Reactions 1450 - 4 May 2013

SPeganum harmala

Various toxicities: 7 case reportsA retrospective study identified five female and two male

patients, aged 3 months–60 years, who developed varioustoxicities due to Peganum harmala poisoning andsubsequently died [dosages not stated; not all indicationsstated; durations of treatment to reactions onsets not clearlystated].

All the patients received oral Peganum harmala. Reasons foringesting the product included abortion, suicide, ortherapeutic [indications not specified]. The time which elapsedfrom the time of poisoning until the patient was seen bymedical staff varied from 12–160 [units not stated]. Symptomsincluded shock, anuria, convulsions, myoclonus, agitation,excitation, renal failure, coma, vomiting, jaundice, respiratorydepression, hallucinations, collapse, vertigo, and oliguria.

All seven patients underwent symptomatic treatment andmedical observation but all died.

Author comment: Peganum harmala poisoning can beserious or even fatal.Achour S, et al. Peganum harmala L. poisoning in Morocco: about 200 cases.Therapie 67: 53-8, No. 1, Jan-Feb 2012. Available from: URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.2515/therapie/2012003 [French; summarised from a translation] -Morocco 803086227

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Reactions 4 May 2013 No. 14500114-9954/10/1450-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved