European buckthorn
General poisoning notes:
European buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) is a small naturalized shrub that is found throughout much of eastern Canada and in the Prairie Provinces. The shrub has spines on the branches and trunks. These shrubs commonly grow along fence rows and roadsides and in old fields. In some areas, they are a common undergrowth shrub in woodlands. The bark and fruits contain chemicals that have a strong purgative action that can affect humans. Severe poisoning is rare (Cooper and Johnson 1984, Lampe and McCann 1986).
Nomenclature:
Scientific Name: Rhamnus cathartica L.
Vernacular name(s): European buckthorn
Scientific family name: Rhamnaceae
Vernacular family name: buckthorn
Rhamnus cathartica L.
Geographic Information
Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan
Toxic parts:
Bark, mature fruit
Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:
This plant contains glycosides, which upon hydrolysis yield anthraquinones such as emodin (a trihydroxymethylanthraquinone). These chemicals have a purgative action; emodin has been used in laxative preparations (Cooper and Johnson 1984).
Toxic plant chemicals:
Anthraquinones, emodine.
Emodine
Chemical diagram(s) are courtesy of Ruth McDiarmid, Biochemistry Technician, Kamloops Range Station, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kamploops, British Columbia, Canada.
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:
Abdominal pains, diarrhea, gastroenteritis, hemorrhage, muscle spasms, vomiting.
Notes on poisoning:
European buckthorn is usually ingested by children, who eat the black berries or chew the twigs. Under normal circumstances, the symptoms are usually mild and are limited to transient abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Ingesting 20 berries or more can have more serious consequences such as gastrointestinal symptoms, fluid depletion, kidney damage, muscular convulsions, and hemorrhage. Serious cases may result in difficult breathing and collapse. Treatment includes inducing vomiting, if it has not already occurred, and fluid replacement (Cooper and Johnson 1984, Fuller and McClintock 1985).
