Pyrrolizidine (Senecio) intoxication mimicking Reye syndrome

Herbal hepatotoxicity

“…Later, a series of pyrrolizidine alkaloid poisonings occurred in India [30] and Afghanistan [31], where 'Gondli' cereal contaminated with Heliotropium alkaloids was responsible for numerous cases of venoocclusive disease (VOD), the typical liver injury evoked by pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Incidents of liver damage from pyrrolizidine alkaloid intoxication were noticed in Arizona, such as in two infants exposed to herbal tea containing Senecio longilobus [32,33]. Similar cases were also reported from Europe and elsewhere [34,35].…”

The efficacy and safety of comfrey

“…In the latter epidemic a cereal named`Gondli', representing a major nutritional source, had been contaminated by a local plant containing Crotalaria spp., which is known to be hepatotoxic. During that period, the first sporadic case reports of infants given herbal tea made with Senecio emerged in the United States 13,14 . Pyrrolizidines are the leading plant toxins associated with herb-related diseases and present a serious health hazard to humans through contamination of foodstuffs or when ingested as herbal medicines.…”

Hepatic veno-occlusive disease: report of a case

“…Revisando os hábitos alimentares da criança, pôde-se constatar que a mesma fazia uso de chás de "maria-mole" (Senecio brasiliensis) como profilaxia da gripe, uso este com o mesmo fim também relatado em outro estudo 10 .…”