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The honeysuckle (bot. Lonicera) or honeysuckle is a large genus of numerous plants, of which about seven species can be found in Central Europe. They form unique flowers and delicious-looking berries that draw attention to themselves with their shape and color. As with many other plants that also form berries, people wonder if honeysuckle is poisonous to them, their children or animals.
Ingredients Honeysuckle
the honeysuckles are considered to be slightly toxic for humans and animals due to their ingredients and for this reason you should avoid consuming the plant parts. It is the berries in particular that have a high poison content and should be avoided. The ingredients are as follows.
honeysuckle, honeysuckle, lonicera
saponins
Saponins are special glycosides that are produced by a variety of plants and are secondary plant substances acts. Due to the different compositions, the mode of action of the saponins can be extremely different. However, they have one thing in common and that is a slightly soapy aroma. Saponins protect the plant from predators and, in high doses, can have a negative effect on the central nervous system.
Cyanogenic glycosides
These ingredients are plant toxins, more precisely about sugar alcohols that release hydrocyanic acid in the stomach. Prussic acid is dangerous for many living beings, since the metabolism is negatively influenced and complications can arise. If the dose of hydrocyanic acid is too high, the metabolism can no longer work properly and is literally stopped, which can lead to death. Animals in particular are very sensitive to hydrogen cyanide.
alkaloids
Two honeysuckle alkaloids remain unexplored. These are the special ones tannins xylosteine and xylostosidine. These are among the main active ingredients in honeysuckle and, as tanning agents, enable important defense mechanisms. Alkaloids can appear in a wide variety of compositions and help the plants to defend themselves against herbivores. They are also responsible for the bitter taste of honeysuckle, which is not really tasty.
flavonoids
The flavonoids are the dyes, which are formed by the plant. The flower color in particular depends on the flavonoids. Unlike the other ingredients, these compounds have a positive effect on the body and are often used as a natural remedy because they are rich in antioxidants.
phenols
The phenols are chemical compounds, which act as flavor carriers and are part of the tannins in red wine, for example. Along with the alkaloids, the phenols are the reason for the bitter taste of the honeysuckle berries.
toxic effect
on people
The plant parts of the honeysuckle have different toxic effects on humans. In itself, care should only be taken with the berries not to consume them. Depending on the species, the shape and color of the berries differ. That's how they are honeysuckle (bot. Lonicera caprifolium) spherical and colored in an intense coral red, while the fruits of the evergreen creeping honeysuckle (bot. Lonicera pileata) are purplish purple and slightly ovate. Children in particular often mistake these berries for blueberries or gooseberries, but are put off by the extremely bitter taste. The symptoms of eating the honeysuckle fruit depend on the dosage.
Berries of the honeysuckle, Lonicera caprifolium
Two berries
The first symptoms appear after eating two honeysuckle berries and are expressed as a maximum of slight discomfort. This amount is safe to consume without symptoms of intoxication and should not be exceeded.
From five berries
From a quantity of five fruits, the honeysuckle develops a noticeably poisonous effect, which is presented in the following symptoms.
- pain in the chest area
- slight fever is possible
- Vomit
The discomfort increases over time and increases especially with the consumption of other fruits, which are already after this small one crowd turn out to be slightly toxic. You should not consume any more honeysuckle berries from this amount at the latest. If 30 fruits are eaten, the symptoms will get worse and can damage your health in the long run.
These are:
- diarrhea
- Vomit
- general nausea, which may intensify over time
- Irritation of the gastrointestinal tract
- violent sweats
- the face reddens noticeably
- fever
- seizures
- an accelerated pulse
- apathetic state
- cardiovascular disorders
A lethal dose is not known. However, research assumes that this depends on the body weight and height of the person. This is why children are so vulnerable, as their bodies are smaller and lighter. Small children and infants in particular are affected if they accidentally get their hands on one of the berries and eat it.
honeysuckle, honeysuckle, lonicera
Please note: Honeysuckle fruit contains the highest dosage of toxic ingredients, although it is poisonous in all parts of the plant. Sensitive people should definitely bear this in mind when cutting the plant, since the ingredients can easily get into the organism through the skin and could trigger allergic reactions that lead to life-threatening situations.
To dogs and cats
Honeysuckle is also toxic to pets such as dogs, cats, rabbits and rodents. Especially the rodents can be severely under the consumption of the berry fruits suffer because they are so small. your pets should therefore completely refrain from consuming the fruit. It's a good idea to collect the berries as soon as they fall down and stop cats from falling leaves to chew Toxins can also be ingested through these, as well as through chewing on the branches when a dog mistakes them for a toy. Symptoms are similar to humans, only more pronounced and often accompanied by bloody diarrhea.
Dog with cat in front of the house
Tip: There is no need to worry if your birds eat honeysuckle berries as they are not poisonous to the animals. Since they do not chew the seeds or break them down in the stomach, but rather excrete them, there is no risk of poisoning because the pulp itself does not contain any toxic ingredients.
On horses
Horses tolerate them berry fruits of the Lonicera quite well and even with higher amounts the symptoms are still quite weak. These are mainly lethargy, diarrhea and vomiting. However, it becomes extremely dangerous for the animals as soon as you get to the others plant parts consume. Horses feed on all sorts of grasses and plants, eating shoots, trunks and even the roots. If a horse gorges itself on a honeysuckle, it can even be fatal. Therefore, a honeysuckle should be out of reach for the four-legged friends to avoid poisoning.
Horse in paddock
Source:
- http://www.gizbonn.de/131.0.html