Poisoning by bird-line thistle (Astractylis gummifera L.)
Capdevielle, P.; Darracq, R.
Medecine Tropicale Revue du Corps de Sante Colonial 40(2): 137-142
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-682X PMID: 7382789 Document Number: 168059
The thistle grows in the dry areas of North-Africa and is rather common. The juice of the root is poisonous. Two toxic components have been isolated and their formulas specified. They induce liver necrosis, and block the ADP-ATP conversion. Prognosis is most often fatal, except in mild forms when symptomatic treatment is very early.