Kochi: It is alleged that the death of a young woman in Cherthala the other day was caused due to the consumption of a side dish made from leucas aspera (Thumba) flower. The police have registered a case of unnatural death in the incident. As per the FIR, the cause of death of Indu was suspected food poisoning from the consumption of an item prepared from the flower.

On Thursday night, Indu and her family members ate the side dish. Later, Indu was first admitted to a private hospital in Cherthala and then shifted to Nettur, but her life could not be saved. The exact cause of death will be clear only after the post-mortem report and chemical test result come out.

Experts said that eating leucas aspera can sometimes be dangerous for people with lifestyle diseases like diabetes. Dr  K Venugopal, Department of Respiratory Medicine, at a private hospital confirmed that this plant can cause problems in people with diabetes and kidney related diseases.

Similarly last May, it was alleged that an Alappuzha resident, Surya Surendran, died after eating oleander (Arali flower). Her family members had stated that Surya had unknowingly bit the leaf of the plant, while talking over the phone, hours before she collapsed. 

The severity of the condition depends on how much of it enters the body, say experts. Consumption of a small amount of the plant can cause diarrhoea, dehydration and vomiting. Consuming large amounts can cause serious health problems, they opine.