TITLE:
Human Exposure to Ecballium elaterium Fruit Juice: Fatal Toxicity and Possible Remedy
AUTHORS:
Abdulazim S. Salhab
KEYWORDS:
Ecballium elaterium; Cucurbitacine; Uvular Edema; Sinusitis; Rhinitis, Conjunctivitis; Angioedema; Soft Palate; Hypoxemia
JOURNAL NAME:
Pharmacology & Pharmacy,
Vol.4 No.5,
August
20,
2013
ABSTRACT: The human serious adverse reactions of the folkloric plant, Ecballium elaterium (EE), are well documented in the literature. This report is presenting the medical literature of 74 cases, which experienced severe adverse reactions or deaths that resulted from the administration of the plant juice. The survey of these human cases exhibits several adverse effects such as: acute rhinitis, uvular edema, soft palate, upper airway edema. In conclusion, the use of EE juice in folk medicine can cause severe adverse reactions that should not be ignored but it should be medically treated.