A study of poisonous plants of Balochistan, Pakistan

Abstract

Poisonous plants growing in the different areas of Balochistan province were reviwed for their indigenous usage and chemical constituents. A total of 23 plant species (Acroptilon repens, Calotropis procera, Catharanthus roseus, Daphne mucronata, Datura innoxia, Datura stramonium, Eremostachys vicaryi, Euphorbia helioscopia, Heliotropium europaeum, Hyoscyamus insanus, Hyoscyamus niger, Iphiona aucheri, Melia azedarach, Melica persica, Nerium oleander, Phragmites karka, Sorghum helepense, Podophyllum emodi, Rhazya stricta, Solanum incanum, Solanum miniatum, Tephrosia apollinea and Xanthium strumarium) belonging to 12 different families (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Astraceae, Boraginaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Lamiaceae, Meliaceae, Papilionaceae, Poaceae, Podophyllaceae, Solanaceae and Thymelaeaceae) were considered poisonous due to their toxic effects against livestock and human beings. These include one (1) tree, three (3) shrubs, eighteen (18) perennial herbs and one (1) annual herb. Most of them are found in southern regions of Balochistan province. Despite some harmful effects on human health, these plants are also considered as medicinally important and normally used in folk medicine. It is mostly because these poisonous plants in general are not harmful to human health but cause toxicity when consumed in large quantities. However, some of these dangerous poisonous plants may also cause serious hazards on human health even if consumed in small quantities.