Related Experiment Videos
Human poisoning by zigadenus.
1Epidemiology and Clinical Toxicology Unit, Food and Drug Administration, Washington, DC 20204.
Journal of Toxicology. Clinical Toxicology
|January 1, 1987
Summary
Zigadenus, or death camas, is a highly toxic plant. Ingesting even small amounts, like four to five bulbs for a child, can be fatal, with all plant parts posing a poisoning risk.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Botany
- Ethnobotany
Background:
- Zigadenus (death camas) is a poisonous plant found in the United States.
- Historical records document nonfatal human poisonings.
- Fatal poisonings have been reported in historical accounts, including 19th-century Native American interviews and early 20th-century railroad worker incidents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To consolidate and present documented cases of Zigadenus poisoning.
- To estimate the probable fatal dose of Zigadenus based on available data.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of documented Zigadenus poisoning cases.
- Extrapolation of fatal dose from animal data.
- Analysis of historical accounts of human Zigadenus ingestion.
Main Results:
- Multiple nonfatal human Zigadenus poisoning cases are documented in the literature.
- Historical accounts indicate fatalities, including those of western American Indians and railroad workers.
- Estimated fatal dose ranges from less than one-tenth pound (4-5 bulbs) for a child to one pound for an adult.
Conclusions:
- Zigadenus is a dangerous plant with a significant potential for fatal poisoning in humans.
- All parts of the plant, including bulbs, nectar, and seeds, are highly toxic.
- Awareness of Zigadenus toxicity is crucial for public health and safety.