Poisonous celery root

Poisonous celery root

(selected materials of new treatment of Chinese herbal medicine, Liaoning)

[synonym] zoumaqin (selected materials of new Chinese herbal medicine in Liaoning Province).

[source] it is the root of Apiaceae.

Poisonous celery

Herbs perennial, ca. 90 cm tall. The stem is thick and hollow. Leaves alternate, leaves broadly ovate, 2-3 pinnate; lobes broadly lanceolate, apex acuminate, base cuneate, margin coarsely serrate with varying depths; petiole base spreading into oblong sheath. Compound umbel terminal or axillary, lack of involucre; small involucre with several long lanceolate bracteoles, 14-18 umbrella spokes, unequal length, smooth; each small umbel with 28-31 flowers; flowers white, calyx teeth large and obvious; petals 5, oval, apex involute; stamens 5, alternate with petals; ovary inferior, style short, base flat. Double pendants ovate, smooth. The flowering period is from October to November. The fruiting period is December.

Where raw water is wet, it is distributed in the north and northeast of China. It is cultivated in Jiangsu Province.

[collection] wash and dry after harvest.

[chemical constituents] the whole plant contains toxic components, carvosin and carvonol.

The fruit contained 1.2% volatile oil. The oil contains 7% p-cymene, 42% γ - Terpinene, 30% β - pinene, 2.7% myrcene, 1.5% α - pinene, 5% paraquat, and a small amount of limonene, camphene, α - Terpinene and β - phellandrene.

[pharmacological action] poisonous celery is one of the highly toxic plants. Its toxic component, carvosin, is a kind of neutral resin like substance, which has the effect of picrotoxin. It is easily soluble in alcohol and alkaline solution, mainly contained in roots, and other parts. It is easy to be absorbed and poisoned within a few minutes of human consumption. The mouth often foams (even blood bubbles). The main toxicity is in the central nervous system. It has a very significant spasmogenic effect. After poisoning, there were dizziness, vomiting, spasm, redness of skin, cyanosis, paralysis and death from respiratory failure. In animal experiments, a small amount can inhibit the central nervous system, has a sedative effect, slightly reduces blood pressure, slightly increases urine volume; large amount will lead to spasm, increased blood pressure, faster breathing, and finally stop breathing. The antagonism between them is not selective. The lethal dose of intraperitoneal injection was 48.5 mg / 36.5 mg in cats. Poisoning deaths have been reported all over the world. It has been reported that a small amount of dry skin can be poisoned. The toxin is stable to heat, and its virulence remains unchanged after 8 months storage at 0-5 ℃. Poisoning rescue includes gastric lavage, artificial respiration, oxygen and barbital (as the case may be). European folk use this plant as ointment or extract, topical analgesic for some skin diseases and gout or rheumatism, neuralgia, etc.

[function and indications] selected materials of new Chinese herbal medicine therapy in Liaoning Province: "treating osteomyelitis. The root of poisonous celery is suitable. After washing, mash it with stone tools, dry it in the air, grind it into fine powder, mix it with egg white and apply it to the sore surface; or mash it with fresh poisonous celery and apply it with egg white. Once a day for three to five times.

[taboo] this product is highly toxic and should not be taken orally.

Chinese PinYin : Du Qin Gen