The plant responsible for more human suicides than any other is aptly named “Suicide Tree”. This hardwood tree, endemic to India and southeast Asia, is also known as Pong-Pong Tree or Cerbera odollam. It accounts for 10% of the total poisonings in Kerala, India. In the centre of its fruit lies a kernel with high concentrations of a cardiotoxin. The toxin, called cerberin, has a range of biochemical effects on heart muscle cells. Similar to Foxglove plants, it slows the heart and influences contractility.
There is no laboratory test available to detect cerberin, leaving doctors to rely on the patient’s history and an index of suspicion. For this reason, Pong-Pong seeds may also be responsible for an unknown number of homicides. The taste of the poison is masked easily with spicy food, and many toxicology centres cannot test for cerberin.
A few suicide cases have also been reported in North America after Pong-Pong seeds were purchased online.
Head Over Heals 