European elder
General poisoning notes:
European elder (Sambucus nigra) is an outdoor ornamental introduced from Europe. Several cultivars may be available in Canada. This shrub contains cyanogenic glycosides. Swine have been poisoned in Europe, and circumstantial reports of poisoning of cattle and turkeys have been noted. Berries eaten raw can cause nausea and vomiting in humans (Cooper and Johnson 1984). Children should not be allowed to ingest the berries.
Nomenclature:
Scientific Name: Sambucus nigra L.
Vernacular name(s): European elder
Scientific family name: Caprifoliaceae
Vernacular family name: honeysuckle.
Sambucus nigra L.
Notes on Poisonous plant parts:
The bark, leaves, and berries can cause poisoning in animals. The roots and stems have caused poisoning in humans. Ingesting quantities of uncooked berries can cause nausea (Cooper and Johnson 1984).
Toxic parts:
Bark, leaves, mature fruit, roots, stems.
Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:
Two cyanogenic glycosides, sambunigrin and vicianin, occur in black elderberry. Hydrocyanic acid can be released in animals by the action of plant enzymes after ingestion (Tewe and Iyayi 1989).
Toxic plant chemicals:
Sambunigrin, vicianin.
Sambunigrin
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:
Nausea, vomiting.
Notes on poisoning:
Humans have developed nausea and vomiting after ingesting uncooked berries. Cooking destroys the toxin. Children were poisoned when they used the hollow stems of elders as pipes (Cooper and Johnson 1984).
Swine
General symptoms of poisoning:
Abdominal pains, breathing, rapid, death, diarrhea, heart rate, elevated, paralysis, posterior, salivation, trembling, vomiting.
Notes on poisoning:
In one European case, pigs ate young leaves and within a day showed symptoms, including salivation, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, paralysis, trembling, and unsteadiness. Several pigs died (Cooper and Johnson 1984).
