Potato PoisoningPotato Poisoning

By Kimberly Blackhorse,By Kimberly Blackhorse,

Debra Grymko,Debra Grymko,

Arthur Sedore,Arthur Sedore,

and Joni Linae Wood.and Joni Linae Wood.

Nightshade FamilyNightshade Family

Nightshade family Nightshade family includes potatoes, includes potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplantand eggplant

There are 2500 There are 2500 species of potatoes species of potatoes spread all over the spread all over the world, but mainly world, but mainly in tropical Americain tropical America

www.botanical-online.com/alcaloidespatataangl.

Source of Toxin Source of Toxin

Toxin is found throughout the plantToxin is found throughout the plant Higher levels in green areas of potatoes and in sprouts (eyes of potato)Higher levels in green areas of potatoes and in sprouts (eyes of potato) Greening is strongly affected by light, age, and damageGreening is strongly affected by light, age, and damage

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potatohttp://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/pages/publicationD.jsp?publicationId=208

Light ExposureLight Exposure In potato tubers, the In potato tubers, the

greening is a sign that greening is a sign that there may be an increase there may be an increase in the presence of in the presence of glycoalkaloids, especially glycoalkaloids, especially the substance solaninethe substance solanine

Light is not needed for Light is not needed for solanine formationsolanine formation

With light exposure, With light exposure, glycoalkaloid formation is glycoalkaloid formation is increasedincreased

Light-exposure may cause Light-exposure may cause an increase of ten-foldan 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.. Alexander D. Pavlista. Cooperative Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. G01-1437-A.

ToxinToxin sugar [solanose] + alkaloid [solanidine] = Solanine, a glucoalkaloidsugar [solanose] + alkaloid [solanidine] = Solanine, a glucoalkaloid Cultivated potatoes contain 10 mg of glycoalkaloid per 100 g of potato, Cultivated potatoes contain 10 mg of glycoalkaloid per 100 g of potato,

wild potatoes in the Andes can be more than double that. wild potatoes in the Andes can be more than double that.

Fully refined solanine appears in the form of a gray-green liquid

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/2/2c/A-solanine.gif

Normal FunctionNormal Function Acetylcholine is a Acetylcholine is a

neurotransmitter of the neurotransmitter of the parasympathetic nervous system parasympathetic nervous system (nerve-muscle connections) that (nerve-muscle connections) that is sent across the synaptic cleftis sent across the synaptic cleft

After attaching to the receptor, After attaching to the receptor, acetylcholine is released back into acetylcholine is released back into the synaptic cleftthe synaptic cleft

Acetylcholinesterase is an Acetylcholinesterase is an enzyme that hydrolyzes enzyme that hydrolyzes acetylcholine into choline and acetylcholine into choline and acetateacetate

Choline is recycled by the Choline is recycled by the synaptic bulb to be reused and synaptic bulb to be reused and reformed into acetylcholinereformed into acetylcholine

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/a/a_06/a_06_m/a_06_m_mou/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/a_06_m_mou_2a.jpg&imgrefurl=http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/a/a_06/a_06_m/a_06_m_mou/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=1a_06_m_mou.html&h=514&w=300&sz=25&hl=en&start=16&um=1&tbnid=dJPHcexeLkty9M:&tbnh=131&tbnw=76&p6&um=1&tbnid=dJPHcexeLkty9M:&tbnh=131&tbnw=76&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dacetylcholinesterase%2Bandrev=/images%3Fq%3Dacetylcholinesterase%2Band%2Bsynaptic%2Btransmission%26svnum%3D10%26um%2Bsynaptic%2Btransmission%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

Toxin MechanismToxin 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

Effect of InhibitionEffect of Inhibition Initial neurons death leads to damage of Initial neurons death leads to damage of

neighboring neuronsneighboring neurons Muscles are continuously stimulated by a Muscles are continuously stimulated by a

domino effect of action potentials.domino effect of action potentials. Muscle spasms and continuous contraction Muscle spasms and continuous contraction

result without relaxationresult without relaxation

DosageDosage Solanine is very poisonous even in very small quantities. Solanine is very poisonous even in very small quantities. The LD50 in mice is 42mg/kg when injected into the abdomen.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 A 200-pound person would have to eat two pounds of fully green

domesticated potatoes in a single day to observe any adverse domesticated potatoes in a single day to observe any adverse effectseffects

It is much more toxic when injected since solanine is poorly It is much more toxic when injected since solanine is poorly absorbed through the gut wallabsorbed through the gut wall

Potatoes containing more than 0.1 percent solanine (.01 oz / 10 oz Potatoes containing more than 0.1 percent solanine (.01 oz / 10 oz potato) are considered unfit for eatingpotato) are considered unfit for eating

Potentially high levels for a 100-lb person would be 16 ounces of a Potentially high levels for a 100-lb person would be 16 ounces of a fully green potatofully green potato

Signs & SymptomsSigns & Symptoms Solanine directly irritates the mucosal membranes of the gastrointestinal Solanine directly irritates the mucosal membranes of the gastrointestinal

tracttract If solanine is absorbed into the bloodstream, causes hemolysis of red If solanine is absorbed into the bloodstream, causes hemolysis of red

blood cellsblood cells Signs of solanine poisoning are excessive salivation, diarrhea, slowed Signs of solanine poisoning are excessive salivation, diarrhea, slowed

pulse, reduced blood pressure and respirations which can lead to cardiac pulse, reduced blood pressure and respirations which can lead to cardiac arrestarrest

Common symptoms of solanine poisoning occur 2 to 24 hours after Common symptoms of solanine poisoning occur 2 to 24 hours after introduction into body.introduction into body.

Others may include:Others may include:

www.erie.gov/health/services/health_pros_alert48.asp

TreatmentTreatment

Monitor patient's vital signs, including Monitor patient's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressurepressure

Fluid levels are monitored and maintainedFluid levels are monitored and maintained Medicines to treat symptomsMedicines to treat symptoms Vomiting is inducedVomiting is induced A nasogastric tube through the nose to empty the A nasogastric tube through the nose to empty the

stomach (gastric lavage)  stomach (gastric lavage)  

Work CitedWork Cited http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potatohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potato

http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/pages/publicationD.jsp?publicationId=28http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/pages/publicationD.jsp?publicationId=28

www.safespectrum.com/applications produce.htmlwww.safespectrum.com/applications produce.html

Green Potatoes: the Problem and the Solution. Alexander D. Pavlista.Green Potatoes: the Problem and the Solution. Alexander D. Pavlista.

Cooperative Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources,Cooperative Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources,

University of Nebraska-Lincoln. G01-1437-A.University of Nebraska-Lincoln. G01-1437-A.

www.erie.gov/health/services/health_pros_alert48.aspwww.erie.gov/health/services/health_pros_alert48.asp

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://health.act.gov.au/gfx/pubshttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://health.act.gov.au/gfx/pubs

www.uwm.edu/~mroffers/glycoalkaloid.htm www.uwm.edu/~mroffers/glycoalkaloid.htm

Work Cited (Con’t)Work Cited (Con’t) www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002888.htm www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002888.htm www.erie.gov/health/services/health_pros_alert48.aspwww.erie.gov/health/services/health_pros_alert48.asp Merck Index 12th edition.Merck and Co INC. 1996 Pg 148-149, 1444,1485-Merck Index 12th edition.Merck and Co INC. 1996 Pg 148-149, 1444,1485-

14861486 Clarke, EGC and Clarke Myra. Garner's Veterinary Toxicology3rd edition. Clarke, EGC and Clarke Myra. Garner's Veterinary Toxicology3rd edition.

Williams and Wilkins Co. 1967. Pgs. 395-397Williams and Wilkins Co. 1967. Pgs. 395-397 Ellenhorn, Matthew. Ellenhorn's Medical Toxicology. WilliamsandWilkinsCo. Ellenhorn, Matthew. Ellenhorn's Medical Toxicology. WilliamsandWilkinsCo.

1997. Pgs. 1854-1855.1997. Pgs. 1854-1855. "Blue Nightshade". WebMDHealth. 1999. "Blue Nightshade". WebMDHealth. 1999.

http://my.webmd.com/content/assest/adam_poison_blue_nightshadehttp://my.webmd.com/content/assest/adam_poison_blue_nightshade "Poisoned by Tomato" www.felinefuture.com/fact/nutrition/tomato.html"Poisoned by Tomato" www.felinefuture.com/fact/nutrition/tomato.html Cheeke, Peter and Skull, Lee. Natural Toxicants in Feeds and Cheeke, Peter and Skull, Lee. Natural Toxicants in Feeds and

PoisonousPlants.AVI.1985. Pgs. 131-135PoisonousPlants.AVI.1985. Pgs. 131-135 http://chemistry.about.com/science/chemistry/library/weekly/http://chemistry.about.com/science/chemistry/library/weekly/

aa011700a.htmaa011700a.htm "Is there poison in potatos?" drweil.com. 2003."Is there poison in potatos?" drweil.com. 2003. http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QA/QA252785/http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QA/QA252785/