Senecionine

Synonyms

12-Hydroxysenecionan-11,16-dione; Aureine; Senecionan-11,16-dione, 12-hydroxy-; Senecionin; (1,6)Dioxacyclododecino(2,3,4-gh)pyrrolizine-2,7-dione, 3-ethylidene-3,4,5,6,9,11,13,14,14a,14b-decahydro-6-hydroxy-5,6-dimethyl-, (3Z,5R,6R,14aR,14bR)-; [ChemIDplus]

Category

Plant Toxins

Description

Solid; [Merck Index] White powder; [MSDSonline]

Sources/Uses

Hepatotoxic alkaloid from plants of the Senecio species; [Merck Index] Used as a folk remedy (uterine stimulant and treatment of diabetes mellitus, hemorrhage, and high blood pressure); [HSDB]

Comments

Emergency treatment: "Plants- pyrrolizidine alkaloids"; Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) cause veno-occlusive liver disease. Diagnosis is difficult because symptoms may be delayed for days or weeks. After drinking herbal tea or eating plants contaminated with seeds of PA plants, symptoms may include vomiting, abdominal pain, hepatomegaly, and later cirrhosis and ascites. Jaundice may be present. Children may appear to have Reye's syndrome. [HSDB] Teas containing PAs include coltsfoot, comfrey, gordolobo, groundsel, mate, tansy ragwort, and T'u-san-chi. The teas may be prescribed as herbal remedies for anxiety or amenorrhea. The alkaloid is concentrated in the root of the plants. As little as 85 mg may be toxic. [Haddad, p. 1082]

Biomedical References

Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Other Information

No other related information on this agent was found.