Commonly ingested plants with significant toxic potential
| Plant | Poisonous parts | Symptoms | Management |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laburnum | All parts Seed ingestion is the commonest presentation | Vomiting Pallor Dilated pupils Tachycardia Dizziness | Activated charcoal if more than 5 seeds ingested2Observation |
| Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladona) | All parts poisonous but berry ingestion is the commonest presentation | Dry mouth Dilated pupils Hallucinations Urinary retention Agitation Ataxia Muscle in-coordination Convulsions Coma | Activated charcoal if any plant material has been ingested. Additional methods of gastric decontamination if >5 berries ingested—intestinal motility may be impaired and absorption prolonged Treatment is supportive. Physostigmine should be reserved for cases where life threatening symptoms fail to respond to adequate supportive measures Symptoms can be delayed for up to 12 hours following ingestion and hospital admission is mandatory |
| Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) | Leaves and broken seeds of the fruit are the most poisonous parts | Gastrointestinal upset Salivation Flushing Convulsions Coma Arrhythmias | If only the pulp of the berry eaten, or stones swallowed whole, no treatment is required. Activated charcoal for leaves or broken seeds Symptoms can be delayed for up to 4 hours |
| Lupin | Only toxic in large quantities. Activated charcoal | ||
| Yew trees | All parts of the tree are toxic except the pulp of the berry | Nausea Vomiting Anticholinergic effects Drowsiness Bradycardia Arrhythmia Convulsions | Asymptomatic children should be observed for 4 hours Gastric decontamination does not seem to influence outcome9Treatment is supportive Serious cases are very rare |
| Woody nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) “Bittersweet” | All parts of the plant are toxic, unripe fruits particularly so | Drowsiness Ataxia Nausea Vomiting Oropharyngeal irritation | Activated charcoal if >5 ripe berries, or any unripe berry, have been consumed2•> Asymptomatic patients should be observed for 8 hours Treatment is supportive |
| Cuckoo Pint (Arnum maculatum) | Mucosal irritation, oedema, and occasionally ulceration Local skin irritation and blistering | Treatment is symptomatic Analgesia and antihistamines Effects appear rapidly and observation of asymptomatic children is unnecessary | |
| Elder (Sambucus nigra) | All parts of the plant are mildly toxic, unripe berries particularly so | Nausea Vomiting Dizziness Tachycardia Convulsions10 | Consider gastric decontamination if >10 berries consumed Treatment is symptomatic |
| Mistletoe10 | All parts of the plant are toxic except the flesh of the berry | Nausea Vomiting Diarrhoea Muscle weakness Pupil dilatation Diuresis Bradycardia can occur | Symptoms are unlikely if less than 3 berries are consumed Treatment is symptomatic. Atropine for bradycardia Effects can last for several days |
| Rhubarb11The leaves contain oxalates and are toxic | Symptoms of gastric irritation predominate Oxalates chelate calcium and hypocalcaemia can complicate ingestion | Milk may help to neutralise oxalic acid Treatment is otherwise supportive |