ID#: 23534
Caption:
This image depicted the a close view of three Christmas rose flowers, Helleborus niger, a poisonous plant, actually related to the buttercup, and not at all related to the rose family. Used historically as a treatment for insanity, gout, and epilepsy, this plant was found to be toxic inducing symptoms of poisoning from vertigo, thirst, dyspnea, pharyngeal swelling, to death by way of cardiac arrest. Christmas rose contains the unstable glucoside, ranunculin, which when enzymatically disassembled, produces glucose, and the toxin protoanemonin, which upon contact with the skin, or mucosal lining of the gastrointestinal tract, causes irritation, and rashes, and even blistering. The cardiotoxic molecules can be found in the plant’s roots in the form of cardiac glycosides, while ranunculin is primarily found in the plant’s sap and leaves.
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Content Provider(s): CDC/ James M. Stewart
Creation Date: 1967
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Copyright Restrictions: Yes - This image is copyright protected. Any public or private use of this image is subject to prevailing copyright laws. Please contact the content provider of this image for permission requests.