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Jimson Weed

Jimson Weed. Eric Heaps and Scott Berg. Nomenclature [1]. Kingdom Plantae Subkingdom Tracheobionta Superdivision Spermatophyta Division Magnoliophyta Class Magnoliopsida Subclass Asteridae Order Solanales Family Solanaceae Genus Datura L. Species Datura stramonium L.

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Jimson Weed

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  1. Jimson Weed Eric Heaps and Scott Berg

  2. Nomenclature [1] • Kingdom Plantae • Subkingdom Tracheobionta • SuperdivisionSpermatophyta • Division Magnoliophyta • Class Magnoliopsida • Subclass Asteridae • Order Solanales • Family Solanaceae • Genus DaturaL. • Species DaturastramoniumL. • Common Names: Jimson weed, Jamestown weed, Thorn Apple, Mad Apple, Zombie Cucumber, Angel’s Trumpet

  3. History and Background[2] • The name “Jimson” comes from the word “Jamestown.” • Early colonists were known to have found the weed growing in abundance in Jamestown, VA. • Preserved traces of Jimson weed from archaeological digs in Texas and Mexico. • Dating and analysis of remains show 4000 years of use. • Was used as an aphrodisiac in the Middle Ages. • Very toxic and can cause hallucinations

  4. Description and Appearance[3,4] • Grows to about 1.5m tall. • Annual shrub that grows mainly in the summer months (July – October). • Requires sunlight to grow. • Prefers neutral or basic, dry soils. • Large, white, funnel shaped flowers grow to about 5-10cm long. • Its fruits are large, thorny pods filled with seeds. • Fruits open into 4 compartments when ripe. http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/datst.htm

  5. Traditional Uses[2,5] • Aphrodisiac • Wound and burn healer • Treating colds and asthma • Recent uses include treatments of epilepsy, acute mania, and additional forms of “active insanity” • Over-the-counter powders and cigarettes were sold for asthma treatment. • Banned in 1968 as an over-the-counter drug • Long history of use in Indian Thuggee cult for the purpose of drugging sacrificial victims

  6. Preparations[5] • Leaves are rolled into cigarettes for asthma treatment • Seeds can be crushed and used in drinks or teas • Seeds can be purchased online • Flowers can be boiled • Leaf extracts or seeds can be made into pill form

  7. What’s In It?[5] • Alkaloids • Atropine • Scopolamine (main cause of hallucinations) • Hyoscyamine • Hyocine • Other tropanes • Variation caused by species and area of cultivation

  8. Alkaloids Atropine Scopolamine http://library.thinkquest.org/C0115926/drugs/deliriants2.htm Hyoscyamine http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Hyoscyamin_-_Hyoscyamine.svg

  9. Atropine[5] • Antimuscarinic agent – competitively binds muscarinic receptors. • Blocks reception of acetylcholine, preventing responses that lead to muscle spasms. • Causes bradycardia (resting heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute) at very low doses. • Higher doses induce tachycardia (rapid heart rate).

  10. Scopolamine[5] • Central nervous system depressant • Antimuscarinic effects similar to atropine • Commonly used to prevent motion sickness • Blocks short-term memory • Also used as a gastrointestinal and urinary antispasmodic • Has a half-life of about 8 hours

  11. Hyoscyamine[5] • Has similar, but more potent, antimuscarinic effects as atropine and scopolamine • Used as an adjunct in treatments of peptic ulcer disease and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome • Antidote to cholerinesterase inhibitors • Half-life of 3.5 hours

  12. Pharmacodynamics[8] • There are no significant studies on the use of the plant material on its own due to the toxicity of certain compounds found in datura. However, some of the active chemicals have use when isolated and used in small doses. • Guttman: Atropine treatment of moderate amblyopia assessed • Tested 186 children aged 3-7 • 1% atropine sulfate used as prescription eye drops either daily or weekly • At the end of the 4 month trial, found that daily or weekend drops produce the same rate of visual acuity improvement • The FDA has not approved atropine for the treatment of amblyopia

  13. Pharmacodynamics[9] • Boskabady and Adel-Karden: Increased Muscarinic Receptor Blockade by Atropine in Tracheal Chains of Ovalbumin-Sensitized Guinea Pigs • Examined the tracheal responsiveness of 10 ovalbumin-sensitized and 10 control guinea pigs to atropine • Ovalbumin – method of sensitizing asthma into the guinea pigs • Tracheal responses to atropine were higher in sensitized guinea pigs • Muscarinic receptor blockade by atropine was also higher in sensitized guinea pigs

  14. Contraindications[10,11] • Due to the dangerous effects of datura, its use is not recommended, but is still used in many areas. • Avoid taking any scopolamine while on glaucoma medications. • The use of datura for treating asthma during pregnancy is advised against due to the elevated levels of acetylcholine present in the neuron synapses. • The accumulation of acetylcholine leads to persistent stimulation of nicotinic receptors, possibly altering fetal development.

  15. Recreational Experiences[6] • “Next thing I know its already 6:46am and I am running late. My mom tells me I only got a half hour to get ready or [I’ll] get a Saturday detention. I scramble out of bed and run into the bathroom to take a shower. I suddenly realize how [much] school’s gonna suck cause I forgot to do my homework and I have an oral presentation due today. All these thoughts make me panic and I know there’s no way out of it cause I already skipped school 3 times this year and got caught and I cant skip another day or I have to go to court. I get out of the shower and dry off as quickly as I can. Then I run into my room and get dressed and go downstairs to the kitchen. Right then I noticed something was wrong, the clock said 1:00am and the calendar was on July.”

  16. Adverse Effects[7] • All parts of Datura are toxic • Overdosing on Jimson weed will lead to: • Visual hallucinations • Disorientation • Speech incomprehension • Dilated pupils • Can be fatal • Many cases of severe acute anticholinergictoxidrome • Delirium, agitation and seizures • Scopolamine is known to be the main cause of hallucinations

  17. News Report on Datura Overdose

  18. References • 1. Plants Profile, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Accessed: 30 April 2008. <http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=DAST> • 2.Clark, J.D. (2005) The History, Complications, and Treatments of Jimson Weed Toxicity. Topics in Emergency Medicine. 29(4): 295-301 • 3. Jimsonweed: Daturastramonium, Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide. Accessed: 30 April 2008. <http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/datst.htm> • 4. Jimsonweed, UC PIM Online. Accessed: 30 April 2008. <http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/WEEDS/jimsonweed.html> • 5. Bliss, M. (2001) Clinical Toxicology Review: Datura Plant Poisoning. Massachussetts/Rhode Island Poison Control System. 23(6). • 6. Erowid User. (2004) Truly the Devil’s Weed. Erowid Experience Vaults. <http://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=16996>

  19. References • 7. Spina, S.P. and A. Taddei. (2007) Teenagers with Jimson Weed poisoning. Canadian Journal of Emergency Medical Care. 9(6):467-8. • 8. Guttman, C. (2004). Atropine treatment of moderate amblyopia assessed. Ophthalmology. 111:2076-2085. • 9. Boskabady, M.H. and S. Adel-Kardan. (1999). Increased Muscarinic Receptor Blockade by Atropine in Tracheal Chains of Ovalbumin-Sensitized Guinea Pigs. Pharmacology. 58:300-308. • 10. Pretorius, E. resia. (2006) Daturastramonium in asthma treatment and possible effects on prenatal development. Environmental Toxicology & Pharmacology May2006, Vol. 21 Issue 3, p331-337 • 11. Silverston, D. (1995) Don’t mix your drugs. Opthalmology Times. 20(5):11

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