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Detection of poisoning by Impila (Callilepis laureola) in a mother and child

Toxicology unit, Department of Chemical Pathology, South African Institute for Medical Research, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, Gauteng, South Africa

M J Stewart

Toxicology Unit, Department of Chemical Pathology (SAIMR), University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, Gauteng, South Africa; Toxicology unit, Department of Chemical Pathology, South African Institute for Medical Research, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, Gauteng, South Africa

M Zuckerman

Department of Paediatrics, Coronation Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa

Poisoning with impila (Callilepis laureola) is a recurring phenomenon in South Africa. Cases of poisoning with other plants which contain atractyloside also occur in Europe and the Americas. Since poisoning leads to rapid death from renal and/or hepatic failure, it is suspected that many cases are undiagnosed; this is especially so in South Africa, where patients may die without reaching hospital and do not often admit to ingestion of a traditional remedy.

We have developed a thin layer chromatographic method for the detection of impila constituents in urine. We describe the clinical symptoms and the application of the screening method to diagnosis in the case of a mother and child, who both showed symptoms of impila poisoning; the mother died but the child survived. This method is rapid and may be used for the definitive diagnosis in cases of poisoning with atractyloside-containing plants.

Key Words: Impila • Callilepis laureola • atractyloside • acute hepatic necrosis • renal necrosis • traditional remedies

Human & Experimental Toxicology, Vol. 18, No. 10, 594-597 (1999)
DOI: 10.1191/096032799678839428


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				M J Stewart, V Steenkamp, S Van der merwe, M Zuckerman, and N J Crowther The cytotoxic effects of a traditional Zulu remedy, impila (Callilepis laureola) Human and Experimental Toxicology, December 1, 2002; 21(12): 643 - 647. [Abstract] [PDF]