Because of their picturesque flowers, cyclamen are popular with many gardeners and people who like to keep indoor plants. Regardless of whether it is the European cyclamen or the cyclamen, cyclamen have been inspiring people with their colors and shapes for several hundred years. The species belong to the Primrose family and can be kept either outdoors or indoors. Their popularity with children is also well known, and many parents wonder if cyclamen are poisonous.
toxicity
Toxic ingredient: cyclamine
Yes, cyclamen is highly toxic in any form. The reason for this is the included triterten saponins, which are stored in high concentrations in the tuber and represent the most poisonous part of the entire plant. Tritertensaponins are glycosides, sugar alcohols, triterpenes, carbon and isoprene-based substances. They have an extremely bitter taste and act as protection against predators who want to feast on the plant. As a drug, it even affects the blood of living beings. The following symptoms can occur after eating any type of cyclamen, as all contain the toxin.
- fever
- profuse sweating
- cramps
- Pulse rate is significantly increased
- dizziness
- intense drop in blood pressure due to the hemolytic effect of the poison
- respiratory paralysis until death
Cyclamen, Cyclamen
bitter substances
The bitter substances within the plant serve as a warning signal and if parts of the cyclamen are eaten, fatal poisoning can even occur. The consumption is the Cyclamen tuber especially dangerous. As little as 0.3 grams of the tuber in a healthy adult is enough to trigger symptoms. That's not even a quarter of a teaspoon. Higher amounts inevitably lead to death. The other parts of the plant like the leaves or flowers are not as high in the dosage, making them slightly less dangerous but still extremely toxic.
In addition to the respiratory paralysis, the lytic activity should be mentioned here:
- hemolytic index: 390,000
- lytic activity: 1 g for 390 L of water
blossoms
The cyclamen has despite the small size and the appealing blossoms the highest hemolytic value of all and is therefore so dangerous. One gram of the poison is enough to maintain its effects in almost 400 liters of water and to trigger possible anemia after consumption. Children in particular are at risk from cyclamen and should not hold the cyclamen in their hands, let alone put them in their mouths. Keep the plant out of the reach of children and instruct older children not to touch or eat the flower.
Room cyclamen pink
If you suspect poisoning, proceed as follows:
- give water or tea
- Activated charcoal is also effective
- see a doctor
Tip: Due to the toxicity of cyclamen, be sure to wear gloves when caring for them, as the ingredients cannot get to your skin. Contact can cause uncomfortable tingling and a slight rash or redness.
For pets
effect on cats
Cyclamen are extremely poisonous for cats, which is due to the curiosity of the velvet paws. Cats have poor senses of taste and smell and use their mouths to explore their surroundings. They nibble on plants, even those they are already familiar with, to help them learn about their surroundings and track other cats themselves. This makes them particularly vulnerable to this poison of the cyclamen, as they cannot taste the bitter aroma of the plant. The older the animal, the higher the chances that it will ignore the plant, but you should take precautions with kittens and "seniors".
The following symptoms can occur when eating:
- Vomit
- diarrhea
- circulatory disorders
- cramps
- upset stomach
- irritation of the mucous membranes
- gastritis
- respiratory paralysis until death
All plant parts of cyclamen are without exception poisonous for house tigers. Even the smallest amounts of the leaves or flowers can lead to serious health problems if left untreated. If you suspect your cat has eaten parts of the plant, give water and see a vet immediately. The tuber is particularly at risk.
dog with cat
effect on dogs
Cyclamen is also poisonous to dogs, especially when it comes to puppies, as their sense of taste and smell is not yet very well developed. Older dogs avoid the plant in most cases, since the "violets" either have a spicy smell of pepper or smell almost like perfume. A soapy character is less present, but it frightens scent of the plants from the majority of the dogs. Older dogs, on the other hand, suffer from a declining sense of smell, which can sometimes lead to dangerous situations.
The symptoms when eating the plant parts as follows:
- Vomit
- diarrhea
- cramps
- colic
- circulatory disorders
- Respiratory paralysis, in severe cases even death
Dogs are particularly strong through the tuber endangered and tolerate the leaves, flowers or shoots better. As described above, the tuber has the highest concentration of cyclamine, but compared to cats, dogs are better against the amount in the upper parts plant parts armed. As with cats, be sure to keep the plant out of the reach of dogs so they don't accidentally gnaw on it. An advantage: due to the distinct taste of the plant, dogs spit out the parts of the plant. You should also consult a veterinarian as soon as possible if poisoning is suspected.
Room cyclamen
Tip: Not only humans, dogs and cats can succumb to the poison of the plants, mainly due to the high concentration of saponins. While pigs put up with the plants quite well, rodents, rabbits, birds and even fish suffer from unconsciousness and disturbances of the bodily functions up to death.
Source:
- https://www.ggiz-erfurt.de/alpenvioletchen.html