Pokeweed. toxicity

The toxic activity of the plant is unclear. Pokeweed mitogen (PWM) noted in the plant fluids may initiate changes in the immune system that alter T- and... 

Pokeweed contains phytolaccatoxin and related tri-terpenes. All plant parts are poisonous, especially the roots. Uncooked berries have been known to poison children. Toxic exposures have occurred from eating the uncooked leaves in salads or when the root is mistaken for horseradish, parsnip, or ginseng. Effects appear 30 min to 6h after exposure. Symptoms include nausea, abdominal cramps, profuse sweating, and foamy diarrhea. Other effects include oral burning, a bitter taste in the mouth, dyspnea, weakness, tremors, and seizures. One case of Mobitz Type I heart block has been reported after ingesting poke-weed, but is believed to be secondary to parasympathetic effects from prolonged vomiting. Symptoms may last up to 48 h. As few as 10 berries can result in toxic effects. Dermal exposures result in irritation, pain, and the sensation of heat. 

Pokeweed berries and root (American nightshade) Berries used as food coloring root extracts for emesis, rheumatism Oral use highly toxic bloody diarrhea, hypotension, coma, blindness, respiratory failure... 

D Cruz, O.J., B. Waurzyniak, and F.M. Uckun. 2004. A 13-week subchronic intravaginal toxicity study of pokeweed antiviral protein in mice. Phytomedicine 11(4) 342-351. 

No adverse effects on blood chemistry, histology, or reproductive performance were observed in a subchronic and reproductive toxicity screening of an intravaginally administered gel formulation of pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP) in mice. Animals were administered gel containing 0,0.025, 0.05, or 0.1% PAP, 5 days a week for 13 weeks (D Cruz et al. 2004). 

Waurzyniak, B., E.A. Schneider, N. Turner, et al. 1997. In vivo toxicity, pharmacokinetics, and antileukemic activity of TXU (anti-CD7)-pokeweed antiviral protein immunotoxin. Clin. Cancer Res. 3(6) 881-890. 

Trivalent chromate is not considered toxic, but hexavalent chromate has considerable toxic effects. In sufficient concentrations, it (1) causes cancer, particularly lung cancer (Bidstrup 1983), (2) causes respiratory symptoms of bronchitis (Langard 1983), (3) affects the immune system [Snyder et al. (1986) found a lower level of interleukin 6 produced by pokeweed nitrogen-stimulated mononuclear cells isolated from patients exposed to chromate in the soil], and (4) causes irritant dermatitis and chrome ulcers of the skin and mucous membranes. 

Dong HD, Kimoto Y and Taguchi T (1992). Pokeweed mitogen induces p55 interleukin-2 receptor on human monocytes and its effect on interleukin-2 activated monocyte toxicity. Immunological Investigations, 21 663-70. 

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