Fiche d'information compilée à partir de PubMed
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Compilé à partir de 30 articles PubMed · modèle : gemma4:31b
Résumé
Conium maculatum, known as poison hemlock, is a highly toxic weed containing piperidine alkaloids that can cause fatal respiratory failure in humans and animals [PMID:15234067, PMID:30594904, PMID:29135964].
Contexte
Conium maculatum is a common nitrophile weed of the Apiaceae (formerly Umbelliferae) family characterized by long, hollow stems reaching up to 2 meters and white flowers grouped in umbels [PMID:15234067, PMID:10340826]. It is distributed worldwide, with a higher incidence of poisoning reported in European and Mediterranean countries [PMID:30594904].
Usages traditionnels
In Portugal, the plant is used as an ancient technique for river fishing [PMID:40248547]. It has also been used as a traditional medicine for cervix carcinoma, including in homeopathy [PMID:25298670].
Composés actifs
The plant contains piperidine alkaloids, most notably coniine and gamma-coniceine, as well as N-methyl-coniine, conhydrine, pseudoconhydrine, and conmaculatin [PMID:15234067, PMID:10340826, PMID:22063758]. Tap roots may contain furocoumarins, prenylated coumarins, aliphatic C17-polyacetylenes, and elemicin [PMID:32722223].
Mécanisme d'action
Coniine acts as a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, mimicking nicotine's effect on the autonomous nervous system [PMID:29135964, PMID:40248547]. This leads to an initial excitatory phase followed by a secondary inhibitory phase, resulting in the inhibition of the nervous system [PMID:40248547, PMID:29135964].
Preuves cliniques
Preuve DCervix carcinoma (in vitro)
Ethanolic extract reduced cell viability and colony formation in HeLa cells by inducing ROS generation and apoptosis [PMID:25298670]
Preuve DPain (mice)
The alkaloid conmaculatin showed strong peripheral and central antinociceptive activity in mice at doses of 10-20mg/kg [PMID:22063758]
Sécurité et effets indésirables
Poisoning causes neurotoxicosis, including tremors, vomiting, muscle paralysis, and respiratory failure/arrest [PMID:30594904, PMID:40248547]. Other severe effects include rhabdomyolysis, acute renal failure, and hemodynamic collapse [PMID:30594904, PMID:27331163, PMID:40248547]. A lethal dose for humans can be as low as 100 to 200 mg of coniine [PMID:34431644].
Grossesse et allaitement
In livestock (cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats), piperidine alkaloids are teratogenic, causing musculoskeletal deformities such as multiple congenital contracture (MCC) and cleft palate in offspring [PMID:3049497, PMID:22449544, PMID:10091132].
Synthèse des preuves
The evidence is primarily based on toxicological reviews, case reports of accidental or intentional poisoning, and in vitro/animal studies. There are no human clinical trials supporting therapeutic use.
Sources PubMed
- 1.PMID: 15234067 (2004) — Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum L.). · Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
- 2.PMID: 30594904 (2019) — Conium maculatum intoxication: Literature review and case report on hemlock poisoning. · Forensic science review
- 3.PMID: 40248547 (2025) — Acute Intoxication With Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum). · Cureus
- 4.PMID: 27331163 (2014) — Hemlock (Conium Maculatum) Poisoning In A Child. · Turkish journal of emergency medicine
- 5.PMID: 10340826 (1999) — Biochemistry of hemlock (Conium maculatum L.) alkaloids and their acute and chronic toxicity in livestock. A review. · Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology