ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 3

Another Death Due to Ingestion of Nicotiana glauca
Sims, DN
Senior toxicologist and pathologist, Forensic Science Centre,

James, R
Senior toxicologist and pathologist, Forensic Science Centre,

Christensen, T
Horticultural botanist, State Herbarium, Adelaide Botanic Gardens,

(Received 2 April 1998; accepted 7 July 1998)

Abstract

Deaths attributed to ingestion of Nicotiana glauca are extremely rare. We report here a case where a 43-year-old man was found dead after apparently drinking a water extract of Nicotiana glauca. The primary alkaloid in the plant is anabasine. Toxicological analysis by capillary gas chromatography showed the deceased had a blood anabasine concentration of 2.2 mg/L. Clinically, the features of poisoning are nicotine-like and if death occurs it results from respiratory paralysis. The case further supports the view that, in the human, anabasine is considerably more toxic than nicotine.

Keywords:
forensic science, toxicology, Nicotiana glauca, plant poisoning, anabasine, nicotine, death

Paper ID: JFS14484J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14484J
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