American mistletoe
General poisoning notes:
American mistletoe (Phoradendron flavescens) is the familiar mistletoe of Christmas. Ingesting a large number of the berries or tea made from the berries has led to poisoning and death in humans. Mistletoe, used as decorations at Christmas, should be kept out of the reach of children and family pets (Kingsbury 1964, Fuller and McClintock 1986).
Nomenclature:
Scientific Name: Phoradendron flavescens(Pursh) Nutt.
Vernacular name(s): American mistletoe
Scientific family name: Loranthaceae
Vernacular family name: mistletoe.
Phoradendron flavescens (Pursh) Nutt.
Geographic Information
Plant or plant parts used in or around the home.
Toxic parts:
All parts, leaves, mature fruit.
Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:
American mistletoe contains two amines, beta-phenylethylamine and tyramine, as well as a lectin, phoratoxin. These chemicals are probably responsible for toxic reactions after ingestion (Fuller and McClintock 1986).
Toxic plant chemicals:
beta-phenylethylamine, phoratoxin, tryamine
beta-phenylethylamine
Animals/Human Poisoning:
Note: When an animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993) contained no detailed explanation.
Humans
General symptoms of poisoning:
cardiac arrest, death, gastroenteritisNotes on poisoning:
