Anticholinergic syndrome due to 'Devil's herb': when risks come from the ancient time

We describe a case of Mandragora autumnalis poisoning which occurred in a 72-year-old female patient whohad eaten the venenous M. Autumnalis, picked near herhome, mistaking it for the edible Borago Officinalis.M. Autumnalis is a solanaceous plant, common in the Sicilian countryside, which contains a variable concentrationof solanum alkaloids, causing gastrointestinal irritation,and tropane alkaloids, with anticholinergic properties.Unluckily, M. Autumnalis is often mistaken for the edibleB. Officinalis, likewise widespread in Sicilian countryside.The diagnosis of Mandragora poisoning was made on thebasis of clinical symptoms and signs of anticholinergicsyndrome associated with a history of vegetable meal ofuncontrolled origin, moreover analysing the vegetableobtained from gastric lavage. Decontamination and symptomatic treatment were useful in our patient to control acute poisoning.