Langali.

LANGALI.

Synonyms: - Halini, Agnishikha, Vishalya, Agnijwala, Garbhapatini.

Latin name: - Gloriosa superba.

Family: - Liliaceae.

English: - Glery lily, Tiger’s claws.

Classification: -

According to Ayurved: - Sthavara Vanaspatika Visha.

According to modern: - Vegetable Irritant poison.

General description: - 1) Soft and good looking plant.

2) Stem is thin.

3) Leaves are 7-20 cm. long, 2-3 cm. wide.

4) Flowers yellowish at base and orange red on the above surface and have wavy petals.

5) Fruits are just like peanut.

6) Seeds are red.

7) Depending upon the size and shape of root; there are two types: - a) Male & b) Female.

Male plant: - Root is long, round and divided into 2 parts and mostly used for medicinal purposes.

Female plant: - Root is round, long and one in number.

Poisonous part: - Root

Active principles: - Superbine, gloriosin, colchicines.

Fatal dose: - Powder of fruit: - 3-5 gm.

Fatal period: - Uncertain.

Signs and symptoms: - 1) Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, spasmodic pain in the abdomen.

2) Profuse sweating.

3) Convulsions, spasm and collapse.

Treatments: - According to general principles and other specific symptoms. According to Ayurved; Gohrita, Sugar, Godugdha, Buttermilk etc. should be given.

Postmortem appearances: - Fragments of roots in the stomach, congested mucosa of stomach and intestine.

Medicolegal aspect: - 1) Mostly accidental while applied for augmentation of labour or expulsion of placenta.

2) Suicidal or homicidal use is rare.