The Suicide Tree : Unveiling the Secrets of Cerbera odollam

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 The Suicide Tree: Unveiling the Secrets of Cerbera odollam

Cerbera odollam

Category: Agadtantra (Toxicology)

Bams 2 nd year

Nature is full of contradictions.  the most beautiful flora harbors the deadliest secrets . A prime example of this paradox is Cerbera odollam, a plant known by the ominous moniker  " The Suicide Tree " .

Native to South India and Southeast Asia, this plant is a subject of significant interest in both Ayurveda and modern toxicology . Let’s dive deep into the morphology , toxicity , and medicolegal importance of this deadly beauty of Cerbera Odollam.

Cerbera Odollam 

 Name of Poison: Cerbera Odollam

 Botanical Name: Cerbera odollam

 English Names: Suicide Tree, Pong-pong tree

 Sanskrit Names: Auddalalka, Svanamara

 Family: Apocynaceae

Classification

 Ayurveda: Plant poison (Sthavara Visha)

 Modern: Cardiac poison (affects the heart)

Description

 Origin: Native to South India and Southeast Asia

 Habitat: Grows in coastal and marshy areas.

Morphology

Cerbera odollam

Structure: Medium-sized evergreen tree with a grey trunk.

 Height: 10 – 12 m.

 Leaves: Long, elliptic, green.

 Flowers: White with a yellow center, fragrant, 5-7 cm in size.

 Fruit: Called as Othalanga, Green, round drupe, 5-10 cm length

 Seed: Contains a highly toxic kernel (the most poisonous part).

Active Principle

 Cerberin (Cardiac glycoside)

Odollin

 Thevetin

Mechanism

Cerberin is a powerful cardiotoxin that primarily acts by inhibiting the cellular sodium potassium pump in myocardial cell.

Ayurvedic Properties (Rasapanchak)

  •  Rasa: Tikta, Katu
  •  Guna: Laghu, Ruksha, Tikshna
  •  Virya: Ushna
  •  Vipaka: Katu
  •  Prabhav: Hridaya-ghataka

Toxicity Details

  Toxic part: Kernel of seed

  Fatal dose: Kernel of one fruit.

 Fatal period: 1 – 2 days.

Formulations

Cerbera odollam

  •  Biopesticides
  •  Insect repellants
  •  Rat poison

Signs and Symptoms

  1.  Nausea
  2.  Vomiting
  3.  Abdominal pain
  4.  Diarrhea
  5.  Blurring of vision
  6.  Bradycardia (Slow heart rate)
  7.  Irregular breathing
  8.  Coma, Death

Antidote:

  •   Digoxin
  •  Activated charcoal

Treatment:

 Gastric lavage

 Symptomatic treatment

 Maintenance of cardiac output

 Treatment of arrhythmias and heart block

 Injection Atropine (0.5mg IV) to maintain heart rate

Post-Mortem Appearance

  •  External:

   No specific external findings

  •  Internal:

  1. Congested stomach mucosa
  2. Heart congestion 
  3. General visceral congestion of liver, spleen, kidney
  4.  Duodenum become brick red in colour

Medicolegal Importance

  •  Suicidal
  •  Accidental: Children may mistake the fruit for an edible one.
  •  Homicidal: Powdered kernel may be mixed with alcohol to mask the taste.



Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only. Cerbera Odollam is a poison in Ayurveda and should never be consumed or used without strict medical supervision and proper processing.

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