S Afr Med J. 1989 Jan; 75(2): 62-9.

Observations on the use of some known and suspected toxic Liliiflorae in Zulu and Xhosa medicine.

Hutchings A, Terblanche SE.

Department of Biochemistry, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa, KwaZulu.

The usage as well as some of the known family chemical characteristics of Xhosa and Zulu traditional medicinal plants belonging to various families of the superorder Liliiflorae are related to some of the clinical effects of Xhosa medicine observed by Solleder in 1972. Symptoms and effects of some fatal cases of human and animal poisoning are tabled. Fewer cases of acute poisoning appear to take place than might be expected. If hospital staff were seen to be more understanding in their attitude towards herbal medicine, tracing and eventually discouraging the use of harmful plants and practices might be easier.