Anticholinergic toxicity associated with lupine seeds as a home remedy fordiabetes mellitus

We describe a case of sparteine intoxication associated with using a prepar ation from lupine seeds. A female patient of Portuguese origin presented to the emergency department with classic anticholinergic signs after ingestio n of a lupine seed extract. She took the preparation with the belief it rep resented a cure for her recently diagnosed diabetes. Analysis of the patien t's lupine bean extract identified the preponderant compound as oxo-spartei ne by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Intoxication by lupine seeds ra rely occurs in human beings. To our knowledge, no medical or toxicologic ev idence supports a belief that lupine extract could lower serum glucose leve ls. This case highlights the need for emergency care providers to be aware of the health hazards that can be associated with the use of such home reme dies.