J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 2002 ; 40(2): 185-7.

Medicinal herb Erycibe henri Prain ("Ting Kung Teng") resulting in acute cholinergic syndrome.

Lin CC, Chen JC.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. bearuncle@yahoo.com

A 73-year-old man consumed a decoction of the medicinal herb Erycibe henri Prain ("Ting Kung Teng"), as recommended in traditional Chinese medicine for arthritis. Shortly, he developed a cholinergic syndrome that included dizziness, diaphoresis, chills, lacrimation, salivation, rhinorrhea, nausea, and vomiting. He was also hypothermic and hypotensive. Notable laboratory values included a normal serum cholinesterase and transiently elevated blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and glucose. There is no previous report on the toxicity due to this herb in the literature. Active constituents of the herb include a number of tropane alkaloids, one of which possesses cholinergic rather than anticholinergic activities. A study conducted on mice, with a related herb, has demonstrated renal, hepatic, and erythrocyte toxicity.