Question - Ingestion of star fruit (Averrhoa carambola), which is found in many tropical and subtropical areas, may result in severe central nervous system toxicity. What is the neurotoxin responsible for the neurotoxicity seen associated with star fruit?
Answer- The cited article notes “The neurotoxicity of SF results from caramboxin, a neuro- toxin identified in 2013. Caramboxin (molecular weight 256.08) is an amino acid related to phenylalanine and exerts its toxic effect as a glutamatergic agonist at the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate (AMPA)/kainate and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors.” (Chua C et al. Association of renal function and symptoms with mortality in star fruit intoxication. 2017 Clin Tox https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2017.1314490; accessed November 2019)