Cerberin

Cerbera odollam is a plant species of the Apocynaceae family and te common names include Pong-Pong and Othalanga. The poison rich part is the kernel, which is present at the core of its fruit, and the bioactive toxin is cerberin, a cardiac glycoside. Cerberin has a mechanism of action similar to digoxin, and the signs of toxicity are similar to acute digoxin poisoning. Ingestion of the kernel causes nausea, vomiting, hyperkalemia, thrombocytopenia, and ECG abnormalities, and exposure to high doses can be fatal. The initial management includes supportive therapy and the administration of atropine, followed by temporary pacemaker insertion. Administration of digoxin immune Fab can be considered in severe cases, although the authors noted hat the efficacy is variable and the data are limited to isolated case reports.

Cerberin has a mechanism of action similar to digoxin. Thus, cerbera odollam's signs of toxicity are similar to acute digoxin poisoning. The ingestion of its kernel causes nausea, vomiting, hyperkalemia, thrombocytopenia, and ECG abnormalities.

Cerberin (CR) was found to potently inhibit cancer cell growth, colony formation and migration. Also, CR significantly increased the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) producing DNA double strand breaks. Preliminary in silico biopharmaceutical assessment of CR predicted >60% bioavailability and rapid absorption. The authors noted that CR's potent and selective anti-tumour activity, and its targeting of key signalling mechanisms pertinent to tumourigenesis support further preclinical evaluation of this cardiac glycoside.