Poisonous

Plants
Dr.Kedar Karki
M.V.St.Preventive Veterinary
Medicine
 Oxalate Containing Plants
• Rhubarb
• Dieffenbachia
• Caladium
• Philodendron
• Oxalis
• Calla Lily
• Jack-in-the-pulpit
• Others
Rhubarb
Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia
Philodendron
Jack-in-the-pulpit
 Oxalate
• Needle like crystals
• Edema of mouth, tongue, and throat
• Ingestion of larger quantities can
lead to multi-organ damage. Renal,
Hepatic, Myocardial, Brain, and GI
 Cardiac Glycoside Plants
• Oleander
• Lily of the Valley
• Foxglove
Oleander
Oleander
Lily of the Valley
Foxglove
 Cardiac Glycoside Plants
• Just like Digoxin
• Bradycardia with AV block
• Hypotension
• Lethargy
• Dizziness
• GI upset
 Solanine containing Plants
• Potato
• Black Nightshade
• Jerusalem Cherry
Potato
Black Nightshade
Jerusalem Cherry
 Solanine
• N / V / D, headache
• Drowsiness
• Coma
• Onset - 2 - 24 hours
• Duration - up to 3 days
• Plants can also be anticholinergics
 Anticholinergic Plants
• Belladona
• Datura
– Angel’s Trumpet
– Jimson weed
– Thorn Apple
• Henbane
Belladonna
Jimson Weed
Jimson Weed
Jimson Weed Seeds
Henbane
 Anticholinergics
• Hyperthermia, flushing
• Dry mucus membranes
• Mydriasis
• Tachycardia
• Decreased GI motility
• Urinary retention
• Delirium, hallucinations, CNS
depression
 Cyanogenic Glycosides
• Almond
• Peach
• Plum
• Cherry
• Apple
• Clover
• Others
Cyanogenic
 Cyanogenic Glycosides
• Usually only a problem if you make a
meal out of them
• 1 - 2 seeds are not a problem
• Enzymatic breakdown in GI leads to
toxicity
• Onset 30 minutes to 2 hours
• Respiratory distress, syncope, coma,
seizures follow GI symptoms.
 Other Plants
• Castor Beans
• Rosary Beans
• Poinsetta
• Ganja
• Lantana
• Nicotiana
• Poison Ivy
Castor Bean Plant
Castor Beans
Rosary bean
 Castor Bean Toxicity
Rosary Bean Toxicity
• Beans are very hard and only toxic if
chewed
• GI effects within 6 hours, cause
gastric lesions, looks like alkaline
burns
• 2 - 5 days after exposure - cytotoxic
effects - Liver, Kidney, Brain
Poinsettia
 Poinsettia
• Causes severe stomach irritation
• Lots of Nausea and Vomiting
• Not considered toxic
• Dehydration
• Electrolyte imbalances
G
a
n
j
a
Lantana
 Lantana
• Unripe berries are the most toxic
• Lantadene - atropine like substance
• Anticholinergic poisoning
Nicotiana tabacum
 Nicotine
• GI upset - N / V
• Onset in 15 - 60 minutes
• Duration 3 - 12 hours
• Increase in heart rate and blood
pressure then irregular pulse and
hypotension
• Tremors and seizures
Poison Ivy
 Other plants
• Water Hemlock
• Poke Weed
Water Hemlock
 Water Hemlock
• Mydriasis
• Tachycardia
• Seizures - Onset 5 minutes to 2
hours
• Salivation, gastritis, diarrhea, emesis
• Rhabdomyolysis, and renal failure
• Metabolic acidosis
• Strychnine like substance
Poke Weed
 Poke weed
• Mostly GI effects
• Onset 30 minutes to 5 hours
• Duration - 1 to 48 hours
• Headache
• Weakness
• Seizures
• Coma