A Review on the Poisonous Plant Cleistanthus collinus

Abstract

Cleistanthus collinus is a toxic plant belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family, and all parts of the plant are poisonous. It is used as suicidal, homicidal, cattle and fish poison and for inducing criminal abortion. The leaves and plant parts are consumed in various forms for homicidal and suicidal and it results in symptoms such as chest pain, dyspnea, central nervous system symptoms, and vision disturbances. There is no specific antidote for the C. collinus poisoning. The percentage of mortality with C. collinus poisoning varies from 20% to 50%, and the mortality depends on the amount and mode of consumption of the leaves. The major phytoconstituents of the plant include ellagic acid, diphyllin, collinusin, cleistanthin A, and cleistanthin B. The two major compounds cleistanthin A and cleistanthin B were evaluated for pharmacological activities such as antineoplastic activity, antiviral activity, diuretic activity, neuromuscular blocking property, alpha receptor blocking property, and antioxidant effect. The current review focuses on the toxicological and pharmacological properties of this plant and its phytoconstituents.

Keywords: Cleistanthus collinus; cleistanthin; toxicology; oduvan