Potato Poisoning
By Kimberly Blackhorse,
Debra Grymko,
Arthur Sedore,
and Joni Linae Wood.
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Nightshade Family
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Nightshade family
includes potatoes,
tomatoes, peppers,
and eggplant
There are 2500
species of potatoes
spread all over the
world, but mainly in
tropical America
www.botanical-online.com/alcaloidespatataangl.
Source of Toxin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potato
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http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/pages/publicationD.jsp?public
ationId=208
Toxin is found throughout the plant
Higher levels in green areas of potatoes and in sprouts (eyes of potato)
Greening is strongly affected by light, age, and damage
Light Exposure
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In potato tubers, the greening
is a sign that there may be an
increase in the presence of
glycoalkaloids, especially the
substance solanine
Light is not needed for
solanine formation
With light exposure,
glycoalkaloid formation is
increased
Light-exposure may cause an
increase of ten-fold
Green Potatoes: the Problem and the Solution. Alexander D. Pavlista. Cooperative Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. G01-1437-A.
Toxin
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sugar [solanose] + alkaloid [solanidine] = Solanine, a glucoalkaloid
Cultivated potatoes contain 10 mg of glycoalkaloid per 100 g of potato,
wild potatoes in the Andes can be more than double that.
http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/2/2c/A-solanine.gif
Fully refined solanine appears in the form of a gray-green liquid
Normal Function
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Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter of
the parasympathetic nervous system
(nerve-muscle connections) that is
sent across the synaptic cleft
After attaching to the receptor,
acetylcholine is released back into the
synaptic cleft
Acetylcholinesterase is an enzyme that
hydrolyzes acetylcholine into choline
and acetate
Choline is recycled by the synaptic
bulb to be reused and reformed into
acetylcholine
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/
flash/a/a_06/a_06_m/a_06_m_mou/a_06_m_mou_2a.jpg&imgrefurl
=http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/a/a_06/a_06_m/a_06_m_mou/a_06
_m_mou.html&h=514&w=300&sz=25&hl=en&start=16&um=1&tbn
id=dJPHcexeLkty9M:&tbnh=131&tbnw=76&prev=/images%3Fq%3
Dacetylcholinesterase%2Band%2Bsynaptic%2Btransmission%26svn
um%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN
Toxin Mechanism
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Solanine is an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase that blocks the breakdown of
acetylcholine.
Accumulation of acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft leads to excitotoxicity of the
post-synaptic receptors.
Excitotoxicity is the over-stimulation of neuron receptors
Effect of Inhibition
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Initial neurons death leads to damage of
neighboring neurons
Muscles are continuously stimulated by a
domino effect of action potentials.
Muscle spasms and continuous contraction result
without relaxation
Dosage
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Solanine is very poisonous even in very small quantities.
The LD50 in mice is 42mg/kg when injected into the abdomen.
A 200-pound person would have to eat two pounds of fully green
domesticated potatoes in a single day to observe any adverse effects
It is much more toxic when injected since solanine is poorly absorbed
through the gut wall
Potatoes containing more than 0.1 percent solanine (.01 oz / 10 oz potato)
are considered unfit for eating
Potentially high levels for a 100-lb person would be 16 ounces of a fully
green potato
Signs & Symptoms
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Solanine directly irritates the mucosal membranes of the gastrointestinal tract
If solanine is absorbed into the bloodstream, causes hemolysis of red blood cells
Signs of solanine poisoning are excessive salivation, diarrhea, slowed pulse,
reduced blood pressure and respirations which can lead to cardiac arrest
Common symptoms of solanine poisoning occur 2 to 24 hours after introduction
into body.
Others may include:
Hypothermia
Paralysis Shock
Fever
Dilated pupils
Headache
www.erie.gov/health/services/health_pros_alert48.asp
Delirium
Loss of sensation
Hallucinations
Coma
Death
Treatment
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Monitor patient's vital signs, including temperature,
pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure
Fluid levels are monitored and maintained
Medicines to treat symptoms
Vomiting is induced
A nasogastric tube through the nose to empty the
stomach (gastric lavage)
Work Cited
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potato
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http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/pages/publicationD.jsp?publicationId=28
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www.safespectrum.com/applications produce.html
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Green Potatoes: the Problem and the Solution. Alexander D. Pavlista.
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Cooperative Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources,
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University of Nebraska-Lincoln. G01-1437-A.
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www.erie.gov/health/services/health_pros_alert48.asp
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http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://health.act.gov.au/gfx/pubs
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www.uwm.edu/~mroffers/glycoalkaloid.htm
Work Cited (Con’t)
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www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002888.htm
www.erie.gov/health/services/health_pros_alert48.asp
Merck Index 12th edition.Merck and Co INC. 1996 Pg 148-149, 1444,1485-1486
Clarke, EGC and Clarke Myra. Garner's Veterinary Toxicology3rd edition. Williams and
Wilkins Co. 1967. Pgs. 395-397
Ellenhorn, Matthew. Ellenhorn's Medical Toxicology. WilliamsandWilkinsCo. 1997.
Pgs. 1854-1855.
"Blue Nightshade". WebMDHealth. 1999.
http://my.webmd.com/content/assest/adam_poison_blue_nightshade
"Poisoned by Tomato" www.felinefuture.com/fact/nutrition/tomato.html
Cheeke, Peter and Skull, Lee. Natural Toxicants in Feeds and
PoisonousPlants.AVI.1985. Pgs. 131-135
http://chemistry.about.com/science/chemistry/library/weekly/aa011700a.htm
"Is there poison in potatos?" drweil.com. 2003.
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QA/QA252785/