Abstract: Cantharidin poisoning has been proven to cause multiple organ damage. Acute circulatory failure, acute renal failure, and multiple organ failure resulting from cantharidin poisoning are the main causes of death for patients with cantharidin poisoning. However, research on the damage of main target organs and mechanism of cantharidin poisoning is not clear. This paper reviews the latest toxicological and pathological research literatures at home and abroad related to cantharidin poisoning and comprehensively summarizes the latest research progress on the toxicological and pathological damage and mechanism of the digestive system, circulatory system, respiratory system, urinary system, reproductive system, skin mucosa, immune system, and nervous system after cantharidin poisoning, to provide reference for improving the molecular toxicological mechanism of cantharidin poisoning and decision-making in the clinical intervention of cantharidin poisoning.

Key words: forensic toxicology, cantharidin, poisoning, damage mechanism, review