Croton(Croton tiglium) - Gastric Irritant Plants
Croton Botanical Name Croton tiglium Physical Appearance ■■ This plant belonging to family Euphorbiaceae grows well in Assam, Bengal, and the Western Ghats. ■■ It is a small evergreen tree with ovate or elliptical leaves which are narrow-pointed, toothed, and 2 to 4 inches long, varying in colour from metallic green to bronze, orange, or yellowish ( Fig 10.10 ). ■■ Seeds are oval, smooth, 1 to 2 cm long, and brownish in colour ( Fig 10.11 ). Uses The seeds, oil, and root extract are used as a drastic purgative in folk medicine. Toxic Part Stem, leaves, seeds. Toxic Principles ■■ Crotin (toxalbumen). ■■ Crotonoside (glycoside). Clinical Features · Plants in this family contain irritant diterpene esters that are strongly irritating. Rubbing the latex of these plants to the face, or chewing on the stem may result in erythema, swelling, and blistering. Initial symptoms of reddening and swelling occur in 2 to 8 hours, with vesicle and blister formation peaking in 4 to 12 hou