Indian-tobacco
General poisoning notes:
Indian-tobacco (Lobelia
inflata) is a herb native to Canada. In the past, aboriginal people smoked
its dried leaves. This plant and related Lobelia species were used as
medicinal plants. Overdoses led to cases of poisoning, which resulted in
fatalities. No modern cases of poisoning are found in the literature. The dried
leaves of Lobelia may be found in health food stores as a herbal
medicine (Lampe and McCann 1985).
Nomenclature:
Scientific Name: Lobelia inflata L.
Vernacular
name(s): Indian-tobacco
Scientific family
name: Campanulaceae
Vernacular family
name: bellflower
Geographic Information
British Columbia, New
Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec.
Toxic parts:
Leaves, stems.
Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:
Lobeline is one of
several alkaloids found in Indian-tobacco and other Lobelia species.
This extract has been used in home medicine for various purposes. Overdoses
have resulted in cases of poisoning, including death. The dry leaves of Lobelia
may be sold in health food stores as a herbal remedy.
Toxic plant chemicals:
Lobeline.
Animals/Human Poisoning:
Note: When an
animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993)
contained no detailed explanation.
Humans
General symptoms of
poisoning:
Collapse,
coma, death, pain, paralysis, sweating, vomiting.
Notes on poisoning:
In overdoses of
the plant extract, symptoms included vomiting, sweating, pain, paralysis,
depressed temperature, rapid but feeble pulse, coma, and death (Kingsbury 1964).
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