Cirrhosis of the liver in Jamaica

Plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids: toxicity and problems

“…Many investigations on herbal preparations or extracts from medicinal plants were done and prove the toxic risk by the consumption of phytomedicines which contain PA plants. It can be assumed that so-called "bush-teas" are the reason for several liver diseases reported in Jamaica and several developing countries from Africa and West Indies [Bras et al, 1954[Bras et al, , 1957[Bras et al, , 1961. While PA poisoning is mainly a problem in developing countries because there the use of traditional medicine is common, within the last 25 years especially in industrialised countries the use of herbal medicine has become more and more common due to an increased interest of people in alternative medicine, hand in hand with a greater influence of the "green wave".…”

Toxicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids to humans and ruminants

“…This awareness increased especially after it was shown that liver diseases in Jamaica and the West Indies, that were reported in the 1950s, were caused by so-called ''bush-teas'' containing PAs (Bras et al 1961;Brooks et al 1970). Also in Africa and parts of some other tropical or subtropical countries the use of herbal preparations containing PA-producing plants for the treatment of several diseases is common and this can be considered as an important reason for the liver diseases reported in those areas (Druckrey 1965;Schoental 1972).…”

Evolution of Research in the Etiological Types of Cirrhotic Diseases of the Liver, 1931–1961

“…In children, the cirrhosis of this type accounts for a fair proportion of all cir rhoses, but in adults fewer. In seventy-seven cases of cirrhosis in Jamaica, twenty-three were of this type (24). The cirrhosis is pathologically distinctive.…”

“…In a fair proportion of survivors, it goes on through central congestion and fibrosis to a cirrhosis of nonportal type, seen especially in Jamaica and Barbados (24). In children, the cirrhosis of this type accounts for a fair proportion of all cir rhoses, but in adults fewer.…”