese herbal remedies. The document describes several poisonous and non-poisonous species. It provides details on the taste, names, parts used, toxic dosage, effects, and treatment of aconite poisoning. Aconite root is commonly used and its color changes from brown externally to white internally when cut, then pink upon air exposure. The document also covers commercial uses and methods of aconite poisoning in
Aconite poisoning by Mr. Sunil Ahirwar (Forensic Expert)
- 1. Mr. Sunil Ahirwar Tutor Dept. of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Sakshi Medical College & Research Centre, Guna, India
- 2. Aconite is a alkaloid produced by plants of the Aconitum genus. It grow in sub – Himalayan range in India. Various species of Aconitum have been used by different populations for centuries as poisons and medicines. certain species still being used in Chinese and Japanese herbal medicines.
- 3. Aconite bulfourii Aconitum deinorrhizum Aconitum spicatum (aconitum ferox) Aconitum chasmanthum etc. Non – Poisonous species: Aconitum heterophyllum (atis)
- 4. Taste : sweet It is also known as sweet poison. Other names of aconite are: Mitha bish , mitha jahar, bish, bikh, monk’s hood, blue rocked, wolfbane, dudhiya bish, etc. Generally aconite’s root is used for poison. It’s root colour is externally brown. When cut internally white. Then exposure to air become pink colour.
- 5. Fatal dose : 1-2 gram of powdered root, on an average. Fatal period : 1-4 hours. Smell : like earth. Toxic principal: Aconitin, picraconitine, aconine and some 10 or more alkaloids like indaconitine etc. with aconitic acid.
- 6. Initially it stimulates sensory nerve endings causing tingling sensation. It cause similarly effect on secretary and motor nerve ending, centre of medulla and spinal cord. it depressed cardiac muscular tone to cause heart attack. Due to its action on thermo regulating centre ( hypothalamus), there will be fall the temperature.
- 7. Immediately or within few minute of ingestion sweetish taste is felt in the mouth followed by burning which passes in stomach, tingling sensation in mouth, tongue , lips , pharynx. This occur profuse salivation, nausea , vomiting, pain & tenderness in stomach. Difficulty in speech and articulation. Become unable to walk or even to stand. Headache , dizziness, ringing in ear etc.
- 8. Commercial use: It is use to treatment of fever of unknown origin, asthma and also as a constituent of general tonic. It is also used (both externally and internally) in the treatment of muscular rheumatism, neuralgia, paralytic and some nervous disease .
- 9. Homicide – by sprinkling the powdered root in drinking water, mixing it with food like sweetmeat, curry, curd etc. Suicide – not common, except in villages. Abortifacient – by local application of paste prepared prepared from roots/barks. Cattle poisoning- mixing powdered roots/barks in the cattle fodder. Arrow poisoning- paste prepared from the root is used. Accidental.
- 10. Stomach wash is given by Potassium permanganate(300-500mg) or tannic acid(1000-1200mg) in 1-2 liter water. Atropine 1-2mg IM given immediately to improve respiration rate and irregularity of heart rate. Which may be repeated as required. 50 cc of 0.1% novocaine or other antiarrhythmic drug may be given slowly. Amyl nitrate inhalation will be helpful.
- 11. Patchy ecchymosis(subcutaneous spot of bleeding larger than 1 cm ) in the Submucosal layers of stomach and Upper part of small intestine. Fragments of root may be detected in stomach contents.
- 12. Thank you