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herbivores including humans and showed negativeeffect from discomfort to death to the consumingorganisms12. Austrolia in (1907) 700 carcasses ofcattle’s found killed in overnight because ofpoisonous plants consumptions (Wikipedia, thefree encyclopedia). This indicates that like otherorganisms plants not escapes their predators bymeans of their one of the defense mechanisms i.e. toxicity. But we must also see that, suchcompounds produced by the plants may also hasa +ve role as a medicines when ingested in properway and quantity11. Sometime plants which arecommonly used as a food may also foundpoisonous. The accidental ingestion of toxic plantsmay results cause of human fatalities10. It has beennoted that about more than 700 plants have beenidentified as a producing physiologically active ortoxic substances in sufficient amount to causeharmful effect on living organisms. Toxic plantproduces variety of toxic substances and causereaction ranging from mild nausea to death2.

Workers reviewed on this kind andbiodiversity conservation of medicinal plantresources on Indian plants.1,2,5,7,8,13 Technicallyalmost all plants could be toxic even the commonapple ( because its seeds are mildly toxic). It meanthe difference between poison and medicine is thedosage taken, same holds true for most of the toxicplants around us, they all have a role to play innature and their toxicity is there defense mechanismto protect them from animals and insects who eatthem.

Materials and MethodsField survey of toxic plants were carried out

form 2011 to 2014 in the forest of west Northernpart of Satpura mountain. The toxicity informationwere obtained from the tribal residents liketraditional practitioners, cow boy, shepherd of thearea and from available literature. These plantswere identified4,11,15. More information’s of toxicitylike allergy and poisonous nature were studied.

Results and DiscussionsThe study area comprises the moist and

dry deciduous type of forests. Vegetation occurredin the forest of this region includes trees, shrubs,herbs, linas, climbers, epiphytes, parasites andephemerals etc. Most of the plants are found usefulto tribal8 and they are using these plants by manyways. Vegetation, medicinal and plan resourcesstudy of forest of this region was carried earlier.9,10

Food and medicine use of these plants is relatedto the health of tribal’s. Lack of information’sregarding toxic and poisonous properties of plantsand their effect on human being, many a timeuses of such plants found dangerous and leads todeath especially the children and adults in foodscarcity. Most of the plants from the forest of thisregion has been used in ethnic drugs by local tribaland others since past. This inspire to undertakestudy related to toxicity of the wild plants of theregion . While looking over the literature availableabout toxic plants and their uses, it was came toknow that, many time incidences of toxicity andpoisoning happened in the world and in India wasbecause of improper ingestion plants parts.

In the study area 20 plant species belongingto 17 different families (Table-1) are used asmedicinal and they possess a toxic, poisonousand allergic properties too. A seed of climber Abrusprecatorious commonly known as a Gunj orGunjpala is bicoloured; red and black and verybeautiful and attracts children. It is used for culturaldecoration but small children if mistakenly ingestit, a single seed may lead to death. A seeds ofplant Jatropha curcas, (Biodiesel plant) if ingestedmistakenly by children, severe vomiting started andmay a time it found lethal. A plant Croton tiglium(Jamalgota) (Fig. 1), Citrullus colocynthis (Fig.6)(Kadu Indrawan) useful on constipation andgaseous swelling of stomach of animal when intakein proper quantity, otherwise responsible to disturbsbowel and uncontrolled loose motions and omittingrespectively. In nature some of the plant canimmediately response by means of their toxicityand allergic reaction by secreting toxic natureprotein. The plants Girardinia diversifo -lia (Agya)(Fig. 3) and Mucuna purriens (Khajkuairi) (Fig. 4)after touch to them and latter one fruits immediatelyallergic to skin and start long lasting irritation. Inthe nature most of the plant posses latex someoccurred in the study area are Euphorbia tirucali(Sher) and E. ligularia (Sabarkand). Most of thepeople can having a oldest kind of skin dermatitis.When the contact of latex of some plants occurredwith a skin is becomes allergic and may causeskin diseases or dermatitis. The dust depositedon these plants may also became allergic andcause irritation and itching symptom to skin andeyes. Datura metel ( Kala Dhotara) (Fig. 2) andDatura inoxia (Pandhara Dhotara) have been usedsince long in the ayurvedic medicine system sincelong past. The incorrect dosage of these may result

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Fig. 6 : Citrullus colocynthis (Kadu Indravan)Fig. 5 : Lufa acutangula (Ran dodka)

Fig. 4 : Mucuna purriens (Khajkuairi)Fig. 3 : Gerardinia diversifolia (Agya)

Fig. 2 : Datura metel (Kala Dhotara)Fig. 1 : Croton tiglium (Jamalgota)

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TABLE -1 : Toxic principles and ingestion Symptoms of recorded toxic plants.

Botanical Name Family Toxic Part Symptoms of Intake& Property

Abrus precatorious Fabaceae Abrin protein Ribosome inactivation, Single seed(Gunj) consumption lead to death of

adult

Agave Americana Agavaceae Cell sap/ Skin contact with juice causes(Ghaypat ) juice present dermatitis can be recurring for

in leaves several years

Asparagus raceme-sus Liliaceae Saponins Ingestion of 5 to 6 berries cause(Shatavari) present in the abdominal pain & vomiting

mature berries

Colocasia esculenta Araceae Oxalic acid Nub, swells tongue & pharynx(Jangali alu) crystals

Citrullus colocynthis Cucurbitaceae Bitter, acute When ingested orally in large(Kadu Indrawan) purgative quantity found lethal and cause

property intense omitting

Croton tiglium Euphorbiaceae Acute When ingested in large quantity(Jamalgota) purgative intense loose motions started

property

Datura metel Solanaceae Scopolamine Poison & hallucinogenic effectDatura inoxia & atropine

Dioscorea bulbifera Dioscoreaceae Saponins Bitter tuber, eaten without washing(Dukkar kand) in the cause inflammation of stomachD. pentaphylla tubers and mucous membrane of mouth

Euphorbia tirucali Euphorbiaceae Latex and Skin irritation, redness & irritation ofE. ligularia accumulated eyes by dust & white milky latex

dust

Girardinia diversifolia Urticaceae Stinging Touch gives sudden shocks then(Agya) hairs irritation

Gloriossa superba Liliaceae All parts Colchicines, nausea, vomiting,(Kal Lavi) of plant burning throat

Hibiscus aculeatus Malvaceae Tetrahydrocanibinol Toxic to nervous system, blurred(Ambadi) More in flowers vision, hallucination, poor

coordination

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Holoptelea integrifolia Ulmaceae Leaves Leaves are used as fish poisoning(Papdi)

Jatropha curcas, Euphorbiaceae Fruit and Children in rural areas eats fruits,(Biodivesal Plant) seeds found poisonous and became

lethal

Lufa acutangula Cucuirbitaceae Narcotic When eaten produces narcotic(Ran dodka) effect

Mucuna purriens Papilionaceae 5-hydroxy Touch produces acute and long(Khajkuairi) tryptamine lasting irritation

Plumbago zeylanica Plumbaginaceae Root is External rashes and GIT irritation(Chitrak) toxic

Semecarpus Anacardiaceae Oily compound Oil is dermicide, may allergic toanacardium, present in the skin and cause spread of(Bibba) fruit dermatitis

Solanum nigrum Solanaceae Glycoalcoloid Nausea, diarrhoea, stomach(Kangani) solanine in cramp, throat burning

lvs., stem

Viscum articulatum Loranthaceae Alkoloid Leaves & berries, acutetryamine, gastroi-ntestinal discomfort,

lectin-viscumin weak pulse

Xanthium strumar-ium Asteraceae Toxic to Nausea, Vomiting, twisting of neck(Landgu) live stock muscle

to death2. Asparagus racemo-sus (Shatavari) amedicinally important plant but ripe berries of thisplant are toxic, it is said that, ingestion of 6 to 7 ripeberries may lead to death. As well as, Sulfurcompounds in the young shoots are alsoconsidered responsible for mild skin reactions insome people who handle the plant9. Lufaacutangula (Ran dodka) (Fig. 5) produces narcoticeffect after consumption. Dioscorea bulbifera(Dukkar Kand) (Figs. 9 & 10) tuber of it wheningested without washing for more 12hrs.causestomach inflammation. A semi parasitic plantViscum articulatum (Fig. 8) Leaves & berries wheningested shows acute gastrointestinal discomfort.A cell sap of Agave americana (Ghaypat) (Fig. 7)leaves causes skin dermatitis and long termirritation after contact. Tuber of Colocasia esculenta(Ranalu) (Fig. 11) after ingestion, causes

swellings of tongue and pharynx. Roots of Plumbago zeylanica (Chitrak) (Fig. 12) are toxicand causes external rashes and gastro intestinalirretation.

This study reveals that plant has +ve as wellas –ve role in the human welfare. The physiologicalmetabolic activities occurred in the plants mayresponsible for synthesis of toxic proteins and otherchemical substances, which has varied kind ofreaction with the physiological metabolic activitiesof human and animals, like inactivation of ribosomein human being and lethality in animals. It alsomean that, difference between poison and medicineis the dosage taken, same holds true for most ofthe toxic plants around us, they all have a role toplay in nature and their toxicity is there defencemechanism to protect them from animals andinsects or their enemies who eat them. Human

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Fig. 12 : Plumbago zeylanica (Chitrak)Fig. 11 : Colocasia esculenta (Ranalu)

Fig. 10 : Tuber of Dioscorea bulbiferaFig. 9 : Dioscorea bulbifera (Dukkar Kand)

Fig. 8 : Viscum articulatumFig. 7 : Agave americana (Ketaki, Ghaypat)

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fatalities caused by poisonous plants especiallyresulting from accidental ingestion11. Countlessother plants not commonly used as food are also

poisonous, and care should be taken to avoidaccidentally contacting or ingesting them for ourand livings defence.

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