Post-mortem findings in 22 fatal Taxus baccata intoxications and a possible solution to its detection

The yew (Taxus baccata) is a common evergreen tree containing the toxin taxine B. Between 42 and 91 g of yew leaf is lethal to a 70-kg adult. The objective of this article is to present an overview of findings in fatal yew intoxications. A search using MeSH terms was performed in PubMed for yew into...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of forensic and legal medicine 2017-11, Vol.52, p.56-61
Main Authors: Reijnen, Guido, Bethlehem, Corine, van Remmen, Jacquo M.B.L., Smit, Hans J.M., van Luin, Matthijs, Reijnders, Udo J.L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid - methods
Fatal poisoning
Forensic Toxicology
HPLC-DAD
Humans
Paclitaxel
Plant Bark - poisoning
Plant Extracts - poisoning
Plant Leaves - poisoning
Plants, Toxic - poisoning
Poisoning - diagnosis
Suicide
Taxus - poisoning
Taxus baccata
Tea - chemistry
Ultraviolet Rays
Yew
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Summary:The yew (Taxus baccata) is a common evergreen tree containing the toxin taxine B. Between 42 and 91 g of yew leaf is lethal to a 70-kg adult. The objective of this article is to present an overview of findings in fatal yew intoxications. A search using MeSH terms was performed in PubMed for yew intoxications in the period between January 1960 and August of 2016. We describe a total of 22 cases. Fatal intoxications can be divided into intoxications by leaves, by pulp, by bark and by yew tea. Recognizing yew tea intoxication is difficult since tea no longer contains any botanically recognisable parts. In autopsy and external examination no characteristic findings are reported, regarding the presence of parts of plants. Indications for yew tree intoxications at a post-mortem examination and autopsy are limited to finding parts of yew tree. The absence of recognisable parts can result in yew intoxications being overlooked. Therefore toxicological screening is recommended in unexplained deaths. •This study gives an overview in post-mortem findings in 22 fatal Taxus baccata intoxications.•There are four different forms of Taxus baccata intoxication: whole leaves, leaves mashed into pulp, bark and tea.•Indications for intoxication by post-mortem examination and autopsy are limited to finding parts of Taxus baccata.•This study is the first detecting paclitaxel in Taxus baccata tea, showing the UV-spectrum using HPLC-DAD.•Most described fatal Taxus baccata intoxications are suicides.
ISSN:1752-928X
1878-7487
DOI:10.1016/j.jflm.2017.08.016