Frequently (and not so frequently) Asked Questions
BRIEF: Could I have some more information on Tartago tea?
QUESTION:
Recently I encountered a problem with a
patient that arrived to ER with acute renal failure, hepatic failure,
and possible bone marrow toxicity after ingesting "tartago tea". I have
been doing some research, but the only information I found were several
other names for this plant. Apparently the leave is commonly used for
nausea, and stomach upset, when boiled. Scientific name: Jatropha
curcas. Physic nut. Dessert potato and purging nut.
ANSWER:
This plant is used as an ornamental back home in california, but not too much
because it is so poisonous. This plants contains several classes of poisons
throughout the plants (leaves, nuts, etc.), including a toxic protein, a resin
that causes rashes, an oil that causes vomiting, and a glycoside of unknown (at
least unknown to me!) function.
You are no doubt aware that many medicinal teas used in the caribbean region
contain hepatotoxic pyrollizidine alkaloids and that liver damage and failure are
too often associated with traditional medicines on several of those islands. The
physic nut (called Barbados nut in california, I think), is toxic enough, but that
"tartago tea" you mentioned may have had some
other plants in it as well.