Investigation and toxin identification of a poisoning incident caused by Gloriosa superba L.
CHEN Rumei1, HUANG Xiaoqin1, DUAN Zhimin2, SUN Mingyue3, RUAN Yanming3, LIN Ji2
1. School of Public Health, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650032, China; 2. Yunnan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Kunming, Yunnan 650032, China; 3. School of Public Health, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan 671003, China
Abstract：Objective To conduct an epidemiological investigation on a poisoning incident caused by eating Gloriosa superba L. by mistake, and to detect the toxins qualitatively and quantitatively in the collected samples. Methods Descriptive epidemiological survey method was used to investigate the incident. Combining with blood biochemical indicators, we analyzed the incident and found out the suspicious food. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was employed to qualitatively and quantitatively determine the toxins in Gloriosa superba L. collected in the field, the remaining plant tubers and the patients' blood and urine. Results The epidemiological investigation and UPLC-MS/MS assay revealed that the poisoning incident was caused by eating Gloriosa superba L. by mistake. Colchicine and colchicoside were detected in the root of Gloriosa superba L., with the contents being 1.19 mg/kg and 0.20 mg/kg respectively. The contents of colchicine and colchicoside detected in the stems of Gloriosa superba L. were 0.16 mg/kg and 0.02 mg/kg respectively. The contents of colchicine and colchicoside detected in the remaining plant tuber were 207.17 mg/kg and 17.22 mg/kg respectively. Colchicine was detected in both blood and urine of case 2, with the contents being 0.36 ng/ml and 34.20 ng/ml respectively. The contents of colchicine detected in blood and urine of case 4 were 0.71 ng/ml and 146 ng/ml respectively. Conclusion This incident results from colchicine poisoning due to patients' eating Gloriosa superba L. by mistake, and such poisonings mainly cause liver and kidney damage and gastrointestinal symptoms.
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2024, Vol. 31 
