Achappa, Basavaprabhu and Madi, Deepak and *, Y P Raghavendra Babu and * , Soundarya Mahalingam (2012) Rituals can kill – A fatal case of brucine poisoning. Australasian Medical Journal, 5 (8). pp. 421-423.

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Abstract

In some parts of India people follow a religious ritual of drinking an herbal preparation made from the bark of the Alstonia scholaris tree (Blackboard tree) on the day of the new moon in the month of July. This tree could be easily confused with the Strychnos nux vomica tree. Brucine is the predominant alkaloid present in the bark of the Strychnos nux vomica tree. The toxicological property of brucine is similar to strychnine. Brucine is a neurotoxin. A 29-­year-­old male presented with a history of consumption of an herbal preparation made from the bark of the Strychnos nux vomica tree confusing it for Alstonia scholaris. Soon after, he developed convulsions and later died in hospital on the same day. The aim of this case report is to highlight the fact that people must be cautious when they follow religious rituals.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Brucine; Alstonia scholaris; strychnine; poisoning
Subjects:	Medicine > KMC Mangalore > Medicine
Depositing User:	KMCMLR User
Date Deposited:	04 Sep 2012 05:03
Last Modified:	04 Sep 2012 05:03
URI:	http://eprints.manipal.edu/id/eprint/77094

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