Self-poisoning with Colchicum autumnale L. flowers

J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 2001;39(4):409-11. doi: 10.1081/clt-100105163.

Abstract

A 44-year-old man ingested about 40 flowers of Colchicum autumnale L. The patient presented with nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain 2 hours after ingestion and had diarrhea 14 hours after ingestion. Hematological values remained within normal range. Treatment was mainly supportive. The outcome was favorable. The intoxication was confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Maximal colchicine levels were 4.34 ng/mL at 13 hours in plasma and 5.43 ng/mL at 16 hours in erythrocytes.

Conclusion: We report one of the few symptomatic cases of Colchicum autumnale L. poisoning confirmed by toxicological analysis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blood Cell Count
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Colchicine / blood
  • Colchicum / poisoning*
  • Humans
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Male
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Plants, Medicinal*
  • Suicide, Attempted

Substances

  • Colchicine