Case reports
← vista completaPublished on August 28, 2013 | http://doi.org/10.5867/medwave.2013.07.5763
Risks of herbalism: a case report of Mexican poppy (Argemone mexicana L) induced liver toxicity
Riesgos de la herbolaria: reporte de un caso de hepatitis por cardo santo (Argemone mexicana L)
Abstract
The increasing consumption of alternative medicines has lead to a greater awareness about the deleterious effects and interactions that these products can induce. Consequently, medical literature reports liver toxicity from Aloe, Camellia sinensis (green tea), Rhammus purshianus, Aesculus hippocastanum (buckeye) and Valeriana officinalis (valerian), among others. This article reports a female patient who twice consumed Mexican poppy (Argemone mexicana L) with a one-year interval between ingestions. Both times she developed diarrhea, jaundice and general malaise with impaired liver function tests. Other causes of liver disease were ruled out. Questionnaires were used to assess the possibility of drug-induced liver damage. Clinical information was collected from the patient’s medical record and the literature on the subject was reviewed. We conclude that, at least in this case, the most likely cause of liver toxicity was Argemone mexicana L consumption.
