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Numerous black fruits adorn the pokeweed. A total of up to 35 species of the genus can be found all over the world, none of which is really native to Central Europe. In recent decades, the American pokeweed (bot. Phytolacca decandra) has naturalized as a neophyte and can be found more and more frequently in southern Germany in particular. If you don't keep the plant in your garden yourself, you'll wonder whether pokeweed is poisonous or edible.

Is the pokeweed poisonous?

Yes, the "pokeweed" is one of the poisonous plants, which is due to the high amount of ingredients it contains. However, it is important to know in which parts of the plant the greatest amount of toxic substances can be found. Pokeweed has been thoroughly researched for these and the following order of the individual parts of the plant in relation to their toxicity has been established:

  • Toxic content in the roots highest
  • leaves
  • tribe
  • berries (unripe)
  • berries (ripe)

Ripe berries therefore have the lowest poison content and are not as dangerous as other parts of the plant if they are eaten. The toxin content between the unripe and ripe berries differs significantly. The reason: the seeds. The seeds of the unripe fruit contain more toxins, making them especially dangerous in the early stages. Since the unripe fruits are light green, it is not that difficult to tell them apart.

ingredients

The following overview explains the individual components of the plant that are responsible for the toxic effect:

phytolaccagenin

  • responsible for the aroma of the plant
  • have a direct influence on the cholesterol in the body and can dissolve red blood cells
  • characteristic soap taste
  • effective protection against predators, since the bitter substances often make Phytolacca inedible

lectins

  • are macromolecules made up of proteins and carbohydrates
  • Increased consumption can lead to numerous metabolic problems
  • can even directly affect the immune system
  • Small children in particular are exposed to a great risk of poisoning

phytola carrot

  • water soluble dye
  • ensures reddish to black coloring of the berries
  • not toxic per se
  • also in plants such as beetroot (bot. Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris)

tip: Due to its intense color, pokeweed was used as a dye for all sorts of purposes in the past. Wine, baked goods and liqueurs in particular were colored with the juice of the berries, although this is no longer recommended today. For this reason, when caring for the plants, you should be careful not to accidentally crush the ripe berries. This can permanently stain clothing and surfaces.

oxalic acid

  • is a dicarboxylic acid found in numerous plants
  • e.g. B. in rhubarb (bot. Rheum rhabarbarum), amaranth (bot. Amaranthus caudatus) and numerous luxury foods such as tea or chocolate
  • can lead to many health problems over time
  • prevents the absorption of iron and calcium
  • leads to problems with tissue and heart with long-term consumption
  • In particularly serious cases, it can lead to paralysis and death if 600 milligrams per kilogram of body weight are consumed
  • Calcium oxalate also contributes to the formation of kidney stones

sorts

It doesn't matter which varieties of pokeweed you want to plant, they all contain the same ingredients. However, in individual species, such as the Indian pokeweed (bot. Phytolacca acinosa), the substances are distributed. The pokeweed is the species with the lowest level of poison, only the roots and seeds contain toxic substances. The leaves were even used as a vegetable in East Asia. This does not make the plant any less dangerous, but it is an alternative to the more poisonous representatives for those interested. In particular, the American pokeweed should be avoided, as it has the highest poison content of the genus.

Pokeweed Phytolacca acinose

tip: Against snails, planting Phytolacca acinosa is a good idea. Since snails are extremely sensitive to the components of the pokeweed family, but consume them, they can be fought naturally as long as there are no pets or small children playing in the garden or vegetable patch.

effect on people

The pokeweed has a clear effect on people after eating just a few parts of the plant. Children, seniors and sensitive people are particularly affected because the toxins have a stronger effect on the body. After consumption, depending on the amount and type of plant parts eaten, the following symptoms appear:

  • Gastrointestinal complaints
  • nausea
  • Vomit
  • diarrhea
  • seizures
  • shortness of breath
  • respiratory paralysis
  • circulatory problems
  • shock

Also pay attention to the plant kit. After a cut or grooming steps, you should never touch their mucous membranes, especially their eyes. The toxic ingredients irritate them, as well as the skin. For this reason, be sure to wear gloves when tending the plant. Because the respiratory paralysis, shock and circulatory problems can even lead to death. A lethal dose is not known because the venom is processed differently by each person. However, the amount of ripe berries is known from which the first symptoms appear:

  • Children: 5 - 8
  • Adults: from 10

Poisoning can occur even after eating a small piece of root or leaf. If you want to plant pokeweed in your garden, you should think twice about it, as the berries look similar to blackberries. Small children in particular confuse these and put them in their mouths. Although the bitter taste will deter them, they will be swallowed quickly. Since the plant is difficult to remove, you should either do without a pokeweed in the garden or place it in such a way that your protégés cannot reach it and cannot collect the berries from the ground.

American pokeweed

First aid

If poisoning does occur, you should act as follows:

  • do not induce vomiting
  • Administer 1 glass of liquid (tea, water).
  • Contact Poison Information Center
  • these help to assess the danger
  • alternatively administer activated charcoal

Depending on the agreement with the poison information center, the consultation is one doctor's necessary. Gastric emptying is often recommended for large amounts. If you experience shortness of breath, shock, or problems with your circulatory system, be sure to emergency doctor and call the poison control center one after the other. This way you play it safe.

tip: The toxins of the plant are also effective as a tea. Therefore, you should never think of infusing the leaves as a tea, as they will not lose their toxins after infusing.

effect on animals

Pokeweed is primarily poisonous to mammals, which also makes them dangerous to your pets and farm animals. Animals poison themselves in the same way as humans and the roots are also particularly dangerous for them. Large animals such as horses or cows tolerate the berries a little better than other species, but you should make sure that you keep pets and farm animals away from the pokeweed. Here is an overview of the symptoms, which can occur in animals after they have eaten parts of the plant:

  • increased salivation
  • Vomit
  • Diarrhea, less often bloody
  • Gastrointestinal complaints
  • anemia
  • Breathing disorders and paralysis until death
  • lethargic behavior
  • loss of appetite
  • low blood pressure
  • circulatory problems
  • seizures
  • inflammation of the mucous membranes
  • Dermatitis in animals without fur

In theory, all of your animals can experience these symptoms when you nibble on the plant. Horses and other large organisms, because of their body mass, do not die even after consuming large amounts unless they are already suffering from other diseases. Are particularly endangered by the pokeweed cats and rodents. While cats explore their environment by chewing leaves and poison themselves, rodents mistake the berries and leaves for food. The berries in particular are dangerous for guinea pigs, hamsters or mice. If you suspect poisoning, contact your veterinarian immediately.

tip: Since pokeweed contains saponins, it is important to ensure that your fish do not come into contact with it. Saponins of all kinds are highly toxic to fish and molluscs, something you should be aware of if you have a garden pond.

Edible under certain conditions

Despite the above properties as a poisonous plant, the species of the genus were not only used as a dye or to combat snails. While the leaves of Phytolacca acinosa were cooked as a vegetable in Asia, the leaves and shoots were used as food in the USA south of the Appalachians. In order not to poison yourself, these parts of the plant used to be prepared in the following way:

  • Leaves are boiled three times
  • rinsed between each cook
  • only fresh water is used for this
  • Stalks are consumed only by young plants
  • remove the purple skin first
  • cut into small pieces
  • fry in oil

The aroma of the leaves is reminiscent of spinach, while the stalks are said to taste similar to asparagus. However, the leaves in particular can quickly lead to symptoms of poisoning if they are not boiled or rinsed often enough. Hence it will not recommendednot to eat them at all, since improper preparation can poison even adults. The berries are not consumed because they do not have an edible aroma and lead to oxalic acid poisoning over time. Although this is destroyed by boiling, nobody makes the effort to do so because of the aroma.

tip: The extremely poisonous roots are not consumed by anyone as food, but are still used in folk medicine today. However, this should be avoided completely, as even small amounts quickly lead to the symptoms mentioned above.

Source: http://www.gizbonn.de/150.0.html

notice: Please note that this article is by no means a substitute for a doctor's visit. There is no guarantee of the correctness of medical statements.
Detailed information on first aid in the event of poisoning and important information on the poison control centers can be found here.

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Garden plants