Abstract
Deaths linked to the consumption of plants are sometimes overlooked by health personnel in tropical environments. Parts of several plants are recognized as potentially toxic, including the fruit of the ackee. This review paper aimed to synthesize data on the toxicity of the fruit of the ackee (Blighia sapida) and a brief overview on the measures of management of its acute intoxication. This was a documentary and analytical study. We made an analysis/synthesis of the articles relating to the poisoning with the immature fruit of the ackee. The PubMed, AJOL and Google scholar databases were used. The ackee is a plant native to West-Africa. Known by several names, lissètin in Fon in Benin, atsia in Evé in Togo, Finzan in Bambara in Mali, its aril contains lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and trace elements. Hypoglycin is present in two forms A (2-methylene-cyclopropane-alanine) and B found in immature fruit, a very toxic compound which disrupts β-oxidation of fatty acids. Acute immature fruit poisoning, manifests as an acute hypoglycemic encephalopathy, gastrointestinal signs, hydro-electrolyte disturbances, metabolic acidosis and liver damage. The detection of urinary dicarboxylic acids is pathognomonic. Its treatment is symptomatic. A crude gastrointestinal and hepatic symptomatology characterizes chronic intoxication. The ackee is a tree whose unripe fruit is of acute lethal toxicity. Treatment of acute intoxication is symptomatic.
Highlights
In the health context that is ours today, where any infant death must be a source of questioning, it becomes indisputable to wonder especially about the causes of those who are preventable
The ackee (Blighia sapida), is a tree whose fruit is highly prized by people in certain regions of Benin and the world [1]
Hypoglycin A is found in seeds and arils, while hypoglycin B is only found in seeds
Summary
In the health context that is ours today, where any infant death must be a source of questioning, it becomes indisputable to wonder especially about the causes of those who are preventable. The ackee (Blighia sapida), is a tree whose fruit is highly prized by people in certain regions of Benin and the world [1] The history of this plant relates to cases of death linked to the consumption of its fruit [4]. The fruits, the size of a small pear, are pink to red in color, oval in shape, marked by three protruding ribs five to six centimeters long, sometimes longer (Figure 2). They contain one to three kernels the size of a nutmeg, black in color and shiny [9]. Feso Atjan Nufugodom, Moufodom Diremou Foulama Kposso KoléKpezo Gbeng castanheiro da África Lissètin, Sissitin ackee, akee, akeeapple, achee, vegetable brain
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