Intoxication of the immature fruit of the ackee (Blighia sapida Koenig): Summary and development
1 Pediatric service of the L’Abbraccio hospital of Sokponta, Glazoué, Republic of Benin.
2 Unit for Training and Research in Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Parakou, Parakou, Republic of Benin.
Review Article
GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2020, 13(01), 067-077.
Article DOI: 10.30574/gscbps.2020.13.1.0314
Publication history:
Received on 27 September 2020; revised on 09 October 2020; accepted on 13 October 2020
Abstract:
Deaths linked to the consumption of plants are sometimes overlooked by health personnel in tropical environments. Parts of several plants are recognized as potentially toxic, including the fruit of the ackee.
This review paper aimed to synthesize data on the toxicity of the fruit of the ackee (Blighia sapida) and a brief overview on the measures of management of its acute intoxication.
This was a documentary and analytical study. We made an analysis/synthesis of the articles relating to the poisoning with the immature fruit of the ackee. The PubMed, AJOL and Google scholar databases were used.
The ackee is a plant native to West-Africa. Known by several names, lissètin in Fon in Benin, atsia in Evé in Togo, Finzan in Bambara in Mali, its aril contains lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and trace elements. Hypoglycin is present in two forms A (2-methylene-cyclopropane-alanine) and B found in immature fruit, a very toxic compound which disrupts β-oxidation of fatty acids. Acute immature fruit poisoning, manifests as an acute hypoglycemic encephalopathy, gastrointestinal signs, hydro-electrolyte disturbances, metabolic acidosis and liver damage. The detection of urinary dicarboxylic acids is pathognomonic. Its treatment is symptomatic. A crude gastrointestinal and hepatic symptomatology characterizes chronic intoxication.
The ackee is a tree whose unripe fruit is of acute lethal toxicity. Treatment of acute intoxication is symptomatic.
Keywords:
Ackee; Hypoglycin; Hypoglycemia; Urinary dicarboxylic acid; Poisoning.
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Copyright © 2020 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0
