Killer Potatoes

   

In 1979 about 78 students mysteriously fell ill at a small boys school in London. While the initial symptoms started with vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, the incident quickly alarmed everyone when several patients slipped into coma. Not only that, the patients were seen to have violent fits of fever along with convulsions. Signs of depression in the central nervous system and peripheral circulatory collapse were also noticed.

Can you believe all of a sudden few healthy students falling ill simultaneously? And it was so severe that most of them were comatose?

Do you know who is the culprit?

Guess!

Well, the answer is ( drumroll please)

Potatoes!

Yes, you heard me right! a bag full of potatoes was the culprit.

How?

Well, if you have already read the article on poisonous plants, you would have guessed by now, the potatoes were high in solanine concentration.

An investigation found out the bag of potatoes was kept in storage for over a year. It so happened that some parts of the potatoes turned green, indicating the formation of chlorophyll due to sunlight. The green parts of the plant are usually high in solanine concentration. Thus, those parts are eliminated or the potatoes are not used for cooking at all. but in this case, those parts were not excluded and so the results were drastic.

Potato belongs to the Solanaceae family, or better known as the nightshade family, the main toxic of this family is Solanine, which is a glycoalkaloid. Solanine poisoning can cause diarrhea, stomach pain, headache, nausea, hypothermia, and fever while extreme effects can be respiratory problems, convulsions, and even death.

In 1899, 56 german soldiers suffered from solanine poisoning after having boiled potatoes. Though all of them recovered some were observed with partial paralysis. In 1922, an epidemic broke out in Germany whose roots were abnormal content of solanine in potatoes. In 1983, 61 of 109 students and staff at a school in Alberta, fell ill after consuming baked potatoes, that was bitter and green.

The list does not end here!

In 1918, 61 people from 18 different families in Glasglow suffered from solanine poisoning, one of the victims was a five-year-old boy, who didn't survive. The cause of solanine poisoning was found out to be a batch of bad potatoes that had five to six times more solanine content than normal. The case is discussed in the book " an investigation of Solanine poisoning" by S.G Willimont, he cites that that solanine poisoning is not so rare as authorities claimed to be.

Potatoes may look innocent but they belong to the same family as nightshade. 

Nowadays, the potatoes and other nightshade plants are checked before selling in markets. The number of Solanine poisoning has decreased after it's awareness but still sometimes there could be a risk of poisoning, so one should check the potato before cooking. Now I can't tell you the same about potato chips or French fries that you buy but most of the times restaurants and companies check their products, or else they would be sued. So no need to go on a diet.

According to a British medical journal, solanine poisoning is high during a food shortage. In times of food scarcity people try to survive on whatever they get, so if they find potatoes with green parts, they won't mind having them. But poison does not see your adversity, it just does it's work. The results of this incidents turn out to be disastrous as the people who suffer from this situation, don't even know what those potatoes could do if ingested and by the time they know it's too late.

Thus, the underprivileged section of society, easily becomes target of these killer potatoes.

                            Blue rose belles 

                                   ( Archie)

Reference corner

http://bluerosebelles.blogspot.com/2021/03/poison-plants.html

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/green-potatoes

POISON PLANTS

 While reading mystery and crime novels, we come across poisons like nightshades, hemlock, poison ivy, etc. What are these exactly? 

Yes, they are poisonous plants, but exactly which part? 

So, today as a tribute to World Wildlife Day ( 3rd March), let us talk about these lethal plants.

Because Wild is both Dangerous and Beautiful.

NIGHTSHADE

Tomatoes

I guess it is one of the most common vegetables, from chicken pakora to samosa, tomato sauce is a must.

But do you all know tomatoes are from the nightshade family?

Shocked!

Well, tomatoes are not the only ones' brinjal, potatoes, and capsicum are also from the same category.

So are they all poisonous, Well you wouldn't be reading this if it was?

The group of nightshades plants belongs to the Solanaceae family, a well-known family in the plant kingdom. The chemical that makes nightshades lethal is called SOLANINE, which is a glycoalkaloid. Solanine or nightshade poisoning directly affects the digestive and nervous system.

The first steps of Solanine poisoning start from nausea, vomiting, diphtheria, stomach cramps, etc. Severe symptoms can include hypothermia, cardiac dysrhythmia, headache, fever, jaundice, dizziness, hallucinations, paralysis, or even death.

This solanine is present in all of the plants of the Solanaceae family.

Have you felt a bitter taste in vegetables?, or maybe itchiness after having brinjal?, that is because of the presence of Solanine.

Now you must be wondering how are you alive right now?

Well then, let me tell you that the solanine quantity in ripe berries and fresh parts is far below toxic levels, so having them in your diet does not affect that much. Not to mention the high antioxidant and vitamins of the vegetables by far outweighs the amount of toxic substances entering your system.

But... but...but

Beware!

If you are having unripe berries or greenish potatoes. The level of solanine in these vegetables can be enough to cause illness. Yes, and don't try to taste the leaves or stems of these plants because I can't guarantee you will be alive to read our next article if you do so.

Now let us talk about the nightshade we all have heard of, the nightshade that can kill you in a matter of few seconds - THE DEADLY NIGHTSHADE.

Atropa belladonna, belladonna, which means a beautiful lady, in Italian is the deadly nightshade. According to Greek mythology, three fates are responsible for the spinning of human life, the third one who severs the thread is called Atropos (meaning inexorable or inflexible). As the name suggests, a tincture of the berries was used as beautifying by Venetian women to dilate their pupils and redden eyes.

.                                                          

                                                        The deadly nightshade

The perennial plant can easily deceive anyone with its innocent looks, the fruits look like ordinary ripe and juicy berries but that's where all the similarities end. Due to the presence of three very toxic chemicals, Atropine, Hyoscyamine, and Scopolamine, the plant becomes so deadly. Solanum niger ( black nightshade) and Solanum dulcamara ( woody nightshade) share the same fate as their sibling but they contain some different chemicals besides Solanine.

The plant that began its journey as a beautifying agent soon became a weapon for assassins. Each and every part of this plant is lethal. A few drops can paralyze a grown adult. According to myths, nightshade was one of the main components of witches' potion.  Belladonna has also killed two famous Roman emperors, Augustus, and Claudius. Quite interesting is the fact that it was their wives who murdered them.

 Atropa belladonna is so lethal that, by chance, if there is skin-to-skin contact, the plant can very well start acting, starting with itchiness and redness, and if the skin is wounded, then it can seep into your bloodstream and even cause death.

Even though the plant is lethal and dangerous, many medicinal values of the plant have been discovered. The plant is used in treating hay fever, whooping cough, etc. It is also used as a pain reliever, muscle relaxer, and anti-inflammatory drug.

HEMLOCK

Socrates was sentenced to death for corrupting the minds of Athenian youths, he wasn't hanged but handed a cup of poison, the poison is famously known by the name hemlock. Yet, the plant species that went by the common name of "hemlock" was not native to Europe.

Even more interesting is the fact, hemlock refers to 14 species of coniferous plants belonging to the genus Tsuga, native to central and eastern Asia and North America, which are not poisonous at all.

But we all know that hemlock was the sole weapon in a lot of murder cases. then how can it be not poisonous?

The poisonous hemlock, we all know about is actually called 'Poison Hemlock' ( Conium maculatum ), i.e. not at all related to the Hemlock family, in fact, it belongs to the carrot family ( Apiaceae), the name hemlock was given because they have a similar smell to the hemlock family.

Poison hemlock is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant native to Europe and North America, every part of this plant is deadly, not only that poison hemlocks can spread poisons to the other plants nearby, So it is advised to uproot these shrubs when they are spotted near crop fields, the toxic chemical coniine is the main culprit for the lethality of the plants.

The symptoms of hemlock poisoning, start with excitation of nerves, causing nervousness to tremors, salivation, etc, severe toxicity can cause a decrease in heart rate, breathing problems, leading to respiratory failure, and eventually death, the time of death can vary from few minutes to few hours, depending on the level of toxicity.

Water hemlock (Cicuta), is considered as one of the most toxic plants of North America, the Circutoxin found in the plant directly affects the central nervous system causing violent convulsions, severe toxicity can cause mal seizures that consecutively lead to death.

Interestingly, both plants have been used in medical science for a long time. Due to the narcotic property of poison hemlock, it was often used as a sedative and pain reliever. The plant is also used in treating epilepsy, rabies, whooping cough, etc. The antidote for Strychnine poisoning is also obtained from poison hemlock, it also plays a valuable role in the homeopathic treatment of cancer. 

POISON IVY

From the name, if you think it's poisonous and deadly, You are so wrong!

Poison Ivy is not deadly, the sap of the plant contains an irritant that causes allergic reactions. The sap is also called Toxicodendron, which contains oil urushiol, the irritant. Allergic reactions can start if you come in contact with the oil, via an agent, or directly through the plant. An agent can include any surface or equipment or even pets that came in contact with the oil. 

Skin contact can show redness, itching, swelling, and sometimes the formation of painful blisters, these allergic reactions are better known as contact dermatitis. The formation of rashes depends upon the severity of urushiol contact.

However, in severe cases, you need to head to the doctor, like when the rashes or swelling covers a large part of your body, or you are having difficulty in breathing, or maybe the formation of rashes on the face and genitals. Respiratory problems can occur if someone inhales the smoke of burning poison ivy.

So, don't plan revenge on the plant by burning it.

Interestingly, Toxicodendron is very much used in homeopathy for treating cramps, sprains, flu, viral infection, etc. 

MISTLETOE

While kissing under mistletoe sounds romantic, ingesting it can be fatal. 

Mistletoe is a hemiparasitic plant of families Loranthaceace, Misodendraceae, and Santalaceae that mainly grows on apple, lime, and Hawthorn trees. The plant is native to Europe, and a very persistent parasite, it does not die until the host does. The toxic content is high in leaves and berries of the plant, though an adult can survive after ingesting two to three berries, children and pets are more susceptible to the poisoning. The type of toxic chemical varies from one species to another but all of them show the same symptoms. A tea made from mistletoe is considered to be deadlier than berries.

Like all the above poisonous plant's mistletoe also has certain therapeutic uses.  Since ancient times, the plant has been used in the treatment of arthritis, high blood pressure, epilepsy, infertility, etc.

Do you know? according to Mythology, the Celtic Druids of the 1st century began associating the plants with romance. Since mistletoe could even bloom in frozen winter, they saw it as a sacred symbol of vivacity and administered it for restoring fertility.

And surprising it worked!

Ancient greeks even went a step ahead and used it to cure almost everything, even menstruation cramps. But girls do not try this step, you don't want to end up with both diarrhea and cramps, Right!

There are many more stories related to mistletoe legends, let that be a topic for later. 

If you enjoyed today's article, don't forget to subscribe for more. 

                                                                                                  blue rose belles

                                                                                                                     ( Archie)

reference corner

https://www.ambius.com/blog/botany-gone-bad-the-history-of-the-deadly-nightshade-plant/

https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/ethnobotany/Mind_and_Spirit/belladonna.shtml

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/solanine_poisoning_how_does_it_happen

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/solanine

Britannica (hemlock)

Loranthaceae, Misodendraceae, and Santalaceae, 

mistletoe