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Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum L.) is a weed that grows rampant in many areas of North America. Forensic toxicology laboratories rarely receive requests to analyze biological specimens for the presence of poison hemlock. This report discusses two postmortem cases that were encountered over a decade apart and describes different analytical approaches that may be used to quantify coniine, a primary poison hemlock alkaloid, in biological specimens. The first case is from 2004 and involves a 27-year-old female that was found deceased in a relatively isolated area of California. Based on the presence of plant material at the scene and signs of its ingestion at autopsy, the possibility of hemlock poisoning was considered. Toxicological testing of the blood and gastric content by quantitative selected-ion monitoring Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (SIM-GC/MS) revealed the presence of coniine at concentrations of 410 ng/mL and 9300 ng/mL, respectively. The second case is from Pennsylvania and was sent for analysis in the spring of 2019. In this case, a male in his forties was found deceased in the kitchen area of a camper. Green substances, in liquid and residue forms, were observed in the sink. Mixtures of leaf-like material were also found in several bowls and pans. Subclavian blood screened positive for coniine by full-scan Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). Semi-quantitative confirmation testing was performed by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and showed the presence of coniine at a concentration of 35 ng/mL. These analytical approaches can be used to substantiate or exclude poison hemlock exposure as a cause of death. •Poison hemlock toxicity is due to several piperidine alkaloids, including coniine.•Two case studies are presented where coniine was attributed to the cause of death.•GC/MS and LC-MS/MS methods were developed to quantitate coniine in blood.

Poison hemlock ( Conium maculatum L.) is a notorious weed containing the potent alkaloid coniine. Only some of the enzymes in the coniine biosynthesis have so far been characterized. Here, we utilize the next-generation RNA sequencing approach to report the first-ever transcriptome sequencing of five organs of poison hemlock: developing fruit, flower, root, leaf, and stem. Using a de novo assembly approach, we derived a transcriptome assembly containing 123,240 transcripts. The assembly is deemed high quality, representing over 88% of the near-universal ortholog genes of the Eudicots clade. Nearly 80% of the transcripts were functionally annotated using a combination of three approaches. The current study focuses on describing the coniine pathway by identifying in silico transcript candidates for polyketide reductase, l -alanine:5-keto-octanal aminotransferase, γ-coniceine reductase, and S -adenosyl- l -methionine:coniine methyltransferase. In vitro testing will be needed to confirm the assigned functions of the selected candidates.

L. (1753) is a toxic biennial plant in the Apiaceae family. It is native to Europe and North Africa and is listed as an invasive species in China. Its 153,090 bp chloroplast genome has 132 genes (37 tRNA genes, 8 rRNA genes, and 87 protein-coding genes), structured into 2 IRs (25,087 bp), one LSC (85,716 bp) and one SSC(17,200 bp), with 37.52% GC content. Phylogenetically, it is closest to , , , , , and . These findings support genetic preservation of the species and study.

Coniine, a polyketide-derived alkaloid, is poisonous to humans and animals. It is a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, which leads to inhibition of the nervous system, eventually causing death by suffocation in mammals. Coniine’s most famous victim is Socrates who was sentenced to death by poison chalice containing poison hemlock in 399 BC. In chemistry, coniine holds two historical records: It is the first alkaloid the chemical structure of which was established (in 1881), and that was chemically synthesized (in 1886). In plants, coniine and twelve closely related alkaloids are known from poison hemlock (Conium maculatum L.), and several Sarracenia and Aloe species. Recent work confirmed its biosynthetic polyketide origin. Biosynthesis commences by carbon backbone formation from butyryl-CoA and two malonyl-CoA building blocks catalyzed by polyketide synthase. A transamination reaction incorporates nitrogen from l-alanine and non-enzymatic cyclization leads to γ-coniceine, the first hemlock alkaloid in the pathway. Ultimately, reduction of γ-coniceine to coniine is facilitated by NADPH-dependent γ-coniceine reductase. Although coniine is notorious for its toxicity, there is no consensus on its ecological roles, especially in the carnivorous pitcher plants where it occurs. Lately there has been renewed interest in coniine’s medical uses particularly for pain relief without an addictive side effect.

Conium maculatum L. (C.M) is a poisonous plant species particularly for animals including mainly cattle. Even though it is known for its toxicity, clinically has significance due to sedative, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties. For the first time present this study designed to investigate the therapeutic and fatal doses of C.M extract in gestated albino Wistar rats. To evaluate the therapeutic and toxic levels of different concentrations of C.M extract in gestation and foetal development of adult albino Wistar rats. C.M extract at different doses of 10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg was orally administered to rats in the entire gestation period. The changes in morphology of mother and siblings, foetal formation, pups birth rate, pups survival rate and AchE levels, MAO levels, and Dopamine levels were measured to ensure the nonlethal dose of the extract. In the treated mother rat group, 50 mg/kg concentration caused death and 20 mg/kg concentration of extract showed good therapeutic values. Birth rate, survival rate, dopamine, MAO levels, SOD, AchE and protein levels decreased upon increasing concentration, whereas LPO and MAO levels increased in mother and sibling rats. Histopathological studies showed that 20 mg/kg concentration of extract showed no damage in neuron cells with maximum increase in number. Our findings suggests that C.M 50 mg/kg dose is a toxic concentration in the mother group whereas 40 mg/kg dose in sibling rats by increasing the levels free radicals, decreasing AchE neurotransmitters level, and increasing MAO levels.

Background Poison hemlock ( Conium maculatum ) is a common plant with a significant toxicity. Data on this toxicity is sparse as there have been few case reports and never a documented poisoning after intravenous injection. Objectives We present a case of intravenous poison hemlock injection encountered in the emergency department. Case Report We describe a 30-year-old male who presented to the emergency department after a brief cardiac arrest after injecting poison hemlock. The patient had return of spontaneous circulation in the emergency department but had prolonged muscular weakness and encephalopathy later requiring tracheostomy. Conclusion Intravenous injection of poison hemlock alkaloids can result in significant toxicity, including cardiopulmonary arrest, prolonged weakness, and encephalopathy.

This study addresses the modification and characterization of Conium maculatum fiber to enhance its usability as reinforcement in polymeric composite materials. The fibers were treated with alkali, silane, potassium permanganate, potassium dichromate and silicone oil, then surface chemistry (fourier transform spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), thermal stability (thermogravimetric analysis) and morpho-structure (X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy) of the fibers were characterized by instrumentally. It was determined that the treatments increased hydrogen bond index and oxygen/carbon atomic ratio of the fibers. Alkali treatment had a positive impact on crystallinity index of the fiber by improving crystallite packing order following partial removal of non-cellulosic agents. The oxidation agents and the silane coupling agent reduced the crystallinity index of the fiber as a result of opening of glucopyranose rings and the increments in the distance between the cellulose macromolecular chains, respectively. Thermal degradation temperatures of the fiber were improved after treatment and the fiber presented rougher surface after treatments that can be an advantage when used as reinforcement to enhance mechanical strength of the final composite.

Background Poison hemlock ( Conium maculatum ) ingestion is rare in contemporary emergency medicine but may result in rapidly progressive neuromuscular paralysis and respiratory failure. Because exposure is often unrecognized at presentation, emergency management decisions – particularly airway control – must frequently be made in the setting of diagnostic uncertainty. Case presentation We report two patients who presented to the emergency department of Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital in Istanbul, Türkiye after ingesting the same meal prepared from wild greens later identified as poison hemlock. Despite a shared exposure, their clinical courses differed markedly. One patient developed early respiratory muscle involvement with progressive ventilatory failure requiring endotracheal intubation and intensive care admission, whereas the second patient experienced only mild, self-limited neuromuscular symptoms managed with close observation. Conclusion These cases illustrate how differences in ingested dose may lead to variable degrees of neurotoxicity following poison hemlock ingestion and emphasize that airway management decisions in the emergency department should be guided by physiological deterioration rather than diagnostic certainty.

Abstract Background and Aims Stomata are specialized epidermal structures typically restricted to aerial organs of vascular plants. Their absence on roots has long been regarded as a general anatomical rule. Although rare reports in certain dicotyledonous taxa have described root stomata, these occurrences have been considered transient or developmentally anomalous. Within Apiaceae, no confirmed occurrence has previously been documented. This study aimed to investigate the anatomical presence of stomata on the primary roots of Conium maculatum L. seedlings. Methods Seedlings of C. maculatum derived from wild-collected populations and genebank accessions were examined using light microscopy. Transverse sections and epidermal surface preparations were prepared to confirm root identity and epidermal features. Taxonomic identity was verified using morphological traits and molecular data (ITS and rps16 sequences). Key Results Morphologically distinct stomata with characteristic guard cells were observed on the primary root. Their distribution was sparse and irregular. Root identity was supported by the overall anatomical organization of the examined sections, including a uniseriate epidermis and a broad parenchymatous cortex. Stomatal complexes were consistently detected across all examined accessions of the species. Conclusions This study provides the first anatomically verified and reproducible report of stomata on the primary root of C. maculatum within Apiaceae. These findings expand current knowledge of root epidermal anatomy in the family and indicate that further comparative surveys will be necessary to determine the taxonomic extent of this trait. Stomata are generally considered absent from roots in vascular plants. In this study, we provide anatomically verified and reproducible evidence of stomata on the primary root of Conium maculatum. Using light microscopy and comparative screening across more than 30 Apiaceae taxa, we show that root stomata represent a consistent species-level anatomical feature in C. maculatum. These findings expand current understanding of root epidermal development in angiosperms.

Background Stalk lodging (mechanical failure of plant stems during windstorms) leads to global yield losses in cereal crops estimated to range from 5% to 25% annually. The cross-sectional morphology of plant stalks is a key determinant of stalk lodging resistance. However, previously developed techniques for quantifying cross-sectional morphology of plant stalks are relatively low-throughput, expensive and often require specialized equipment and expertise. There is need for a simple and cost-effective technique to quantify plant traits related to stalk lodging resistance in a high-throughput manner. Results A new phenotyping methodology was developed and applied to a range of plant samples including, maize ( Zea mays ), sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ), wheat ( Triticum aestivum ), poison hemlock ( Conium maculatum ), and Arabidopsis (Arabis thaliana). The major diameter, minor diameter, rind thickness and number of vascular bundles were quantified for each of these plant types. Linear correlation analyses demonstrated strong agreement between the newly developed method and more time-consuming manual techniques (R 2  > 0.9). In addition, the new method was used to generate several specimen-specific finite element models of plant stalks. All the models compiled without issue and were successfully imported into finite element software for analysis. All the models demonstrated reasonable and stable solutions when subjected to realistic applied loads. Conclusions A rapid, low-cost, and user-friendly phenotyping methodology was developed to quantify two-dimensional plant cross-sections. The methodology offers reduced sample preparation time and cost as compared to previously developed techniques. The new methodology employs a stereoscope and a semi-automated image processing algorithm. The algorithm can be used to produce specimen-specific, dimensionally accurate computational models (including finite element models) of plant stalks.