Department of Forensic Medicine, Kempe Gowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore
Cerbera thevetia is a well known cardiotoxic plant, various parts of which are used for committing suicide in rural areas of India.
A 27 year old female was admitted to the hospital with a history of consumption of Cerbera thevetia seeds. She was conscious at the time of admission but was irritable. Gastric lavage yielded a yellow coloured fluid.
There was abatement of symptoms for a short time before symptoms such as chest pain, dyspnoea and palpitations increased in intensity, and she was shifted to the ICU. In spite of aggressive treatment she died, and an autopsy was subsequently carried out.
The postmortem findings and chemical analysis conducted on the viscera are discussed.
