Massive Skin Necrosis Due To Pitirak (Bidents Tripartitata)

Abstract

Plants are sources of medication from the ancient times. Bidents tripartitata is a plant, which grows in Anatolia. It is believed that it relieves pain of arthritis, with per oral administration of its extract. This article presents 2 cases of massive skin necrosis due to topical application of bidents tripartitata. One of the patients had applied it topically on his knees and had developed severe necrosis. The other patient had contact with this plant unintentionally. She had skin necrosis on the dorsum of her hand and forearm. Bidents tripartitata is believed to have sedative, diuretic and analgesic effects. The plant includes ether, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, carotene and manganese. Today there is an increasing trend to use natural drugs in treatment of many diseases. It does not mean that all the plants are useful, sometimes the results may be very harmful.