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Ecbalium elaterium


Ecbalium elaterium
Photo Information
Copyright: TOMESCU Cezar Valentin (tomcezar) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 175 W: 0 N: 235] (1309)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-06-26
Categories: Flowers
Camera: Canon 350 D, Canon ZOOM LENS EF-S 18-55mm 1:3.5-5,6II
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Flower(Yellow)II [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-04-19 0:19
Viewed: 337
Points: 6
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Sea cucumber - Ecbalium elaterium grow on the sand dunes of the Black Sea border.

Ecbalium elaterium is a plant endemic to the Mediterranean basin. Its roots and cucumber-shaped fruit have been used in folk medicine since antiquity. The alleged uses of the fruit juice are as a potent cathartic, analgesic, and antiinflammatory agent. Cucurbitacin B, a triterpene derivative is the active antiinflammatory principal. Patients: We present a series of 13 patients who were exposed to the juice of Ecbalium elaterium in its natural form. In 3 patients, exposure was intranasal for the treatment of sinusitis or liver cirrhosis. In 3 other cases, children ingested the fruit unwittingly. In 6 patients, exposure was ocular and, in one, dermal. Within minutes of exposure, the patients exhibited irritation of mucous membranes at various degrees of severity manifested as edema of pharynx, dyspnea, drooling, dysphagia, vomiting, conjunctivitis, corneal edema, and erosion, depending on the route of the exposure. Recovery began within several to 24 hours after administration of oxygen, steroids, antihistamines, and beta-2-agonists. Ocular exposures responded to topical steroid and antibiotic eyedrops within a few days. The toddler with the dermal exposure remained asymptomatic. Conclusion: Exposure to the juice of Ecbalium elaterium , mainly in its undiluted form, may cause irritation of mucous membranes, supposedly of inflammatory nature. Patients exposed orally or intranasally should be closely followed for upper airway obstruction. Patients exposed ocularly should have their eyes promptly irrigated to prevent corneal and conjunctival injury.

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/tandf/lcltt/2000/00000038/00000003/art00005
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Cezar Valentin!

I appreciate your picture very much as well as the interesting and instructive notes. The picture is simple, yet very pleasant, and the fact it concers an endemic plant adds tu its value.

Kind regards

Markus

nice to see another Mediterranean species in Romania. greetings and have a nice weekend, Ori

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1210 W: 0 N: 4626] (13756)
  • [2008-04-19 15:26]

Hi

Lovely shot - good composition, plus good detail and colour.

James

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