Potato Poisoning

1. Potato Poisoning • By Kimberly Blackhorse, Debra Grymko, Arthur Sedore, and Joni Linae Wood.

2. Nightshade Family • 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.

3. Source of Toxin • 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 http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/pages/publicationD.jsp?publicationId=208 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potato

4. Light Exposure • 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.

5. Toxin • 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

6. Normal Function • 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&tbnid=dJPHcexeLkty9M:&tbnh=131&tbnw=76&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dacetylcholinesterase%2Band%2Bsynaptic%2Btransmission%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

7. Toxin Mechanism • 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

8. Effect of Inhibition • 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

9. Dosage • 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

10. Signs & Symptoms • 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 Delirium Loss of sensation Hallucinations Coma Death www.erie.gov/health/services/health_pros_alert48.asp

11. Treatment • 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)  

12. Work Cited • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potato • http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/pages/publicationD.jsp?publicationId=28 • www.safespectrum.com/applications produce.html • 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. • www.erie.gov/health/services/health_pros_alert48.asp • http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://health.act.gov.au/gfx/pubs • www.uwm.edu/~mroffers/glycoalkaloid.htm

13. Work Cited (Con’t) • 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/