Forensic Perspectives on Ipomoea carnea: Toxicity, Poisoning and Medicinal Potential - A Comprehensive Review

Ipomoea carnea Jacq. is a perennial shrub belonging to the family Convolvulaceae and is widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions. The plant is recognized for both its toxicological significance and medicinal value. In forensic toxicology, Ipomoea carnea is important because of its association with livestock poisoning and occasional human intoxication. Its toxic effects are mainly caused by bioactive alkaloids such as swainsonine and calystegines, which inhibit lysosomal enzymes and result in intracellular vacuolation, neurodegeneration, hepatotoxicity, and multi-organ dysfunction. Clinical manifestations of poisoning include tremors, ataxia, behavioral disturbances, weight loss, and progressive neurological impairment, particularly in grazing animals like goats, sheep, buffalo, and cattle. From a medico-legal perspective, diagnosis is often difficult due to nonspecific clinical symptoms and insufficient confirmatory forensic evidence. Recent advancements in analytical toxicology, including GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, and HPLC techniques, have improved the detection and quantification of plant-derived toxicants in biological and environmental samples, thereby enhancing forensic investigations. Besides its toxic properties, Ipomoea carnea possesses antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing activities that support its ethnomedicinal applications. Therefore, integrated forensic, toxicological, and pharmacological studies are essential for accurate diagnosis, risk assessment, and therapeutic evaluation of plant-associated poisoning cases.