Riesgos de la herbolaria: reporte de un caso de hepatitis por cardo santo (Argemone mexicana L) / Risks of herbalism: a case report of Mexican poppy (Argemone mexicana L) induced liver toxicity

El consumo cada vez mayor de productos de la medicina alternativa y complementaria ha permitido reconocer con más frecuencia los efectos deletéreos asociados y las interacciones que estos productos pueden ocasionar. Así en la literatura médica encontramos casos reportados de toxicidad hepática con Aloe (sábila), Camellia sinensis (té verde), Rhammus purshianus (cáscara sangrada), Aesculus hippocastanum (castaño de indias) y Valeriana officinalis (valeriana), entre otros. El presente caso trata sobre una paciente femenina que consumió en dos ocasiones cardo santo (Argemone mexicana L), con intervalo de un año entre un evento y otro. En ambas oportunidades desarrolló un cuadro de diarrea, ictericia y ataque al estado general con alteración en las pruebas de función hepática. Se excluyeron otras causas de hepatopatía. Se utilizaron escalas para evaluar efectos adversos en el hígado relacionados con medicamentos. Se recabó la información del expediente clínico de la paciente y se revisó la bibliografía relacionada con el tema. Se concluyó que existe la posibilidad de lesión hepática relacionada con el consumo de Argemone mexicana L, al menos en esta paciente.

The increasing consumption of alternative medicines has lead to a greater awareness about the deleterious effects and interactions that these products can induce. Consequently, medical literature reports liver toxicity from Aloe, Camellia sinensis (green tea), Rhammus purshianus, Aesculus hippocastanum (buckeye) and Valeriana officinalis (valerian), among others. This article reports a female patient who twice consumed Mexican poppy (Argemone mexicana L) with a one-year interval between ingestions. Both times she developed diarrhea, jaundice and general malaise with impaired liver function tests. Other causes of liver disease were ruled out. Questionnaires were used to assess the possibility of drug-induced liver damage. Clinical information was collected from the patient’s medical record and the literature on the subject was reviewed. We conclude that, at least in this case, the most likely cause of liver toxicity was Argemone mexicana L consumption.

The cause of endomyocardial fibrosis in Uganda.

The cause of endomyocardial fibrosis in Uganda remains unknown in spite of studies dating back to 1948. Herbal decoctions have been used by traditional healers for countless generations to treat many complaints, especially fever. We present evidence - ethnic, geographical, tribal, pathological and distribution by age - that the toxic herbal decoctions taken as medicines in Uganda can cause endomyocardial fibrosis.

Argemone mexicana decoction versus artesunate-amodiaquine for the management of malaria in Mali: policy and public-health implications.

A classic way of delaying drug resistance is to use an alternative when possible. We tested the malaria treatment Argemone mexicana decoction (AM), a validated self-prepared traditional medicine made with one widely available plant and safe across wide dose variations. In an attempt to reflect the real situation in the home-based management of malaria in a remote Malian village, 301 patients with presumed uncomplicated malaria (median age 5 years) were randomly assigned to receive AM or artesunate-amodiaquine [artemisinin combination therapy (ACT)] as first-line treatment. Both treatments were well tolerated. Over 28 days, second-line treatment was not required for 89% (95% CI 84.1-93.2) of patients on AM, versus 95% (95% CI 88.8-98.3) on ACT. Deterioration to severe malaria was 1.9% in both groups in children aged 5 years) and 0% had coma/convulsions. AM, now government-approved in Mali, could be tested as a first-line complement to standard modern drugs in high-transmission areas, in order to reduce the drug pressure for development of resistance to ACT, in the management of malaria. In view of the low rate of severe malaria and good tolerability, AM may also constitute a first-aid treatment when access to other antimalarials is delayed.