Toxicology: Calotropis poisoning: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Toxicology: Calotropis poisoning

Sample item

A woman applies the milky latex of a roadside shrub with large oval leaves and pale purple flowers to induce an abortion. She develops vomiting, bradycardia, hyperkalaemia and atrioventricular block. Which plant is most likely?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Calotropis

Calotropis latex contains cardiac glycosides, including calotropin, and is also an irritant. It is used in India to procure abortion and for infanticide. Toxicity resembles digoxin poisoning, with nausea, bradycardia, conduction block and hyperkalaemia.

Option by option

  • A. Calotropis (correct)

    Correct. A glycoside-containing milky latex explains the digoxin-like picture.

  • B. Datura

    Datura causes an anticholinergic syndrome with tachycardia and dry skin.

  • C. Abrus precatorius

    Abrus seeds contain abrin and cause gastroenteritis and organ failure, not a digoxin-like picture.

  • D. Ricinus communis

    Castor seeds contain ricin and cause gastroenteritis and vascular collapse, not heart block.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is A, Calotropis. Calotropis latex contains cardiac glycosides, including calotropin, and is also an irritant.

Why is "Datura" not the answer?

Datura causes an anticholinergic syndrome with tachycardia and dry skin.

Why is "Abrus precatorius" not the answer?

Abrus seeds contain abrin and cause gastroenteritis and organ failure, not a digoxin-like picture.

Why is "Ricinus communis" not the answer?

Castor seeds contain ricin and cause gastroenteritis and vascular collapse, not heart block.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Toxicology: Calotropis poisoning in Forensic Medicine. It is used in India to procure abortion and for infanticide. Toxicity resembles digoxin poisoning, with nausea, bradycardia, conduction block and hyperkalaemia.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Toxicology: Calotropis poisoning?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.